currently refreshing a P75 head.

Bend my valve spring compressor on the 3rd valve. Bought a cheap & simple ebay item, failed again as it looked it would also bend.

Some reinforcement later and all 8 valves are now out, but not without some considerable force and some overnight soaking of the valve retainers in penetrating fluid.

(now I have a valve spring compressor good for a ship engine )

Judging by the deposits on the head, the PO must have been running the engine on used cooking oil.

Next task the valve seals that are petrified ...

i've just done my p75 head i used a wooden block under the valves and a suitably sized socket and hit it with a hammer to loosen the retaining cap, i did this on all the valves first and then the compressor only has to press the spring (the collets can stick quite firmly when they've been in a few years, which is a good thing) just make sure they are seated correctly when you put them back and don't lose the steel washer at the spring base my mate did that and ruined the head

Thanks Nuggy,

That was the first time I removed valves. By the time I figured out that my problem were the sticky retainers and not the **weak** compressors I had already gone the 'brute force' route.

Oh well, if you don't have brains you resort to force ...

yiorgos said:

Next task the valve seals that are petrified ...

Click to expand...

Valve stem oil seals? Very sharp knife -- the valve guides are cast iron and extremely fragile.

fingers99 said:

Valve stem oil seals? Very sharp knife -- the valve guides are cast iron and extremely fragile.

Click to expand...

Thanks fingers99, you may have saved my valve guides

I was planning to attack with pliers

As they are now the seals are solid and crumble in pieces when pushed. I will wait until I have the new ones so I can see what exactly is supposed to be there, before I attempt to remove them

Y