valve guide stem seals hard to put on - am I doing it right?

[Andrew Vanis]

The replacement seals seem too small to go on the guides. I got one on but it seemed more like luck.

I did oil the seal before assembly. Unfortunately I tossed the old seals already to compare.

Anyone have a new OEM one around to measure the inside diameter of the seal so I can compare?

81gs750L

[chuck hahn]

I use a socket ( on an extention of course ) that just allows the top rim of the seals to set inside it. Then i wiggle a little side to side as I push them on. Then once on I give them a little spin to be sure they are fully in the retention groove on the valve guides.

[alke46]

Looks to be 6mm. I slid one over a 6mm hex wrench with very slight resistance.

[Brendan W]

Are you sure the grooves in the guides are free of old seal...............had to ask

[Andrew Vanis]

got them on.

took the spring wire off, put the seals on, used a o-ring spreader to expand the spring wire to get it on the seal, slid the spring wire down off the o-ring spreader into the groove. Had to be careful since it is easy to push the spring wire past the groove and thus off the seal and onto the guide.

these seem bulging a bit over the valve guides but that may be my eyes full of frustration.