[mattsz]

Bilgemaster, I'm pretty sure your bike is ruined.  I'll do you a favor and give you a few hundred for it...

Plan D is to be a man, and pull off the damned head already.

[mrunderhill1975a]

Pulling the head and jug is not as difficult as it may sound.  I think my first time it only took the afternoon to do. You just need to have the appropriate gaskets on hand.  Grinding valves is straight forward as well (30-45 minutes).  I haven't done valve guides, need a special tool, maybe an oven to heat.  Don't overtighten the nuts on the rebuild, they are drilled into aluminum.

[ddavidv]

Head R&R is a pretty easy task. The difficulty for mere mortals is getting the valve keepers out to do a proper valve grind. Neither spring compressor tool I had would work on the heavily canted Bullet springs.

[axman88]

The difficulty for mere mortals is getting the valve keepers out to do a proper valve grind.

The 2010 service manual I have for my 2012 UCE C5 says Special Tool ST 25123-1 is the gadget to have.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Genuine-Royal-Enfield-Valve-Spring-Spanner-Std-ST-25123/263463586927?_trkparms=aid%3D555018%26algo%3DPL.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D61112%26meid%3Da283a762090643818d048c36f28ec71d%26pid%3D100005%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D12%26mehot%3Dpf%26sd%3D264074301589%26itm%3D263463586927%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D0%26pg%3D2047675&_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851

The 11/95 workshop guide I have for the iron barrel bullets called for PED 2018 ST, which to my eye, looks pretty identical.  I'm guessing that big cutaway is how you access the retainers.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/ROYAL-ENFIELD-WORK-SHOP-TOOL-HEAD-VALVE-SPRING-COMPRESSOR-PED-2018-US/264234344876?hash=item3d859821ac:g:Z54AAOSwAYtWM3jP

I'm not sure how or where this ST 27528 fits into the mix?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Genuine-Royal-Enfield-Valve-Spring-Compressor-ST-27528/263586140564?hash=item3d5ef55194:g:GCkAAOSwXvNZrnm9

I set myself up with one of these modular kits, but haven't put it to the test yet.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Engine-Overhead-Valve-Spring-Installer-Remover-Set-OHV-OHC-Compressor-Tool-Kit/192543740019?hash=item2cd4805073:g:qxgAAOSwY4Fa~kF4

[mrunderhill1975a]

The PED 2018 tool is made of mild steel, very mild, Kevin Mahoney pointed out that this tool is prone to bending under the 500 cc spring pressure load for the larger engines. Mine bent after one spring removal, I used a large vise to return it to shape. I then had to beef mine up by welding support steel at the tube bends. I see the  ST 25123-1 tool has some added support steel in the corners to keep the tool in alignment.

[heloego]

During the first head I reworked I found the valve retainer collets like to be stuck to the valve stem and the retaining plate. The result was a bending of my tool while removing the intake valve.
Once I straightened the tool the exhaust valve came out much easier with some penetrating oil and good tapping with a hammer on the spring end of the tool.
Tighten/Tap/tighten/tap/tighten/tap, and so on until the collets are loose. Tighten about a 1/4 turn each time.

[ace.cafe]

You can get a decent valve spring compressor at nearly any major auto parts store.

[ddavidv]

You can, but...they may not work.
I own one of these:

Won't work.
The bike came with one of these:

Also won't work.

[ddavidv]

Browsing photos of valve spring compressor tools I found this clever solution. Don't know if it has enough clearance on the spring side to not foul the head but interesting nonetheless.

[mattsz]

FYI... I own one of these... and it works on the UCE head:

[cyrusb]

Is anybody still GRINDING valves? I hope not. Check out Neway cutter set.

[Bilgemaster]

Browsing photos of valve spring compressor tools I found this clever solution. Don't know if it has enough clearance on the spring side to not foul the head but interesting nonetheless.

That's interesting. Looks like they took a plain old humble Harbor Freight c-clamp and attached a socket that they'd taken a grinder to. Probably works just fine on whatever engine they used it on.

[Cat3625]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Engine-Overhead-Valve-Spring-Installer-Remover-Set-OHV-OHC-Compressor-Tool-Kit/192543740019?hash=item2cd4805073:g:qxgAAOSwY4Fa~kF4

Bought one of the modular ones last year to do my 350 head,works well and did the job.
Top tip is load a bit of tension on the spring and give the end of the tool a tap with a mallet to break the collets free from the spring collar.
Saves bending the tool!

[axman88]

Yeah, I went with the chinaman's modular spring compressor as well.  With that tool priced at $13 including shipping, it hardly seems worth committing a $9 C clamp, and welding then grinding.

And why buy a dubious quality India RE aftermarket tool, when you can have a dubious quality Chinese tool at half the cost?

[mrunderhill1975a]

As far as grinding valves......I ground mine about 5000 miles ago,  is there some new way of which I am not aware? What is a Neway cutter set?