I have a question! I have a sohc Ford ranger and I am having so much trouble trying to compress the springs down to put the keys if you will back in due to lack of space because of where the camshaft sits. AutoZone gave me a tool but it is not working and I went to advance and the gave me a c-clamo looking thing where you squeeze to compress and no go any advise please!!?.

 

They have a tool to do it on Ford OHC vehicles

Picture of tool here: https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/jgAAA...Fou/s-l500.jpg

You don't actually compress the valve spring by squeezing it like other valve spring tools are for, you push down on the top of spring once its in place using the Cam as leverage

So cam needs to be in, but just snug tight, don't have to torque it down, and you do want to turn it for each spring



The curved arms go on underside of the camshaft, straddling the lobe
The "fork" part is on top of the valve spring
You use a 3/8 socket wrench(breaker bar) in the square hole for leverage, and you push down the spring

Coat the retaining clips with grease so they stay in place then slowly release the pressure to make sure they are locked

 

Thanks for the info I was also looking on eBay at one that looks like a giant C with different size bolts and the cup looking things that when sping is compressed you can reach in and pull or install the retainers