Recommend a valve spring compressor...

Can anyone recommend a good valve spring compressor suitable for Commando heads?
I recently took a couple heads apart for inspection and my 25 year old C-clamp type tool seemed awfully fiddly to get the springs
compressed just enough to get the collar keepers out.
Maybe I just haven't had enough practice lately, but maybe there is a more modern tool?

Recommendations appreciated.

I find the compressor is fine ,the real issue being it can rock or shift a bit as it compresses enough that there will be slight sideways pressures on the little delicate keepers enough to hold back on them from falling out (head upside-down shake) or picking out of their homes. Positioning the compressor centrally goes a long way to avoiding this griefage.

My bud Wes made a compressor with a tube that its front area cut out but its still fiddlely close tedium under pressure. Wes's tool looked more open handy to use than the factory tool or similar. I myself have only watched him use it, thank you very much.

It might depend on how versatile you want.
I use one of these (the blue case one),Moto Guzzi,Norton to the DR650 etc.

http://www.ebay.com.au/sch/i.html?_trks ... &_from=R40

Only thing you need to do is give the retainer a tap with a rag over it and a spark plug socket,to break the taper a little on the keepers.
Do that it will compress the spring no problem,it would bend the compressor body otherwise.

Note the prices in the link are all over the place.
On a Norton head the inlet rockers cover stud gets in the way,it can be double nut removed or in a bodge you can flip the unit over with the thread screw on top of the valve stem.
I think Andover Norton (Old Brits?) Norvil etc do a Norton compressor in their tool lists.

Edit.
Its easy to see not many read the posts,press on the stem. :lol:
Here are some pics,I had to give the compressor end a little tap with a soft hammer to break the taper.

Yes you should remove the studs.

I've had this one close to 40 years. It is painted the same hammertone blue as my exhaust nut tool. I've seen this listed in the Armours catalog as model VS-1. This probably came from DomiRacer when they were the only game in town. Nowadays I'm a believer in sending the head out for this kind of work.

Russ

Russ, I'm with you on sending a head out. You can't beat a guy who does heads everyday.