Apparently one valve

was stuck open. He was fortunate to find a highly experienced mechanic.
The mechanic was able to get the valve out of the guide and completely
into
the cylinder with the piston at bottom dead center. Then using a special
tool
and a bore scoop he got the valve stem started into the spark plug hole.
Yep the valve
stem fits through the spark plug hole. He then stuffed rope into the
cylinder through the valve stem guide and moved the piston out until it
held
the valve in the spark plug hole securely. He then cleaned the valve
stem
and reversed the process. This whole procedure saved removing the lower
cowl
and a bunch of baffling to remove the entire cylinder and piston and
getting
to the valve that way. The guy is obviously a brain surgeon in real
life.

I have heard of the rope trick to keep a valve stem in the valve guide
with the spring off but this is first time I have heard of anyone
accomplishing
this feat of mechanical magic.

Paul Lamar<

Paul,
The 'rope trick' is a well known and published Lycoming procedure
(Service instruction 1425). Most good mechanics have done it and know
where to find the information on how to do it to ream the valve guide
with the valve dropped down into the cylinder. In fact, I have done it
several times myself, and yes, I should have been a brain surgeon. (and
I do stay sometimes in Holiday Inns, even)
http://www.lycoming.textron.com/support/publications/maintenancePublicat
ions/serviceInstructions/SI1425a.pdf

Oh well.......
Marc Wiese

Do you have a picture of the tool you use to pick up the valve and feed
the stem back into the guide or through the spark plug hole? Do you also own a bore 
scope to see inside the cylinder. That should come in handy for inspecting
apex seals.

Paul Lamar
 
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