how to remove followers

[Zapper]

So I decided to freshen up the top end of my 2.3 quite a bit and I'm wanting to replace the valve seals and I'm unsure how to remove the followers so can anyone tell me how you remove and reinstall them.

 

[tomw]

When I did that task, I used a pry bar to depress the valve spring, and WEARING GLOVES, would then twist the follower out of place. I don't know of an easy way to do it. The gloves are handy to prevent the sharp edges of all the internal parts, especially cam bearing stands, from scraping the skin from your hands. The edges of the followers are not rounded either. Installation is the reverse.
You can increase the available clearance by pressing firmly on the lifter support end of the follower, collapsing the lifter, and getting about .050"(ballpark) more clearance. I didn't bother as it takes time to get the oil to leak out if you have good lifters.
It was a while ago, and I sort of remember using a valve spring compressor designed for a Chevy small block that had a dual-ended hook on the end, and an opening closer to the handle that fit over the valve spring, allowing access to the retainers. I think hooking to openings on the cylinder head, prying downward, and then removing the follower, wiggling and rotating as needed was the procedure. I repeat, wear gloves. Unless you don't mind blood in your oil.
tom

 

[Zapper]

When I did that task, I used a pry bar to depress the valve spring, and WEARING GLOVES, would then twist the follower out of place. I don't know of an easy way to do it. The gloves are handy to prevent the sharp edges of all the internal parts, especially cam bearing stands, from scraping the skin from your hands. The edges of the followers are not rounded either. Installation is the reverse.
You can increase the available clearance by pressing firmly on the lifter support end of the follower, collapsing the lifter, and getting about .050"(ballpark) more clearance. I didn't bother as it takes time to get the oil to leak out if you have good lifters.
It was a while ago, and I sort of remember using a valve spring compressor designed for a Chevy small block that had a dual-ended hook on the end, and an opening closer to the handle that fit over the valve spring, allowing access to the retainers. I think hooking to openings on the cylinder head, prying downward, and then removing the follower, wiggling and rotating as needed was the procedure. I repeat, wear gloves. Unless you don't mind blood in your oil.
tom

Well I barely ever wear gloves and the head isn't on the engine so some blood wont hurt much.

 

[racsan]

I did mine by rotating cam until valve was opened, then placing a wood wedge between open valve & valve seat, turn cam until lobe is off follower, then remove follower. I realize that wont help you much in the rest of the job, maybe use a valve spring compressor once you get the cam followers and camshaft out of the way. I had a machine shop do the rest of disassembly and magnaflux head, Highly recommend that, ended up ordering a reman head from autozone as I couldnt find a used head that wasnt cracked at the valve seats. (dual plug head) used same basic process to get followers back in. they do make a tool for that. Im not sure how I opened the new valves to put the wood wedge in, Im guessing I used a C clamp.

 

[scotts90ranger]

There's more room on the flat tappet followers for a prybar, and actually the right tool for the job goes around the cam lobe and pushes on the valve spring retainer. We have one at work but it doesn't work on the roller followers so I just use a long screwdriver or one of the screwdriver type prybars with a square cross section.