Correct valve retainer for 3-groove valve keepers
Posted: Mon Oct 23, 2023 8:26 pm
Hello!
Due to low compression in my rear 2 cylinders I replaced all 4 exhaust valves and had the valve seats cut at a local machine shop. I took out the 4 old single groove exhaust valves and replaced them with the 3-groove exhaust valves currently available on the sonex webstore. Realizing I'd need new 3-groove valve keepers, I picked up a set from a VW shop (separate from the machine shop). Since the outer diameter of the 3-groove valve keepers are slightly smaller than the old 1-groove valve keepers, they fit further down in the valve retainer (see photos). As a result the spring would be less compressed.
I was hoping someone could point me in the right direction on if I need new valve retainers, keepers, or both, and where I could find them online.
Thanks for the help :)
Left is new 3 groove valve, right is old 1 groove valve
Ethan McIntosh
Sonex 888
Due to low compression in my rear 2 cylinders I replaced all 4 exhaust valves and had the valve seats cut at a local machine shop. I took out the 4 old single groove exhaust valves and replaced them with the 3-groove exhaust valves currently available on the sonex webstore. Realizing I'd need new 3-groove valve keepers, I picked up a set from a VW shop (separate from the machine shop). Since the outer diameter of the 3-groove valve keepers are slightly smaller than the old 1-groove valve keepers, they fit further down in the valve retainer (see photos). As a result the spring would be less compressed.
I was hoping someone could point me in the right direction on if I need new valve retainers, keepers, or both, and where I could find them online.
Thanks for the help :)
Left is new 3 groove valve, right is old 1 groove valve
Ethan McIntosh
Sonex 888