changing valve springs 4AGZE

[nick.parker]

Hi,
Can somebody with experience tell me if its worth learning to change my own valve springs or getting some else to do it? I spoke to one guy and he said that he would have to make up some custom tools to change the springs in the car, and that its probably better to take the head off. Am I going to have to take the head off and spend up on special services tools to do this myself? All I know is that I think I need a valve spring compresser! What other tools are required?
Cheers, Nick

[EVOSTi]

yes you need to dodgy up a tool if you want to change the seals with the head still on. you need to make a lever to compress the valve springs to get the collets out, you dont need a valve spring compressor this way. you also need to hold the valves up somehow, the two methods are rope fed into the cylinder then the crank turned forcing the rope up to the head, or compressed air in the cylinder, i always go with the later.
so yeah you can do it yourself with the head still on, but if you stuff up and drop a valve into the cylinder you'll be taking the head off anyway, and you have 16 chances to do it.

[allencr]

http://www.toyotool.com/

I have no experience with this tool!
Reason/s for replacing springs????

[Sam_Q]

check out how I did it on my 20V:

http://toymods.net/forums/showthread.php?t=503&page=10

[Ben Wilson]

That's OK with the head off. It's possible to do with the head on, but by the time you've finished making custom tools, it might be faster to pull the head...

[nick.parker]

Thanks, that picture in your thread explained a lot. How difficult with only two hands is it to compress the spring and simultaneously (esp an aftermarket high rate job) and remove the collets? I am guessing a 20V spring might be similar / a bit weaker that a 16V spring since the valve is a lot smaller. I guess if I knew what a stock spring rate was and how far you have to compress it I could guess how hard...but I dont yet

Edit: Assuming I take the head off, does one buy a valve spring compressor (4AGE) from Toyota or is there a generic one that will work?

[Ben Wilson]

The 20v springs are a fair bit softer than the 16v (much lighter valves).

I've never seen an off the shelf springs compressor which works on a 4AG, every one I've seen has been custom made..

[nick.parker]

I have no experience with this tool!
Reason/s for replacing springs????

Sorry AllenCR I missed your post. I want to change the springs as I have a new camshaft with 8.35mm lift (8.1mm bind limit on stock springs), also running a bit of boost want to make sure the springs are maybe a little stiffer than stock.

And if I get _REALLY_ silly I have been contemplating some US sourced cheap 2mm OS valves....but then the head will come off anyway to get new valve seats installed.

Cheers, Nick

[Joshstix]

That Toyotool is very very impressive. It makes it easy to replace the valve stem seal and springs etc while the head is still on the engine, at least in the video's it's pretty damn simple.

[nick.parker]

I can't get the video to work or download it! Does that tool 'grab' the collets at the same time you push down on the retainer? Who or What is a good place to source 4AG valve train components in Australia, like tools and valves and valve springs etc?

Edit: OK I found the other video and that works!

[EVOSTi]

no that tool will just allow you to compress the springs with one hand so you can remove the collets with the other. this is the kind of tool i was talking about making yourself, doesnt have to be that good just something that will give you a leaver to comrpess the springs. then you use a magnet to remove the collets.

check the sponsors section, there is a place in sydney that can sell you 4a valve springs at a good price, apprently as good quality as anything else getting around too.

[Sam_Q]

I did it by myself but I highly recomend using 2 people, when I did do it I managed to launch one collet out of the 20, I just pray that my spare silvertop head is the same as my blacktop head.

Here I thought I would show the pic directly:

[takai]

This is how i did mine:

Massive G-clamp, and a 16mm socket with the sides cut out. Bit fiddly to use occasionally, but worked quite well.
Fresh head, so as you can see there i wrapped the end of the clamp in a rag and cloth tape...

[nick.parker]

Thanks everyone for the info, this thread is turning into a really useful thread for cylinder head novices such as myself .