What if the function of a valve retainer?

TRhe retainer and locks works together to hold valve to spring and keep valve from falling into the cylinder and spring from coming off the top.

The locks are tappered, small end at bottom, big end at top.

You compress the spring down, drop retainer over valve, put locks in groove of valve stem and pull up on the retainer to lock the retainer and locks in place, the relese the pressure off your spring compressor and the valve spring now holds pressure up on retainer which forces up on the big end of locks and holds everything together

Valve Spring Retainer

Valve Retainer

There are many different types of valve retainers - some are just spring retainers, some are valve guide retainers, but they all serve a similar purpose - which is to keep all of the parts together and where they are supposed to go.

In an overhead cam engine the cam(s) spin and depress rockers which in turn push down on a long valve (4-7" long) to push it into the engine - which opens an intake or exhaust passage from the engine cylinder to the head. When the cam turns and the rocker lifts, the spring on the valve pulls the valve closed again.

Those springs are really heavy duty, and require retainers and clips that keep them attached to the valve so that the spring can close the valve after the rocker has opened it.

You can use Google image search to find a diagram that shows your particular setup just search images.google.com for "year make model engine valve diagram" and you should find a drawing of your setup.

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RE:

What if the function of a valve retainer?

Specifically an engine valve retainer.

They are a split tapered retainer, that keeps the valve spring attached to the valve. Without them the valve would fall into the cylinder damaging the piston & ruining the cylinder wall.

they go on top of the valve springs so when you put the keepers on they won,t fall down through.