Universal valve opening fixture?

[msj442]

nice job bruce. the handles come from mcmaster carr? im doing something similar but fell short on the aluminum bar and found some aluminum channel laying around from an old track lighting fixture.


max

[bruce]

Yes I purchased all the material from McMaster, the handles are adjustable for location. Pull them out and turn so you can set them in any place you want kinda cool.

[msj442]

yeah they work pretty good. i put some on my mill that i got in a pile of junk parts from an auction. just curious where new stuff is bought from.

max :;):

[bruce]

I use Mcmaster all the time, some prices might be a tad high on somethings but, if I order it one day I get it the next day UPS. I workup an order online and when I get it to a reasonable size so shipping is not to costly I place my order. I would not order one drill bit and have it shipped as the lowest shipping is like $6?

Large items like 6' pieces of aluminum ship in a tube and costs a little more but I don't mind paying for that convenience of not having to go source it somewhere local which takes time. I have a pretty good selection of "mystery metal" here in my shop but sometimes It takes to long to find what I need. I also have enough aluminum for this project that I could make a few of these to sell if I want to . . . :;):

[Greg]

Rather than go the dial gauge route, I used cheap micrometer spindles. You have your thread to open the valve and your measurements all in one. They are also a lot more compact than dial gauges, particularly for 4 valve heads where the valve spacing makes everything a bit tight for dial gauges.

I've got fixtures made for different head types but it would be easy to adapt them to what Bruce has in the photos. The other benefit is you can run a heavier spring as you can screw them open with the micrometer, I found at low lifts the test pressure was pulling the valves open and giving me odd readings.