The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Broken valve spring cap

I pulled the valve cover and found the cap on the first valve (front of motor) has two good size pieces chipped off, I found the pieces laying among the valves. I'm wondering if I can easily replace that one cap or if the whole valve train has to be rebuilt. The motor is the stock 216 and near as I can tell its never had any major work done to it. It seemed to run ok last summer I just pulled the valve cover to paint it. Thanks in advance.

Hy ct artdeco, could you provide us with a picture please? Valve spring retainers very seldom break apart without some physical damage. Replacing a retainer is a fairly simple job if you have a tool which will allow you to put compressed air into the cylinder through the spark plug hole, that should hold the valve on its seat while you re and re the retainer, hope that helps.

I added a photo to my flickr pics. Will the fitting from my compression tester work for putting air to the cylinder? Do I have to keep the air compressor running while I change the cap because the air would blow past the piston?

You could do it that way, another easier way is to put a small rope into the cylinder and then slowly turn the engine over so the rope pushes up on the valve heads.

That is only an oil deflector that is broken. They do not retain the spring, only oil control. You can change them by backing off the adjuster and they will lift right off.
They were only used from 1941-47

The adjuster at the pushrods?

Hy ct artdeco, yes as Pre '68 Dave said you can back off the pushrod adjusting screw and lift off the broken piece, they aren't absolutely necessary, but if you find another good one you could install it at the same time, hope that helps.

Loosen the jamb nut above the push rod and screw the screw out. You can then remove the oil deflector. If you can't find one, you don't really need the deflector at all. Just throw it away and adjust your valve to the proper lash.