Developed as a time saver for engine builders, Goodson Tools‘ user friendly Keeper Eeze line of valve spring retainer tools are the featured tool in this week’s Friday Tool Time. 

Removing valve spring retainer locks can be a tricky proposition, especially when the cylinder heads are still mounted on the engine block. Dropping one of the beveled little keepers, only to have it find a passageway into the oil return system, can lead to more heartache and maintenance time.

Goodson’s Eeze-Keeper tool provides a simple yet secure method of removing valve spring retainer locks.

Most valve spring compressors on the market today do a decent job but do not have a provision to positively control the valve spring retainer locks. Goodson’s Keeper-Eeze tool incorporates magnets inside the T-handle to automatically capture and control the retainer locks without fear of them falling into internal engine passages.

The Keeper Eeze tool can be used with the cylinder heads on or off of the engine block. As seen in the video above, simply observe normal valve spring removal protocols like using a cylinder plug in the spark plug hole to keep the valves from dropping into the cylinder.

If the cylinder heads are removed from the engine, Goodson recommends using a shot bag in the combustion chamber of the cylinder heads to support the valves when removing the valve spring retainers.

According to Goodson, using the Keeper Eeze tool is pretty straight forward. Simply determine the correct protective guide sleeve, the one that fits closest to the spring bucket bore diameter and the spring/retainer assembly. (In some small engine applications, the valve spring clearance relief is used as the tool’s guide). Then install the sleeve around the spring and retainer.

The T-handle portion of the tool is prepped by pulling the plunger to the rear. This brings the magnets that hold the retainer keepers to the tool far enough away that the magnetic force is overcome and any keepers in the module will fall free.

Eeze-Keeper removes the valve spring retainer and locks at the same time while maintaining positive control of the parts by magnetic force.

The remover attachment is then installed into the end of the tool by twisting until it is fully seated and the magnetic plunger is pushed forward toward the remover attachment.

Next, the T-handle is installed into the protective guide sleeve where a firm strike on the T-handle will release the keepers. According to Goodson, the tool should not be used with a hammer blow to the T-handle.

The tool can then be pulled out of the protective guide with the valves retainer locks (keepers) held safely in place at the end of the Keeper-Eeze tool and the rest of the valvetrain can then be safely removed.

Installation is the reverse of removal with the only exception being the removal attachment is taken away and the installation attachment is installed on the T-handle. Overall, this is a great idea and seems like it would not only save a ton of time, but also some of the headaches involved.