Vale spring compressor - recommendations

[andy120t]

Does anyone have a valve spring compressor that they would recommend (for use on a CB engine)? I'm not quite sure what I'm looking for but I've seen a model by Sealey for c.

[totty]

I've got the same set, never used it on a CB but it was adjustable enough to use on both a z50 and a 3.0L Essex v6. 

[matthewmosse]

[andy120t]

Cheers all. Last night I used the weight arm from an old set of scales (think the giant ones used to weght sacks of corn), pivoting in the vice and pressing down on a piece of steel tube - with slots cut in it to allow me reach the collets.

Good advice on the magnetic tools / grease. I was wondering how easy they could be to get back in.

[Dave M]

The grease and screwdriver works fine on a C50 too!

[Seamus]

Had a Sykes Pickavant adjustable unit for years now and used it on car and bike heads for at least 10 years.

I will post a picture if it is any use

[Yoshi823]

I still have my valve spring compressor from 1975 when I bought my first bike. I paid

[UKROBK7]

I use the same one as that on ebay but I picked it up at the Stafford show for

[andy120t]

Thanks for the replies. I've now taken them all out & put them all back in succesfully without losing any collets. I used the G-spring method with long nose pliers & grease. Pliers were tricky to use so backed them up with a nail-file...the magnetic screwdriver helped but I found pliers / nail file easier. It sounds as if tweezers could be an even better route.wasn't ideal but did assist me. 

It took a me little while, not least as I did the first one about four times over to get it right. Learning point #1-don't miss the large spring seat/washer out. Learning point #2-when you take the assembly apart to put the large spring seat in, don't let the small spring seat/washer fall out unnoticed.

[Bryanj]

Andy, dont fret it, ijust rebuilt a 500 for a member in the north and the bits that were missing from a PO, plus the goo everywhere were frightening mate

[matthewmosse]

I have a large stockpile of collets, seats and so fourth, even the most dud engine can relinquish good parts - most extreme example was an engine I bought on which all the lower cases had corroded past use and internally full of mud - gearbox was full of rust and eventually I knocked the bottom end appart with a hammer as the selector forks and drum were fused solid, the head was however prestine under all the oily sludgy mud that it was full of.