Removing Old Valve Stem Seals

[pete]

Well I managed to leave the old valve stem seals in the head while it was being blasted.

The blasting was non-abrasive, so no visible damage, but they're 30 years old and I have a new set with my gasket set ready to be installed.

Anyway, I couldn't seem to budge the old seals yesterday to remove them.

Is there any special technique for this? I'm just trying to get a grip with some long nose pliers and trying not to slip and gouge the head while I'm at it.

I'm still down my right thumb at the moment which makes it a little more difficult, so perhaps I just need to persevere more.

Any thoughts or tips?

[Nessism]

Hey Pete,

It's a pain to remove the old seals sometimes. I've heard of people snapping off a valve guide while getting a little too physical with them so please don't.

I've had success with some regular old pliers, and/or an old screwdriver that has a crook in the end so it works as a hook tool.

Good luck

[hampshirehog]

If you can get the things twisted with a pair of pliers before trying to pull on them you're halfway there.

Using a blowtorch to burn the rubber helps sometimes.

[pete]

Hey Pete,

It's a pain to remove the old seals sometimes. I've heard of people snapping off a valve guide while getting a little too physical with them so please don't.

I've had success with some regular old pliers, and/or an old screwdriver that has a crook in the end so it works as a hook tool.

Good luck

Cheers Ed, glad I'm not the only one having this issue. My searches didn't reveal anything like what you've suggested, so very helpful, and I have no intention of breaking any valve guides!

I have plenty of old screwdrivers around, so I might bend the end of one of those up and give that a try.

If you can get the things twisted with a pair of pliers before trying to pull on them you're halfway there.

Using a blowtorch to burn the rubber helps sometimes.

Cool, that makes sense too, although I hope I don't have to resort to the blowtorch method!

[GregT]

I use a long thin screwdriver ground to a chisel edge - go down the side of the guide splitting the seal. Works on metal cased seals and straight rubber ones.

[pete]

I use a long thin screwdriver ground to a chisel edge - go down the side of the guide splitting the seal. Works on metal cased seals and straight rubber ones.

Cheers Greg! I think I'll try the bent screwdriver first then go from there.

I would be a little worried about slipping and gouging the head with this one, but it's certainly another good one to try.

[sharpy]

A old spoke bent half way down for grip does the trick. Just get the head of the spoke under the seal and pull.

[gearhead13]

I always just end up pulling up on the rubber part with pliers and tears apart, just have to remember to remove the little metal round clamp thingy after.

[Suzuki_Don]

I use a pair of parallel jawed pliers with circular groove ground in them to fit around the metal seal and twist it off.

[pete]

Wow thanks guys! So many different methods that obviously all work well.

Hopefully I'll get some time soon to start trying them out... except the spoke one Sharpy, but only coz I ain't got one

[koolaid_kid]

I watched a professional head builder remove one of mine last month. He used a small hook tool to slip under the round spring and lift it out of the groove. Once he hooked that, the entire seal came out easily.

[pete]

Cool, that works with Ed's suggestion of the bent over screw driver too, which is what I'll be trying first up.

Thanks

[bwringer]

I bought a huge pair of cheap needle-nose pliers from Harbor Freight (less than four bucks, I think), then used a Dremel tool to undercut the tips of the jaws.

It took some trial and error, but the jaws now fit over the seal and are hooked so that they grab onto the underside of the seal without dinging up the valve guide.

Grab, twist and wiggle a bit, and yoink!

[pete]

Wow another good one cheers Brian! Can't wait to get some time now...

[pete]

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