Ok so since i just bought a 2000 S2000 like 2 weeks ago i have been on this forum non-stop... i dont know alot about this car yet...

I recently notcied a mis-shift thread and read:
"The F20C is another matter. The valve spring retainers on the intake side stretch and crack due to the hammering that results from valve float, somewhere around 10,000 RPM. After the money shift that does the damage there may be no symptoms at all. However, once the retainers are cracked, the cracks continue to grow over time, until the keepers pop out and the valve falls down into to cylinder and becomes close friends with the piston. To avoid this kind of thing you need to inspect the retainers after any suspected over rev, but ONLY IF the engine is an F20C. If you harm an F22C with a money shift, you'll know immediately"

Oviously that would be REALLY bad and would mean a new motor, which i couldnt afford... So my question is how would i check the intake retainers to see if they are cracked so that i can spend the 2k i have saved to replace them and save myself a new motor instead of spending it on exhaust and intake?
Also could i check them at work with all the tools they have or do i need some special tool that only a dealership would have? Or should i get the dealership to check for me?
Thanks

 

do a search on overrev and read anything that Billman says for info. He is the expert on all this. If you live close to Long Island....definitely have him check your car if you are worried.

 

when you have the valve rockers off to inspect the retainers, it isnt that much more work to replace the retainers.
retainers are about $1.50 each. if you over-revved, just replace the retainers.

 

The inspection is relatively simple. It's actually slightly easier than inspecting the valve clearances, but you have to know what to look for. This is a matter for an experienced amateur mechanic or a reliable pro mechanic. But in either case, if the mechanic does not know what to look for, he won't see anything.

 

well i just phoned my honda service center and get this, the guy said that this problem COULD NOT HAPPEN... and he had never heard of it before, so i just went w/ it and asked how much it would cost to have them check my valve spring retainers and he said it would be a 20 hr job! i know that is a load of crap...
Just goes to show how little some centers know about these cars

 

20 hour Job!! that is BS....If you don't think you can do this yourself I would suggest smaller independent shops,I've always had more luck with them and they've always been cheaper and more Knowledgable than honda service centers.

 

I think the quote in your original post was from me.

First, if I were you, I think I'd try to find someplace to have my car serviced. The comments you got about this being impossible would scare me right off.

Fortunately, if you have a few basic tools you can check the retainers yourself. And since you have just purchased an AP1 with an unknown history I'd strongly advise taking a look. All you have to do is take the cam cover off and look at the retainers and keepers closely, using a good flashlight. If the retainers are stretched, the keepers will appear to be recessed. Here's a picture that shows what you'll be looking for ...



LOL, you could print out a copy of that picture and show it to your Honda service center, and try to educate them a little, since they told you that this is impossible.
(But it would probably be a waste of your time.)

No special tools required. If you do a search (try "over rev" and "retainer") you can probably find a DIY here on S2kI.

 

That is an interesting way to solve the problem, increase the thickness of the retainer instead of going to a higher strength alloy. Maybe the drop in rpm with the newer models was enough to offset the additional mass in the valve train.

 

Yes, that's exactly what happened.

 

Interestingly, Billman has been replacing cracked F20C retainers with F22C retainers with good success. The extra mass is not enough to lower the onset of valve float below the F20C redline, thought it has to lower it some.

I suspect that with the F22C retainers in an F20C, valve float may start at a lower engine speed, but since the flat doesn't hammer cracks into the retainers it probably doesn't matter.

Billman likes the F22C retainers in the F20C, but I'll stick with the lighter retianers myself. It's really no big deal to check the things if an over rev is suspected.