That tool looks useful. I replaced mine with hydraulic, so I never dealt with removing the shoes from the springs. But don't feel like you need the "special tools" for releasing tension or holding them open. It's easy to use a combination wrench as a T handle and a nail to hold the springs open.

 

Here's a quick and easy tool for the rear tensioner. You don't have to remove the cams from the plate so there's no bearing pulling or replacement needed. As mentioned, just about anything will work on the front one. The guy's contact info is in the comments/text below the video. F86, the tool they were talking about is for peening the new shoes on the tensioner body, not for R&Ring the tensioner on/off the cam plate.

 

Yes, understood! That's why I said it looks useful! 😊

 

Sorry bout that. I got it wrong, again I got crossed up reading your text and looking the picture of the adjustable wrench on the front tensioner.

The tool you were actually talking about does work the business, not absolutely necessary as you pointed out but it is handy. I'm tight as an Amish tick and I bought one. That said, I do a lot of shoe replacement jobs on older Twin Cams.