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OTC 4573 Universal Overhead Valve Spring Compressor

OTC 4573 Universal Overhead Valve Spring Compressor

OTC 4573 Universal Overhead Valve Spring Compressor
$ 22.15

Score By Feature

Based on 595 ratings
Durability
8.18
Value for money
7.71
Easy to use
7.10

OveReview Final Score

How Our Score Is Calculated

Product Description

Overhead Valve Spring Compressor is an effective way to compress valve springs - making it simple to remove valve springs or replace valve stem seals on a wide variety of cars, vans, and light trucks
It is ideal for installation and removal of cylinder heads, especially on vehicles with limited underhood clearance, however, it can also be used for bench work
A set of spring-loaded jaws captures and compresses valve springs quickly and easily
Tool legs have been designed with an offset to deal with spring winds - keeping the tool vertical and stable in
The kit comes with two spring adapters and fits valve spring retainers up to 1-13/16 inches in diameter jaw opening is 1-3/8 to 5-5/8 inches throat opening is 5-7/8 inches.

Questions & Answers

Do you know if this will work on a 5? How many LS motors are there?

Yes, I agree. The 16 valve stem seals I just completed on my 5 were the last 16 valve stem seals I did. With this tool, you can create 3

What would the performance be like if it was installed in a Citroen 2CV engine?

I bought two clamps for a VW engine that has an opposed flat engine like yours, and I used them with success. I took the engine out and the

A Nissan Sentra GA16DE engine has been worked on using this tool?

A total of 4 times was this tool used. The engine is a V8 Durango and the gearbox is a It was used to replace faulty lifters and rockers in a Ford F150 8L V8 engine by replacing the lifters and rockers without removing the heads. In the third spring, it had become evident that this tool is invaluable in saving a lot of time.

Selected User Reviews For OTC 4573 Universal Overhead Valve Spring Compressor

LS Tahoe 5 is not compatible with this product
3/5

A third L spring needs to be removed. Frequently, the tool pops out of the spring and does not stay tightly fitted. Several reviews with verified purchase statistics suggested that the tool be redesigned to work better, and others modified the tool themselves to make it work. The valve removal tool I ordered today will be returned for a refund and a replacement ordered While I reviewed all the reviews and specifications and watched people use this tool in a successful manner before ordering it, I was still hesitant. Overall, the spring did not retain the required degree of compression on the spring when the tool was used, and the tool kept slipping.

Mariah Glass
Mariah Glass
| Feb 17, 2021
This would be a decent tool, but I think the jaws are a bit on the odd side of size
4/5

This helped me on a 4 cylinder LD9 which had the valve train on bench, so anyone complaining about their hands needs a nap or something. This knob did not hurt my poor hands at all, I'm a working class guy with poor fingers. Only thing I had an issue with was how the jaws were a bit too far apart even for a small 4-cylinder engine. It's going to last for a while, so I threw it into my bench vise and bent it a bit. They are actually quite tough to bend, so they will last a while. Other than that, the only thing that I could think to adjust is to make the metal bar that holds them in place a bit more tight since it released and rotated just as I was starting to crank the tool down.

Liana Pruitt
Liana Pruitt
| Feb 15, 2021
Well-built, made replacing the seals a breeze, and is not hard on the hands
5/5

On my BMW, it was very easy to replace valve seals, retainers, and keepers in the head while still in place. There was a small portion of the silver interior portion that needed trimming to fit my particular application, but it was nothing major. You can't count on it to fit all heads That was the hardest part of it for me, but once I had it figured out, the rest was easy. In spite of doing 24 M3 valves, the job was not too hard on the hands. Those with extremely strong valve springs may find it more painful. I'd suggest it if you want to replace valvetrain parts while you still have the head in place. For the valves to stay closed, I used a leakdown tester to pressurize the combustion chamber.

Dylan Braun
Dylan Braun
| Nov 06, 2020
I'm surprised by how well it works
5/5

It worked well to replace the valve springs on a Mopar 318 engine. After replacing the fourth valve spring, I welded a 3/8-inch drive socket to the top of the handle so a cordless drill could So I did not have to wear my fingers out so much. In addition, I lubricated the threaded rod to make it easier to turn. My experience with this tool has been smooth and reliable. It does not seem to slip or interfere with clearance.

Sariah Garrison
Sariah Garrison
| Jul 18, 2021
As far as I am concerned, it did its job
4/5

A 1996 Saturn's valve seals need to be replaced. In order to get the spring to grip the long leg and the short leg of the first valve, two learning experiences were necessary. That's what I really got stuck on, but I was able to fix it. The inside frame of the unit was just barely fitting the top of my valve springs, so I had to put it in the vise and squish it down. I tried to catch it by just catching one side, but it didn't work. I have fixed it. If I were to improve this tool, I would give the screw a ratchet instead of the knob so that it can be turned. I did not like the feel of the knob on my hand. Although I said it did get the job done, it was a decent product.

Alana HUMPHREYS
Alana HUMPHREYS
| Feb 21, 2021
The construction is good, and it works well
5/5

My opinion on the other reviewer's complaint that it tenderized his hand is that I don't necessarily agree with it after owning it. The device was easy to use and did not hurt, though I think how beefy your springs are plays a big role in how easy it is. Taking off 40 year old stock springs isn't difficult, unless you are removing 80 year old springs. There is a possibility of struggles down the road if you have some springs that are holding a radical hydraulic roller cam down. It was difficult to decide whether to get this or the large clamp type OTC product. Because this was less expensive, I decided to go with this one. I would highly recommend it to any individual who is working on their own personal project. 5/23/2015 The Pro-Evolution is what I bought Type of spring compressor that operates by lever action. Compared to this, it is a lot faster. This product will do the job well if you're tight on budget, but if you can afford it, the Prowill be a better choice You will save a great deal of time when you form lever action.

Trey Glover
Trey Glover
| Sep 30, 2020
The money was well spent
4/5

The reason I bought it was that I needed to replace the valvesprings of my 1999 suburban with the 7. 0. The motor is a Vortec 4. As I approached the exhaust valve closest to the firewall on the passenger bank of heads, I found I was able to pull the original spring great. Until this point, I had fully expected my complaints to be legitimate There were significant problems with the new star wheel which started to annoy your hands and didn't have as much reach as the new beehive style springs did. This past spring I had to cut off the star wheel and tack weld an old lug nut onto the shaft in order to get the job done. The problem was solved in two ways.

Denise Charles
Denise Charles
| May 22, 2021
The code works as expected
3/5

A quality tool like this is not a problem. This tool is cheap, but it's not very well designed. However, it will be able to remove push rod engines if used correctly. A clamp like this will not work on most cars with overhead cams (because there's just no room to get the clamp on the springs). Probably not useful for a tool that you'd only need once in a blue moon (like every 10 years), but this will do just fine for that purpose. I find it much easier to compress valve springs using a pry bar tool than using other tools, not to mention my time is saved. This is the best tool to get if you want to buy one that works and is inexpensive.

Jessie McKee
Jessie McKee
| Dec 22, 2020

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