Remove And Install Valve Springs On Your Vintage Honda Motorcycle: How To

In the not too distant past, specialized tools for doing engine work have been far and few between. A job like disassembling and assembling your vintage Honda cylinder head was nearly impossible to do, especially if you wanted to do the job correct and safely. Its the recent accessibility of these tools that allow the garage builders, like ourselves, to rebuild our vintage motorcycle engines right at home. Learn how to completely disassemble your cylinder head using the valve spring compressor tool to prepare for cleaning and inspection, identify the different components of your valves and valve springs, and reassemble the cylinder head safely. Our valve spring compressor tool will work on any standard coil-type valve spring found in many motorcycle engines.
This tool will NOT work on Honda CL450 / CB450 and CB500T family of motorcycles, as these engines use a torsion bar style valve spring.
Purchase the valve spring compressor tool right here: www.common-motor.com/Honda-cb...
www.common-motor.com
Contents Of This Video
00:00 - Intro
00:22 - What is a valve spring compressor tool?
00:55 - Cylinder head walkthrough
01:23 - Safety Warning
01:46 - Getting ready to remove your valves
02:41 - How to set up your tool
03:53 - Removing your valve spring and valve
04:55 - Is your valve stuck?
06:01 - Anatomy of a valve
07:51 - Reassembling your valve spring and valve
10:33 - What to remember
12:02 - Closing

[@thelongboarddude95]

!!!! "The CB350s don't have valve stem seals." !!!!
Thank you so much for emphasizing this! The seals come with basically every gasket set. So I installed them back then. Now I'm rebuilding my top end after less than 1K miles (head gasket failed because the cylinder head surface wasn't flat). What I'm seeing is that half of the valve seals have been destroyed. The pieces were all over in my oil galleries likely blocking the oil flow. SO DONT INSTALL VALVE SEALS!

[@jberejik]

Thanks you for keeping with your ethic of working with hand tools that anybody would have in their shop!

[@Common-motor]

always! if it's not accessible to do the job at home what's the point.

[@wesgardner4322]

Thank You for the video. Love seeing these newsletter videos in the inbox. Cheers!

[@daleswineheart2765]

Brendan, I pulled both of my valves on left side, I was getting no compression. While using a digital caliper, I found my springs were beyond the service limit according to the Clymer manual. worth a mention, your videos are great! Swinedog

[@ZippoVarga]

Is that a Seiko 5? I've been sporting one for over 10 years now. Bullet Proof watches! Thanks for the Tutorial Brenden! Happy trails. Zip~

[@jeffhooper3447]

Thank you so much for making his video. I have this exact tool and im working on a 79 XL185s this couldnt be more applicable to me

[@robweiler6711]

Thank you, this video was very helpful. I just got the tool and am checking all the valves on my CB650C project with a CM450 waiting in the wings. Please keep up the great content.

[@you-fq7ug]

Thanks i ordered the tool and im using it now. Works great!, wow something actually as easy as you make it look for once, amazing now to lap

[@nickjames205]

Awesome I definitely need to know this

[@KevinSmith-gh5ze]

Thanks for mentioning the lack of valve seal on the 350. The gasket set I used for my rebuild had a set, but I didn't know where they went since the engine didn't have them when I took it apart. I finally figured out what they were after the bike was complete, and I've been stressing about it ever since.

[@thelongboarddude95]

You got lucky there!

[@daleswineheart2765]

nailed it!

[@taxibo77]

Maravilloso

[@TN_HondaDad]

So how are the valve locks actually holding the springs in place? I can't tell from the video. Great video BTW! Very clear and precise!

[@benreece261]

i ordered the valve spring upgrade kit on your website and im wondering if it is okay that the end of the valve stem sticks out a little past the hole in the top of the washer past the keepers, is that okay/normal?

[@scottbellisle5581]

I am not sure if the groove on the keepers are on the top or towards the valve head side?
Thanks,
Scott

[@tladoux]

Which way does the ridge go on the valve spring stops?

[@jayshaw63]

As usual . . . . Common Motor publishes a How To Video two weeks AFTER I've done this on my 360T. ;-)

[@Common-motor]

Haha! Ill make sure I'm a few weeks earlier next time!

[@jayshaw63]

@@Common-motor Now . . . make the next one on how to reinstall the gearshift forks. Then I'll know what I did wrong last month. ;-)

[@Common-motor]

@@jayshaw63 hahah I hate to admit that ones a bit far down the list although we are thinking about a full Cb350 engine tear down and rebuild!

[@bryencass8260]

Is each VALVE STEM and SPRING proprietary to each valve?

[@bryencass8260]

Bueler, Bueler…

[@timothyshanley1132]

Replied to your 8th anniversary email, came back unknown address 😥

[@Common-motor]

haha aww, it's an email sending system that's why. Send us the email through the support bubble at common-motor.com!

[@AdrenalineRushMX]

i use my and only and a pick

[@AdrenalineRushMX]

not a big valve like that lol

[@you-fq7ug]

I tipped the head on the side to use the tool

[@Common-motor]

that always works!