Tool for compressing valve springs on 2.3L in 89 Ranger

[demliag]

I'm planning on replacing valve stem seals in my 1989 Ranger with the 2.3L soon. Most of the stuff I've seen suggests using the KD Tools 3087 compressor to do this with head on engine. It looks like that tool was discontinued years ago. I saw one on ebay, but was wondering if there is another tool that can be used to compress the valve springs with the head on the tool?
Thanks,
Allen

 

[RangerFabWorks]

Moved to the 4 cylinder forum

 

[tomw]

I don't know the brand, but used a 'chevy style' valve spring compressor that had a two-ended hook at one end, a slot that would fit around the spring, and a long lever arm.
Fitted the hook(pick which hook you like, big or small) into any port I could find, placed slot over the valve spring, and pulled the lever until I could get the keepers out, release slowly.
This would work if you stuffed rope into the spark plug hole, and rotated the crank to get that piston up against the valves. Manual transmission in 4th gear, and automatic with a breaker bar & socket on the crankshaft pulley, up against ground or the frame, either should stop rotation to keep the piston against the rope, and thus the valves.
There are spring compressors that have 'fingers' that will fit under the bottom, and atop the valve spring, which you compress by turning a knob. There are also compressors that have a lever with a couple 'loose arms' that you snag one end of the lever, and put the 'arms' on the spring, and then pull down on the lever. The snag part is the intriguing part as you don't want that thing flying loose... it will hurt.
tom

 

[Rangerfireman383]

I replaced the valve stem seals in my 85 a few years ago, and after having trouble finding a valve spring compressor that would work with the overhead cam for under about 100$, I made one with some 1" bar stock and a piece of 3/8" square tubing. Pretty simple to accomplish as long as you have a welder, grinder, and a little bit of imagination. I'll try to get some pictures of mine if you would like

 

[maxford]

Many years ago I took cotton rope and fed it into the spark plug hole of a chevy V-8. It was a stick, so when I couldn't feed anymore rope in I pushed a little on the car until the spring was solid tight. This kept the valve up for us to remove the keepers, etc... If it had been an automatic I would have tried rolling the engine over with the either the crank or flywheel. I was skeptical before trying it, but it worked well. When done, be sure to push or roll engine back the way it came just enough to pull the rope out. It worked perfectly for us. We only had to replace one spring, but if we were doing the entire engine it would have been more of a pain to feed the rope in and out for each valve. But it will work as a poor man's compressor when nothing else is available.

Just a thought.