Useful things to know.

[Amused2death]

Thought I'd start a thread on useful things to know regarding mechanics. I'm not one by trade, but the idea below worked a treat and saved gawd knows how much in time and money.

Busted valve spring... If you've got a busted valve spring and you haven't lunched your engine then it's a doddle to replace and the only additional cost, apart from the spring, is the rocker cover gasket if you can't use the one you remove.

I used to have an old Saab 99, busted a valve spring, but still ran.

Tools needed....Long piece of thick string/thin rope, tie a knot in one end. Plug spanner, spanner to turn crankshaft. Something to act on the broken valve spring (I used two screwdrivers as levers).

Remove all spark plugs, turn engine over so affected cylinder is at BDC. Feed end of rope into cylinder bore through plug hole. When you cant get anymore in there, turn the engine over to compress the string in the bore, thus holding up the valve. Use whatever neccessary to push/lever down the broken spring, remove collets, washer and spring, replace spring add washer then push down so collets can be re-inserted, release the tension.....job done Unwind engine slightly so you can pull string out, then turn engine over by hand to ensure all is as it should be. Replace plugs, congratulate yourself on saving a bloody fortune

Any more???

[Amused2death]

If the open-ended spanner you are using is slightly too big you can use feeler guages to pack it out slightly to get a better grip on the flats of the nut.