Doug wrote:

>
> with a special L-Head valve spring compressor (looks
> like a giant tweezer),

When I was first learning to tinker with engines and rebuilding a
one-lung Kohler back in the early 70s, my Dad dug out his valve-spring
compressor like you describe. He told me you had to have a "regular"
valve spring compressor for side-valve engines and couldn't use the
"special kind for overhead valve engines." :-)


compress the valve springs until the keepers
> are removed and then each assembly would easily come apart. The valve
> is then extracted from the top of the engine , the springs are removed
> from the side cover cavity and away you go....

That's my recollection too- you cannot get the springs out unless you
lift the valves to get the stems up high enough to let the springs
slide out. To install, you have to hold the compressed spring "stack"
(with retainer and any shim needed) in place and drop the valve through
it, stick the keepers on the stem (thick grease works great) and
carefully release the spring comprssor so that the retainer captures the
keepers.

>
> I even used the suction cup type hand valve twirlers,Prussian blue and
> grinding compound to resurface the valve seats.

Yep, that Kohler was the first and last time I ever did that job, too.
With the advent of hardened valve seats and 3-angle valve jobs, grinding
just kinda faded into the sunset.