Engine Specialty Tools

[Ayrhead]

There are 3 different indentations so I’m guessing that this tool is to install different sized seals… any other ideas? It looks like it’s for installing valve seat inserts. Thanks go out to Humber2 & Provincial for figuring it out.

 

[humber2]

Me thinks it is for installing valve seat inserts.

YMMV

 

[whateg01]

Can't tell how long it is but my first thought was cam bearing

 

[bwringer]

Me thinks it must have been chewed on by badgers with carbide teeth.

But I have no idea what it is or what it's for.

 

[Ayrhead]

Can't tell how long it is but my first thought was cam bearing

I believe it’s 5 inches long. Unless you want me to measure a different spot.

 

[Provincial]

If the shaft is between 1/4" and 3/8" in diameter, it is likely for engine valve seats.

 

[whateg01]

I believe it’s 5 inches long. Unless you want me to measure a different spot.

That's why I hate thumbnails. The bottom of the picture is covered up so I didn't see there was a ruler

 

[regguy1]

If the shaft is between 1/4" and 3/8" in diameter, it is likely for engine valve seats.

Yes, rod goes in valve guide

 

[Ayrhead]

If the shaft is between 1/4" and 3/8" in diameter, it is likely for engine valve seats.

The shaft looks to be 1/4”. Thanks for your help in identifying this tool.

 

[four.cycle]

@Ayrhead - now you know why I suggested creating a dedicated "Engine Specialty Tool" thread for these types of devices: valve lifters, seal installers, valve spring compressors, cam bearing installation slide-hammers, ridge reamers, piston groove cleaners, piston ring compressors - there's an entire genre of widgets that never come into play until the valve covers or heads come off.
And... about a third of the guys on this website probably own at least one of those widgets.

 

[Ayrhead]

@Ayrhead - now you know why I suggested creating a dedicated "Engine Specialty Tool" thread for these types of devices: valve lifters, seal installers, valve spring compressors, cam bearing installation slide-hammers, ridge reamers, piston groove cleaners, piston ring compressors - there's an entire genre of widgets that never come into play until the valve covers or heads come off.
And... about a third of the guys on this website probably own at least one of those widgets.

That’s a Great Idea. I’ll give it a try.

 

[Ayrhead]

This post started out as a what kind of tool is this??? It turns out it’s for installing engine valve seats. @four.cycle suggested we start a new post since there could be a demand for it… so I’m giving it a go. I’m sure there are other members beside myself that have these kind of tools/gadgets etc… it will be interesting to see what ’pops’ up…

 

[Ayrhead]

I didn’t know what this was until @Ed in Virginia identified it as a Ford #2021 tool 1928-34 A & B Valve Guide Tool.
What a weird looking tool. Thanks Ed for identifying it for me.

 

[d42jeep]

Ayrhead,
I seem to remember using one of those valve seat installing tools for putting oversized seats into 140HP Corvair heads, which had a propensity for dropping intake seats when overheated or just having traveled too many miles. We would freeze the replacement seats and heat the machined heads in an oven. When all the temperatures were right the seats would be put in place and one of those tools would be used with a BFH to provide the correct interference fit.
-Don

 

[Ayrhead]

Ayrhead,
I seem to remember using one of those valve seat installing tools for putting oversized seats into 140HP Corvair heads, which had a propensity for dropping intake seats when overheated or just having traveled too many miles. We would freeze the replacement seats and heat the machined heads in an oven. When all the temperatures were right the seats would be put in place and one of those tools would be used with a BFH to provide the correct interference fit.
-Don

That’s a pretty kewl memory. I couldn’t find any stamps or markings on this one so I’m wondering who would have manufactured it? But then I’m sure most of the major tool manufacturers had one for sale.

 

[d42jeep]

I did a search for Cal-Van tools and couldn’t find a thread devoted to the brand so I thought that I should start one. I recently found this piston ring groove cleaner/cutter at an estate sale.
I did a patent search and found this. No examples were shown so I sent in mine


I was going through the 1945 ORD 6 SNL G-27 images of wartime tools and spotted this.
It looks like Cal-Van was supplying tools for the war effort. Here is mine cleaned up.
-Don

This ring groove cleaner was posted on my Cal-Van thread.
-Don

 

[four.cycle]

that's curious... the only 'A & B' I have listed currently is stamped on a nickel-plated bicycle wrench that nobody has yet figured out who made:
A & B / A & B / bicycle wrench /

doubt it's the same company.
that funny looking valve guide gizmo was also manufactured by Thorsen - they show up now and then.

 

[d42jeep]

I found this Sunnen flathead valve spring compressor at an estate sale on Friday. It took a couple of evaporust baths to be able to determine the brand. Must have been used hard as it has been welded back together in the jaw area.

As found.
-Don

Sunnen flathead valve spring compressor.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

More valve spring compressors, mostly KD.
-Don

 

[MShaw]

A few more The three items on the right are for servicing the braided rope rear crankshaft seals without removing the crankshaft. The long screw is for removing the old seal and the "finger trap" pulls in the new seal The handle has a tapered end to expand the finger trap and a slot in the middle so that id forms a handle attached after threading the cable thru the seal channel. The fourth item is a Proto valve guide cleaner. The nut on the end is tightened to expand the leaves to the size of the guide. Purchased around 1960.

 

[bwringer]

A few more The three items on the left are for servicing the braided rope rear crankshaft seals without removing the crankshaft. The long screw is for removing the old seal and the "finger trap" pulls in the new seal The handle has a tapered end to expand the finger trap and a slot in the middle so that id forms a handle attached after threading the cable thru the seal channel. The fourth item is a Proto valve guide cleaner. The nut on the end is tightened to expand the leaves to the size of the guide. Purchased around 1960.

Crikey, I remember encountering the braided rope style alleged "seals" in my ancient Chevy in high school. Replacing the craptastic cork valve cover gaskets was a frequent and fruitless task.

Hard to believe how standard it used to be for engines to drip oil and be worn out in 80,000 miles.

 

[Ayrhead]

Two Valve Lifters, the first one I believe is the older of the two is a Stevens Walden Worcester. The second is a Craftsman.

 

[oldmachinenut]

Crikey, I remember encountering the braided rope style alleged "seals" in my ancient Chevy in high school. Replacing the craptastic cork valve cover gaskets was a frequent and fruitless task.

Hard to believe how standard it used to be for engines to drip oil and be worn out in 80,000 miles.

2.8 Chevys still used rope rear main seals In the early 80’s. I used those tools to repair (slow down) warranty rear main leaks when I was a tech…
The good old days

 

[Beerhippie]

Crikey, I remember encountering the braided rope style alleged "seals" in my ancient Chevy in high school. Replacing the craptastic cork valve cover gaskets was a frequent and fruitless task.

Hard to believe how standard it used to be for engines to drip oil and be worn out in 80,000 miles.

Nah, some of those old engines lasted damned near forever--they had a constant oil change!

My ol' Chrysler flat-six in my '48 Wills would go through at least a quart of oil for every tank of gas. 8 mpg on the highway topped out at 45 mph, and about the same for oil. Drove it 2,200 miles from Portland, OR to Big Bend, TX and it didn't come home with me--not because it broke down (it did many times and I fixed it), but because I just wasn't ever going to go through that again (but I sure had a blast with it in Big Bend). Didn't hurt that it was worth more than twice in Tejas what it was in Oregon. Traded it for a nice bike and had me a blast riding home.

 

[d42jeep]

Some ring expanding pliers. Not sure of the brand.



Dunlap valve lapper.
-Don

 

[four.cycle]

Weren't there some interesting variants of the "Chinese finger-trap" for removal and installation of the old-school "rope type" rear main seals?
I seem to recall both Lisle and K-D had options available.
Probably not a lot of guys rebuilding old Pontiac V8's these days, though...

 

[MShaw]

Some more. Starter draw and generator output gages from 1962 and a compression gage bought used in 1963. The draw and output gages are in the remains of the original boxes.

 

[Ayrhead]

I have no idea what this is for but I’m guessing that it’s an engineer specialty tool… any ideas??

 

[MShaw]

If the thread is 1/2 - 13 they are probably for positioning head gaskets. If the handle threads are left hand that would cinch it. You would screw the handle in to unscrew and remove them after the head is installed.

 

[Ayrhead]

If the thread is 1/2 - 13 they are probably for positioning head gaskets. If the handle threads are left hand that would cinch it. You would screw the handle in to unscrew and remove them after the head is installed.

Thanks for the response. I’ll take a look tomorrow to check out the thread type

 

[d42jeep]

Valve seat cutter.
More spring compressors.
-Don

 

[esben57]

This Britool E18 valve seat tool was available in hexagon and 1/2" sq drive sets. Never used one, looks as though it may have employed as a screwdriver or chisel

 

[esben57]

↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑

Edit.

Would this be for dressing casting before inserting a valve seat?

 

[Ed in Virginia]

140HP Corvair heads

That brought back some old memories. We swapped one of those 140hp Corvair engines into a late 60's VW bug back then. I think it had four 1-barrel Carter carbs on it, but we swapped in a small Holley 4-barrel. We used to terrorize late 60's muscle cars with it on the street.

 

[esben57]

#32



Set for sale on ebay Valve grinder, bottom right of label.

 

[Ed in Virginia]

I can post a ton of photos of K-D valve tools that I have collected over the years. Is it appropriate to add them to this thread, and if so, what is the tolerance (if any) for the number of them at one time? Or, is there a better way to approach this? Thanks!

 

[esben57]

Picked up one these once out of curiosity.
Kent Moore Vauxhall OHC engine tappet adjuster. Hex key on a flexible wire type shaft.
Last year saw a whole box of new old stock.
Excuse picture, not mine.

 

[Ayrhead]

I can post a ton of photos of K-D valve tools that I have collected over the years. Is it appropriate to add them to this thread, and if so, what is the tolerance (if any) for the number of them at one time? Or, is there a better way to approach this? Thanks!

I would like to see them all… I get educated by being able to look at the different pictures… looking forward to see what you have @Ed in Virginia …

 

[zimman]

On a personal level I'm thinking of the many men and women from Lancaster, PA that went to work every day and stamped out these tools, and at the end of the day went home and relaxed with their families over a pot roast and potatoes. Ya know?
Zim

 

[four.cycle]

@d42jeep -
Your model 600 K-D valve spring compressor appears to be held together with two cotter pins, if I am seeing things correctly.
The unit shown on Alloy-Artifacts appears to be held together with two "wing screws".
The one I picked up yesterday is held together with two very mangled cotter pins.
Which begs the question: Alteration by previous owner? Production change?
I'll bet there are more than two copies of this one among the membership. Curious as to what the others look like.