Remember when we used to pull cylinder heads with a cherry picker and a prayer?

I was rebuilding a 5.9 Cummins last month and used a proper head stand for the first time. Back in the day at my old shop, we'd just balance the thing on a rolling floor jack and hope it didn't tip while two guys guided it. It was sketchy, took forever, and we scratched a few decks. This time, I rented a stand for $40 for the weekend. Had the head bolted to it, flipped it over to clean the fire deck and lap valves without any fuss. The difference was night and day. It felt safe, it was way faster, and I could actually see what I was doing. Makes me wonder how many hours we wasted and how many gasket surfaces we messed up doing it the old way. Anyone else have a 'why didn't I do this sooner' moment with a basic piece of shop equipment?

3 comments

3 Comments

samk771mo ago

My old boss finally bought a valve spring compressor last year.

alicemurphy1mo ago

Only took him that long, huh? What was he doing before, using two screwdrivers and praying? That sounds like a nightmare waiting to happen. Bet that first job with the real tool felt like magic. How many springs do you think he launched into orbit over the years?

aaron7401mo ago

My buddy lost a spring through his garage ceiling.