How critical is valve retainer replacement AP1

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Feb 8, 2019 | 09:01 AM

#31

roel03

Joined: Jan 2012

Posts: 975

Likes: 254

From: Florida

I went 4->2 at Sebring and bent 3 valves in my AP1 and cracked 5 retainers. Car shut off immediately. I then bought an AP2 head from ^^^ (S2000Junky) and the car was running 2 weeks later.

Feb 8, 2019 | 09:05 AM

#32

s2000Junky

Community Organizer

Joined: Jun 2007

Posts: 31,070

Likes: 566

Quote:

Originally Posted by roel03

I went 4->2 at Sebring and bent 3 valves in my AP1 and cracked 5 retainers. Car shut off immediately. I then bought an AP2 head from ^^^ (S2000Junky) and the car was running 2 weeks later.

Lucky, in 2 ways

Feb 8, 2019 | 01:15 PM

#33

Mr.Matchbox

Registered User

Joined: May 2018

Posts: 1,562

Likes: 555

From: Munich - Germany

Quote:

Originally Posted by s2000Junky

Fair assessment.

I will add my own, which is the ap2 retainers in this scenario would seem more likely to hold on to the valve stem and bend a valve vs crack the retainer and drop a valve. Both suck, but one scenario the bottom end can survive. Id much rather pull the head and replace a bent valve then lose the entire engine.

And thats the point. To me, that is reason enough to switch the retainers.

Jun 23, 2022 | 08:08 PM

#34

HondaOwnerForLife

Registered User

Joined: Jan 2019

Posts: 259

Likes: 75

From: Omaha

Quote:

Originally Posted by czirrfb3

I was under the impression the cracking is at the bottom and simply taking the valve cover off wont show any potential damage you would need to remove the retainers to check and at that point might as well replace. But I am not sure that is accurate information.

That's what my mechanic said, pretty much word for word.

Jun 24, 2022 | 06:01 AM

#35

rpg51

Joined: Jun 2016

Posts: 3,296

Likes: 260

From: Vermont

True that the retainer cracks appear on the bottom side of the retainer and cannot be directly visualized without pulling it all apart. But, you can definitely inspect the retainer condition from the top because there will be obvious visible signs from the top. If a retainer is cracked the stem end(s) will be sunken down into the retainer and you can see that from the top. There are good photos of this condition somewhere around this forum. What you do is up to you and I can certainly understand making the decision to replace the retainers proactively. But, I believe it is incorrect to say that you can't adequately inspect without pulling everything apart.