Valve compressor

[Dotty traveller]

Hi can anyone tell me best size valve compressor for the moggy 1098 head

[philthehill]

Sykes Pickavant No: 039900 is the valve spring compressor I use for 948cc, 1098cc and 1275cc 'A' Series engines.
It has give good service over many years and is still going strong.
Here is one for sale on 'e' bay.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/325749785484 ... R_KWsty2Yg

[olonas]

I bought mine when Dinosaurs roamed the Earth.
Whether still available or the part number is valid, don't know.
Sykes-Pickavant 6602100, Small/Medium.
Did the job on a 1098cc cyl. cover valve regrind.
It's the type with a frame. Fixed one end and accomodates the valve spring cap/collar. Threaded "pusher" which sits on the valve cone. Effective range 70 - 135mm. From the frame to the compressor screw is 150mm.
Phil beat me to it. Just like that one he linked to. That box looks even older than mine.
Possibly a rareity. https://www.toolbee.co.uk/sykes-pickava ... gines.html
Many so-called universal valve spring compressors on that auction site. Quite cheap and probably fine for non regular use.

[philthehill]

Whatever valve spring compressor you obtain when it comes to removing the valve spring cap give the cap a good smack with a hammer so as to loosen the valve cap before applying the valve spring compressor. Give that clout pays dividends.

[don58van]

I bought one of the Chinese ones that looks very similar to the Sykes Pickavant ones shown above (the latter are rarely seen here in Australia). However, I found that it was too big. It was at its limit of adjustment to compress the spring, even with a small chock against the valve face. Also it was unnecessarily wide, which made it just a bit clumsy. So scaled it down. I cut down the frame, the arm that engages the spring caps and the moving arms that are operated by the compressing lever. It was a bit fiddly and time consuming to do, but I am very happy with the result.
Don