Have you used this tool?
 

I am planning on doing the valve seals on my M103 shortly. And I am wondering if anyone has any experience with this valve spring compressor sold by Harbour Freight for under $10.00. It looks a lot like the one Autozone has in their tool rental program.

http://search.harborfreight.com/cpisearch/web/search.do?keyword=valve+spring+compressor&Submit=Go

used the one from Autozone..couldn't get to the valve stem seal at the valve closest to the transmission stick

car went from using a qt every 325 miles to using a quart every 17-1800 miles

car has 218k on it.


then went and bought the Harbor Freight unit for the other car.... still couldn't get to the seal by the transmission stick...

so i went 11/12 with each one..

others may have a way to remove the transmission tube and get to that last one...or buy a more expensive tool

wasn't worth the time to me... i was thrilled with the change in oil consumption, however.

i was concerned that the 260e was on borrowed time...now i am looking forward to 250k.

Thanks, Lee
 

And I don't even have to worry about the transmission dip stick because mine is a five speed stick. I am glad to hear it works, For $10.00 I like to have mine own, though the ones on Ebay look pretty nice and are possibly easier to use. But they are at $55.00 or $60.00 and then about $20.00 shipping also.

You will do fine with the one from HF..

just read about all the tricks to do the job...not difficult, just labor intensive.. i took my time, took me about 6.5 hours

check on the tool rental forum.Someone might have one you can rent.

Could, but it doesn't really pay
 

If this HF tool will do the job, even on a limited life basis, for the $10.00 price plus a couple of dollars freight I can have my own tool. That is better then renting from someone and paying shipping both ways - it seems to me. Now the other type of valve spring tool. the one that uses the lever, it would seem is a little easier to operate, but with shipping it is $70 plus. I don't see that anyone has it for rent.