Apparatus for removing and installing valve-spring retainer assemblies and for testing the tension of springs employed thereby

An apparatus for removing, installing and/or testing valve-spring retainer assemblies from a cylinder head of an internal combustion engine, comprising depressing means for depressing a valve spring enough to disengage an associated valve-spring retainer assembly, whereby the valve spring and/or the valve-spring retainer assembly can be removed from a cylinder head of the engine;

• actuating means for actuating said depressing means, said actuating means including a torque wrench and a first member positioned such that said depressing means is interposed between said first member and the valve-spring retainer assembly, said first member including receiving means for receiving a head of said torque wrench such that said torque wrench functions as a handle for said first member and permits said apparatus to be employed to test the strength of the valve spring;
• and mounting means for mounting said actuating means to a spark plug opening in the cylinder head, said mounting means including a second member fixedly positioned relative to the cylinder head and having an elongated body, one end of which is positioned externally of the cylinder head remote from the spark plug opening and an opposite end of which is removably received in the spark plug opening in spaced relation to a valve associated with the valve spring and the valve-spring retainer assembly, and attaching means adjacent to said one end of said body for attaching said second member to said first member such that said first member is movable toward and away from the cylinder head and such that said first member is rotatable about said one end of said body independently thereof, whereby said first member can be repositioned in preparation for the removal of additional valve springs and/or valve-spring retainer assemblies without removing or repositioning said second member.