Warning to anyone using the Comp Cams dual valve spring compressor!!

[DavesG8GT]

For anyone that is planning on changing out your valvesprings and you're planning on using the comp cams dual valve spring compressor.....be very aware of something. See this first pic. The two small bolts that they send that go through the tool, then through the rocker arm bar (and yes this tool is specifically designed to rest in the cusp of the rocker arm tray/bar) are too short to get enough safe bite into the rocker arm bolt holes to be safe. Here's a pic of how much thread actually goes in the rocker bolt hole and there are two bolts holding it down (only one bolt shown in this pic).

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v347/DavesGTP/G8/A8803D74-481D-4DBA-8E2D-EA6053782F30-10261-00004597F59BD2FD_zpsa619f154.jpg

This is the LS valve spring compressor #5462 that is designed to work with all LS heads, even the LS3 heads where the rocker holes are offset. Anyway they say to torque these small bolts to approx 10-15 ft lbs which I did. I swapped cylinders 1, 3 , and 5 successfully with no problems. But then when I got to #7 I was having issues getting the keepers on because the spring wasn't directly centered over the valve. So I was having to compress the springs, release, reposition springs a bit, recompress, etc. I was having a hard time getting those dang keeper/locks lined up just right. Anyway all of a sudden there was a big snap and my rocker arm tray sheared in half and flew towards my face, giving me a nice knot (but fortunately missing my eyes), and the two springs, locks, retainers, and tool come flying off. In looking at the rocker bolt holes, the bolts they sent stripped out the top 1/8" or so of the rocker arm bolt holes. Bolt hole threads were on the bolts.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v347/DavesGTP/G8/A770033F-EB7A-424A-BBE1-5C0CB4D93C8A-10261-00004597A5DB2FB0_zps1792bb7f.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v347/DavesGTP/G8/8D629B62-987B-4122-A289-4A194C05FC52-10261-000045980C84B5CB_zpsf3097e98.jpg

I have no bolts here long enough to safely do this so will have to get some, but in the meantime the drivers side head needs to come off for 2 rocker bolt holes to be helicoiled it looks like....to be safe. And I have to get a new rocker arm bar/tray seeing as mine is now sheared in half.

So anyway, be warned if you're doing this with this kit: GO BUY LONGER BOLTS!
And I threw channel locks on the valves to hold them so I wouldn't have to keep the air hose hooked up. Doesn't matter now since I'm pulling that head anyway.

*sigh*

[TooManyHobbies]

I think I removed the bar when I used one similar to that, but it has been a long time.

[DavesG8GT]

I think I removed the bar when I used one similar to that, but it has been a long time.

The base of the tool is sorta u-shaped so it fits down male to female-like in the tray.
They say leave the tray in place....so I did.

[TailG8er]

You should be able to leave the head on to make the repair to the threads. But I have been wrong before.

Just place paper towels around the holes and use a shop vac to suck up the pieces as you drill and tap.

[Greg@PacePerformance]

They must have changed the tool then or you have a differnt one.
My comp tool mounts to the head directly.
Thanks for the heads up.

Edit:
I have the Crane 99472-1 tool
My mistake

[-Ray-]

Sorry to see you had a problem Dave. I bought Crane Cams tool to remove the springs. It's the best one out there that I know of.

[Crazy Paul]

The base of the tool is sorta u-shaped so it fits down male to female-like in the tray.
They say leave the tray in place....so I did.
Yes, I just went and read the instructions for the #5462 on Comps Website and cannot see anywhere you went wrong.

Paying for someones eye has to be more expensive than giving everyone 2 lots of 6mm of additional thread length.
Cheap bastards.

[DavesG8GT]

Greg, look for an email from me Monday. I'm gonna need a new rocker arm tray and a few other things. ;)
And yes CP, cheap bastards indeed. I am not going to try and repair the threads myself with the head on the car. If rather have it helicoiled and done by a professional there.

[jcmGT]

FWIW, a tool option from ls1tech (http://www.ebay.com/itm/190673504603?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649)

[Crazy Paul]

If rather have it helicoiled and done by a professional there.

Here's the repair specs to give them:

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y20/PerthPurplePenguin/car%20parts/L76/Head-Threads_zpse0679f5f.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y20/PerthPurplePenguin/car%20parts/L76/Head-Threads2_zps2acad3d3.jpg

[Crazy Paul]

Engine Thread Repair Procedure
http://www.grrrr8.net/crazypaul/EngineThreadRepairProcedure.pdf

[DavesG8GT]

Thanks CP! Always a wealth of information. Great stuff.

[RichsGreyGT]

Dang! your comp vector cam just had a soft spot and now that tool broke...

Hello EPS, good bye comp

[GRRRR8]

This can be done on the car. I have repaired TOO many aluminum cylinder heads and all of them I installed the Heli-Coil while the head was installed. Use grease on the drill bit and tap to catch particles. Pack rags in the area prior to drilling/tapping anything and have a shop vac handy. It seems a little scary at 1st, but most easily accessed holes can be done in under 10 minutes per hole.

[DavesG8GT]

Well I've already pulled both heads. Figured since I'm pulling one might as well yank the other too. Finished it last night. I've never drilled, tapped, and rethreaded a hole before. I'm sure I could do it, just the fact that I've never done it makes me want to just run the head over to the machine shop and let them do it since they do this kind of thing for a living.
I do need to learn how to do it myself though....

[DavesG8GT]

For anyone wanting to know, M8 x 1.25 x 60mm full thread is the perfect length to do the job. The length they send is only 45mm.

[DavesG8GT]

UPDATE!

Comp Cams had me send the tool back, which I did along with a nice long letter explaining what happened and what I felt was the culprit. Talked to a real nice guy there in the warranty department, and he said they've sold 1600 of these kits and haven't had any issues until a week ago when I had my incident and another guy had the exact same thing happen to him as well. I told him I thought it would have been fine had I not had to compress and release the springs about 3 times trying to get the valves centered in the springs to insert the locks, pushing the tool to its limits quite likely. I was after all up against the firewall when trying to do this.

He said that their engineers looked at the tool, the bolts they sent me, and my letter and they agreed with me and they will from now on be including longer bolts with their kits, except on LS7 cars where the pedestal is built into the heads and is internally threaded. So I guess that means they'll be sending 4 M8 bolts (2 shorter and 2 longer) with instructions to use the longer ones unless you have LS7 heads. They are sending me a new tool with new longer bolts, and they are also reimbursing me my $120 worth of expenses (heli coil labor, head gasket, rocker arm pedestal, etc.)

So I feel very good that Comp made this right, and I am very VERY happy that this didn't turn out nasty and blind me!!
So anyway, thumbs-up for Comp making this right. They're good in my book again.

[Todasi]

Good to hear they listened and made changes to their product. It should now be called Dave's Comp Cams spring compressor!

[LDM]

Glad to hear Comp made things right. Suck to have to go through that hassle but at least it turned out ok in the end. I always wear safety glasses when I'm cutting or drilling but for just general wrenching I usually forget. I guess this is a good reminder to all of us that it's best to wear them at all times.

[DavesG8GT]

It should now be called Dave's Comp Cams spring compressor!

I'd be good with that, especially if I get royalties! :) lol.

And yes Len, it would have been best if I had been wearing safety glasses, but like you I only do that when cutting or drilling.

[Crazy Paul]

he said they've sold 1600 of these kits and haven't had any issues until a week ago when I had my incident. He said that their engineers looked at the tool, the bolts they sent me, and my letter and they agreed with me and they will from now on be including longer bolts with their kits,
Excellent result Dave.
You deserve praise for the professional manner in which you handled the situation.

[DavesG8GT]

Thanks CP, I appreciate you saying that.