Pic 4 I was frustrated when I was taking out my valves the other day for a de coke. Trying to hold down the closer rocker with a blunt object which kept slipping, also trying to take out the shim and then the collets..somewhat tricky... I thought I'd better search for the correct tool on line before I slip again and do some damage... I eventually found some but the prices were crazy, especially the Ducati tool .. Time to make my own I thought, I was also finding that you needed about 3 sets of hands to hold things in place... I needed something with a softer metal so as not to do any damage to the rockers etc. Going to the council tip later, I saw this kiddies putter, asked the guy how much? £1... TU, it's mine.. I cut the head off the kiddies putter and using the handle end, I ground down the tip of the shaft until it fitted just snugly beside the valve stem and above the closing rocker It was easy to shape as it was alloy, fitting nice and snug... See pic above and pic 4 ... To give it the hands free option I drilled a hole through the shaft and put a coat hanger handle through it... Then, simply by fitting an eye hook on the leg of my bench I attached a thick ... Posties elastic band between the two, this basically produced a pivot.. So now all I need do is insert the tool above the closer rocker, pull down the handle slip the elastic band over the hook... One hands free tool, perfect.. Cost = £1 and half an hour to make.. I also got a pair of plastic forceps, a lockable pair.. £00.50p on fleabay.. These I use to clamp the valve stem in position, so when I pull the golf handle down, the closer rocker goes down, but the valve stays put, and I can just remove shim and collets as desired.. I also use a mounted, flexible, magnet on a stick which I position or bend into place above the shim and collets, so as soon as the handle goes down it's in position to pull out the shim etc... No dropping... All in all... Can be used in a way as to have both hands free... Making life so much easier.... I hope this might be of use to anyone with a two valve big cat... Best wishes N@@DS
" where their is a will, there is a way" Especially when it saves around. £100 for a special tool... "Kow, where's those Rizoma bars I fancied? ... Ah yes... A tin of satin black spraypaint, that piece of tubing off the Wife's push bike tthat she never uses, a couple of bends and ...... Bingo" N@@DS
After inserting the 10mm allen key to keep the closing rocker down I use a pair of artery forceps to hold the valve stem.
