Flathead Valve Spring Lifter Tool

[harry s]

My valve spring compressor broke while installing valve springs in my '37 flathead engine. A friend loaned me a special tool by KD for Cad/LaSalle flathead valve spring installation. It is part #339 and is dated 1/55.  I called KD and they have record of such a tool. It is very small and compact, fits the valve valley with lots of room to work. It really works great and makes the job much easier. Anyone have a spare they would like to get rid of?

[Jeff Hansen]

That's an interesting tool, Harry!  Keep us posted if you find one (or more!).  I'm sure others might be interested in this, too.

Jeff

[Doug Houston]

If  you can't find one of those, don't pass up one of the old C-clamp style valve spring compressors. I have one, and have used it on more valve jobs than I can count. A lot of them were on Cadillac flat head engines.

[John Washburn CLC 1067 Sadly deceased.]

Doug and folks,

Here is the original Valve Lifter Remover and Replacer, J-257-x, made by Hinckley-Myers. This is shown in the 1937 on up, for a few years, in the engine section of the Cadillac Shop Manual.

There are other nifty tools made by KD to remove the keepers. I have a couple may take a picture and add to the board if anyone is interested.

Found the above tool last year.

John W.

[Mike Simmons 938]

John- Great find, and probably still useful in many old engines. I always felt that the point on the valve face end worked better on the older 30s valves that had grooves or whatever cut in the valve faces. Those are the type of valves that also worked best with some of the old hand operated valve seat  refinishing tools. As valve faces became flattened and smooth, you had to add a suction cup to the end of the seat grinding tool- didn't work as well. Excuse the digression, but that's why a modern C-clamp style, or that little KD tool for flathead Cads and Lincolns, will slip less than that pointy old one you have.
My impression, anyway.
I have a KD tool, but tend to forget about it- it takes much longer to do a whole block than with the C-style.

[John Washburn CLC 1067 Sadly deceased.]

Mike,

Tool is still very useful, just use a metal cup with a flat surface on the pointed end and life is good.

John W.

[John Washburn CLC 1067 Sadly deceased.]

Folks,

This is the 3rd try at posting this with a picture.

There are other tools for installing keepers on the valves on flatheads. The KD 609 with box is for Ford flatheads, but is magnetized so will work on our vintage Cadillac and LaSalle, although the tool is real small.
The KD 605 pictured to the left is also a tool for installing keepers. It is a little larger and is easier to use and helps one from dropping the keepers during the installation. It is know that some have dropped the keepers into the oil pan.

John W.

[homeonprunehill]

Folks,

This is the 3rd try at posting this with a picture.

There are other tools for installing keepers on the valves on flatheads. The KD 609 with box is for Ford flatheads, but is magnetized so will work on our vintage Cadillac and LaSalle, although the tool is real small.
The KD 605 pictured to the left is also a tool for installing keepers. It is a little larger and is easier to use and helps one from dropping the keepers during the installation. It is know that some have dropped the keepers into the oil pan.
[quoat]
John W.
01-26-09
Johnw,You know the "law of Mechanic" just when you get your hands all covered with dirty grease ,your nose begains to itch and  you have to pee. also the "law of Gravity" Any tool when droped, will roll to the least accessable spot.
Now to get serious, The box that you have ioncluded  in the picture also "says" "& other engines. So I think if you have the room in the engine use it to put in the keepers . I didn't have fancy tools like that when I was w2qorking on my flat-head,just some "stickey" grease to hold the keepers untill I released the "C" clamp. Also, use some clean rags to catch any keepers droped. Good Luck,JIM

[flightlevel180]

Hello,

I've got a KD No. 339...belonged to my grandfather who was a Porche Mechanic until the mid sixties.

It may be available.

M Coykendall

[Jeff Maltby 4194]

1952 KD tools

[Barry M Wheeler #2189]

It may be appropriate to mention here that the distance between the end of a seated valve and the cam is 3.000 inches. I used to have a home made tool out of valve stock that some one gave me. Commonly known as the "three inch tool." I think the regular tool # was J-1055. (If that is right, chalk one up for the old man's memory...)