Removing Old Valve Stem Seals

[JEEPRUSTY]

Thanks for all the tips and advice guys.

After bending up a couple of flat head screw drivers but not being able to get good enough purchase or leverage to use them to good effect, a pair of long nose pliers, perseverence, and twisting and pulling did the trick nicely:



Now I can get to lapping and getting the head back together again

wicked compendium of pcitures
I had no idea what you were up agains man they are in a bad spot
there must be a special tool for facilitationg removal.

[pete]

wicked compendium of pcitures
I had no idea what you were up agains man they are in a bad spot
there must be a special tool for facilitationg removal.

Cheers, and yeah I thought so too, but from the replies here and what I've seen around Google, it looks like just use what you can to get them out... must be those tiny Japanese fingers at play...

[JEEPRUSTY]

http://www.uxcell.com/extra-long-valve-stem-seal-removal-tool-remover-pliers-p-19528.html

bet yah wish yah had this.

perhaps its too large a diamtere to work on bike seals though.

[pete]

Awww man you guys get all the cool tools!

They look like they'd fit perfectly and be a dream... so much better than a pair of pliers!

But thanks for finding them, will hopefully help the next poor sucker stuck trying to get them out...

[mike-s]

Needlenose pliers, thats what i used. I just stuck the jaw in, gripped and twisted like a croc doing a deathroll. Booya, they came off!

[pete]

Yup, that was the winning combination for me too

[alke46]

I did a proper search and revived this old thread looking for some help removing the stem seals.
The first 6 put up a terrible fight but on the last two I decided to use the old Bunsen burner torch method and wow, they gave up really quick. I wished afterward that I had used that trick soon after the 1st or 2nd one.

Now for a question: The FSM shows an o-ring on the valve guide which would be under the oil seal (I believe), and I do not see that on any of the parts fiches that I am looking at. I am guessing that it also needs to be replaced when replacing the oil seals, right?

Any suggestions would be appreciated. I just didn't want to put it back together if these little O-rings also need replacing.

Thanks.

[Nessism]

There is no O-ring. Just install the seal on top of the guide and make sure it's pushed down all the way.

[alke46]

well, that was quick. Thanks Ed. But it sure does look like there is something on the guide. Am I seeing something that is just raised for the seal to go over?

[storm 64]

Could it be a cir-clip to prevent the guide from dropping into the combustion chamber?

[alke46]

Could it be a cir-clip to prevent the guide from dropping into the combustion chamber?

Hey Norm, how you doing? Looking down into the bore, I can see a partial guide ring at the bottom of the bore. It looks like that is something that could prevent the guide from dropping into the chamber.
I'm looking in the FSM page 7-11 and it is showing a picture of the guide with the note: during reassembly, use replacement subassemblies, each consisting of guide ring (1) oil seal (2) and valve guide(3). That picture is what was throwing me off, thinking that the guide ring was a replaceable item.
I understand it would be replaceable only if replacing the guide, which I am not doing.

[chuck hahn]

Be sure the groove on the guide is free of any debris from the old seal too. I rub a dab of oil on the top of the guides to help the new one slide on. Once you push it on, twist it around and then try lifting it off to see that it has seated in the guide groove.

[alke46]

Be sure the groove on the guide is free of any debris from the old seal too. I rub a dab of oil on the top of the guides to help the new one slide on. Once you push it on, twist it around and then try lifting it off to see that it has seated in the guide groove.

That's what I needed to know. Thanks Chuck. There must be some residual rubber from the oil seal remaining in the groove and I thought it was an o-ring. Now I can use a pick and clean that groove.
Also Chuck, I was thinking of you yesterday when I used the propane torch to free up the last two seals. I kept telling myself: remember, Chuck says fire is your friend.

[chuck hahn]

I use 00 grade steel wool soaked in carb cleaner to clean the grooves. A pick may actually scar it. I say "may" as i have never used a pick for fear of doping exactly that. Then a good shot of air to blow the well free of debris.

And yes fire is a friend..provided you dont get too carried away...HA HA