Valve spring compressor with head on?

Is it possible to compress the spring with the head on? Is there such a tool?

PO told me the head had been fitted with new valves, guides and springs. All appear new but upon installing the head and looking at the old headers, one of the exhaust ports (and the pipe) seem a bit oily. It may just be an oil seal that needs to be replaced. Before fitting I put the head upside down with gas in the top of the combustion chamber for a half hour, no leak past the valves.

The stock Norton seals are only on the intake valves. That's because the intakes have more potential to suck oil in down the guide on the intake stroke. Where as on the exhaust stroke it's blowing it out.However a proper exhaust guide/valve stem clearance should not result in that. You are probably going to have to pull it for a better inspection. I think what I would be looking for is leakage between the guide and head itself since the guides were recently replaced and it's only on one side. If the guide was driven out without completely removing the carbon on the combustion end it could have scored the bore the guide fits in. All is not lost, oversize guides are available. A competent machinist can bore the guide hole bigger and install the over size guide.

piece of rope down the plug hole

brian4.2 said:

Is it possible to compress the spring with the head on? Is there such a tool?

View attachment 8281 View attachment 8282 PO told me the head had been fitted with new valves, guides and springs. All appear new but upon installing the head and looking at the old headers, one of the exhaust ports (and the pipe) seem a bit oily. It may just be an oil seal that needs to be replaced. Before fitting I put the head upside down with gas in the top of the combustion chamber for a half hour, no leak past the valves.

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Yes, springs and seals can be done with head in place. I did it recently following this thread using procedure/tools from Ludwig:

https://www.accessnorton.com/NortonCommando/valve-spring-removal-tool-brilliant-2005.690/

Guys, it's the exhaust valve. No seals.

Thanks Htown , the head will come off. It has to be something up with the guide.

Can you actually see the intake seals with springs in place?

Mwood7800 said:

Can you actually see the intake seals with springs in place?

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No, they are well hidden and not really possible to tell if fully seated even when springs are out...more of a feel than a visual.