Help Compressing Valve Springs

Hello All,
I am fairly new to KZR but I have been riding a 1977 KZ650 B1 for about 6 years. I have used this sight and vast wealth of knowledge to help me on countless fixes over the years. This is where you all come in again…I currently have the engine torn down to replace a leaking base gasket. The top end gasket set had a set of valve seals. I know they have never been changed because I am the second owner of this bike and I know that I have had to replace every other piece of rubber on this old girl. I was a professional automotive mechanic for about 12 years so I am very good with mechanical work. I have several different types of valve spring compressors but none of them will work on this KZ650. I need to know if there is some sort of trick I can do to compress the springs so I can get to the valve seals. Please any help would be great.
Thanks,
Ty

Same here or buy one for $30....

Click Link: >>>> Valve Compression Tool...


Home made:

More D.I.Y. versions --








Good Fortune!

What I did for my 750 twin was to make one myself. I took an old socket and used a dremel to cut out about 3/8 of the metal around the hub. I took an old c-clamp and superglued the socket to the screw end of the clamp. it works pretty well but you need some really good needle nose to get in there and put in/pull out the retainers. The whole device works well and it was only about ten bucks worth of parts when the one sold at Z1 is about $120.

Yeah exactly like above ^^

It has been a while since I have been back to this post. Thank you for all of the help and suggestions. I ended up using a ½” drive 19mm socket that I cut 2 access holes that allowed me to get to the retainer clips on the valves…aided by a bar clamp to do the compressing. Worked great!!! I have the old 650 back up and running better than ever…after a valve adjustment and carb recynch.
Thanks for all the help.
Ty

For anyone reading this in the future, a pencil magnet makes it tremendously easier to get the locks out, and back in. And iy really comes in handy for other things to.