Valve stem seal install HELP!
Valve stem seal install HELP! Im currently installing my valvetrain back onto my heads for the first time. I have the spring seats in place but am having a HELL of a time putting the seals on. Anyone have any tips to install these w/o damaging them? Im at a loss and YES I did search.
Tom
Tom
With the seal off the head, find a long socket that will fit over the top of the seal and contact the metal part. Lube the valve stem and then tap the seal into place. You will know when it bottoms as the tapping sound will change to more of a thud. Hard to explain, but you will understand once you do one. Also, tao, don't wail on them.
ok, this is the process I am using but what size socket? I used a 15mm but it slid too far overthe socket (inside socket) so a 14mm? I am tapping the socket but it doesn't seem to want to budge. Does it make a difference with the valve in or not?
I don't know man. You have to give them a decent whack, at least that is what I found out. My buddy and I had a hell of a time getting the ones furthest back. He was holding the socket while I smacked it with a hammer. Hit his hand more than the socket, haha. I know they are not down as far as the others. Hopefully I am not burning oil. Haven't noticed any smoke yet though (knocks on wood). Good luck.
The valve can be in, but as I said above lube it so the seal slides right over the valve lock channel or you will damage the seal.
I want to say its more like 12mm, but you have to check it. You want the outside diameter of the socket on the metal of the seal and you don't want the inside of the socket to hit the rubber.
The valve can be in, but as I said above lube it so the seal slides right over the valve lock channel or you will damage the seal.
The valve can be in, but as I said above lube it so the seal slides right over the valve lock channel or you will damage the seal.
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i just did valve seals on a set of afr 205's. they were off the car, but the socket thing didnt work for me at all, i tried 12mm six points and 12 points and 1/2" also. ordered another set of valve seals and oiled em up real good and wiggled em all the way on there real easy with a pair of angled pliers. didnt screw any up either
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 319
Likes: 1
From: North Carolina
I used a 13 mm 6 point. I was using a 12mm 12 point but I ruined 2 to the small spring coils at the tops of the new seals. I had to borrow 2 springs from old seals. I don't hit them hard except for the very end. Its been my experience they do not have to go all the way doen to the seat. My stock ones did not do that so I am not doing that with the new ones.
i used a socket and about 3 in i screwed one all up, damaged the spring thing. Just oil them up and use your dam hand. they will go on tight but you can push them all the way on. one screwed up seal by hitting it and your gonna be burning some oil.
seems like I might of bashed one of the seals a little much but Ive been getting them on there slowly. What seems to be working best for me is oil the crap out of everything and push it on by hand and then 13mm 6pt. How far down are these things supposed to sit in relation to the seat? all the way down? I have one about 1/2 in from the seat right now and it doesnt look right.
like the others said, use a deep socket. You can tap them on and listen for the sound to change subtly as it hits home. It will sound more solid. Or you can push them on by hand and feel for a little snap as it slides on home. If you push them on by hand, the palm of your hand will be VERY sore by the end of it.
I started to use a 12mm 12 point, but I saw a cylinder looking metal piece in the tool box and used that. It was the metal piece that came with my LCA relocation brackets. It worked really well. I lubed the stems and seals up well, but I still had to give them some firm taps to get them all the way down.
The seals will not go all the way down to the bottom............there will be a small gap under the seal.
The seals will not go all the way down to the bottom............there will be a small gap under the seal.
on another note, if your running dual springs with the bottom locators, make sure you put the locators on before you put the seals on. This one guy i know cough, cough, put on all his seals, then realized the bottom locators needed to go on first........