So I finally got my new valve spring and, with the compressor I built, it went in in 5 minutes. The compressor worked perfectly, which definitely made me happy. Of course, I still have to put the cam back in, the belts back on, etc. etc. but the valve spring is fixed! So I've (hopefully) posted a picture of the tool in action, and I think I'm going to make a website with a few more pictures of it and a description of how I made it. My one question is- is it worth making a webpage of this? will people ever use it? If they will, I'll totally go to the trouble, but if this is an extremely rare and random thing, then it's hardly worth it...so yeah, any feedback would be great. The basic idea is to use the cam bearing bolts and nuts to secure down the tool which then presses down on the spring. Oh yeah, the picture is looking towards the front of the car, and it was the very first valve on the engine that was bad. welp, tata for now!
Nate Gundy
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'86 240DL, 260K miles, M46, K cam, 25/21mm sways, and now failing engine...

Well, enough people have suggested interest that I will make a website for the tool and try to explain it as best I can. I have around 25 pictures of it and the parts of it so that'll help. Just give me a week or two to get it all set up. If anyone has a desperate need in the meantime for this tool (Which I somehow doubt) just post and I'll respond. Thanks for the positive feedback, and yes, this thing beats the crap out of pulling the head, and leaves both hands free
Nate Gundy
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'86 240DL, 260K miles, M46, K cam, 25/21mm sways, and an engine that's currently in rehab...should be out in a few days

Nice job, Beats the crap outta pulling the head. Post your directions/parts list, tool would be useful to change valve stem seals.Nice that it leaves both hands free to to install keepers.

Nice tool.
Does the valve rest on the piston or did you do the "rope trick"?

Mikael Larsson

I used the rope trick...it worked really well. it made me a bit nervous to just let the valve fall, and the rope thing was very easy to do.
Nate Gundy
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'86 240DL, 260K miles, M46, K cam, 25/21mm sways, and an engine that's currently in rehab...should be out in a few days

It looks like a nice tool to me. It would be neat to have a site describing how to make it and use it.
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Thanks to everyone for the help, Doug C. 81 242 Brick Off Blocks, stock, M46; 86 240, 135k

hi there did you determine what caused the problem,or did the part just fail as a wear item with 260.000 miles? just wondering. b.t.w. good thinking on the tool fabrication .

Well, my deduction is that since I had just put in a K cam a few months before, that spring, which must've been a bit weak at one point, broke due to the new added stress which the K cam put on it. The shim spacing was good before just a month ago, so I think it just died from old age, and possibly had a slight flaw in it. I can't think of anything else that would've caused the spring to snap in half.
Nate Gundy
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'86 240DL, 260K miles, M46, K cam, 25/21mm sways, and an engine that's currently in rehab...should be out in a few days

My guess is that the spring was defective or damaged (nicked) somewhere
along the line. They should not just "wear out".
(Most of mine are at least 30 years old and practically all of them were
used with some kind of hot cam, stock springs. Have only broken ONE in
almost 40 years of driving Volvos.)
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George Downs, The "original" Walrus3, Bartlesville, Oklahoma

Yeah, as I was researching this, I didn't come across much. Seems like a very rare break indeed. Since I had never delved under the follower buckets before, I doubt that I did anything to mess up the spring, but who knows...Either way, the new one is in, and the tool that I made worked, which really made me happy.
Nate Gundy
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'86 240DL, 260K miles, M46, K cam, 25/21mm sways, and an engine that's currently in rehab...should be out in a few days

I realized that maybe 2 angles would make more sense for the tool, so here is angle number 2. when I make a site, i'll describe it better, of course...if anyone wants more info on it, just ask
Nate Gundy
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'86 240DL, 260K miles, M46, K cam, 25/21mm sways, and now failing engine...