Replacing valve seals??

My manual says a special tool is required to install valve seals. I read a quick writeup in the archives that suggested putting valve seals on the stem and then install.....

Reason I ask is.... I am getting ready to soak my head in diesel as it is quite dirty and I will not be ready to pay for the replacement if it is difficult to do it myself. help?

they are not that hard to install, I have used a lot of things to install seals, pipe, sockets, etc, find something that will fit the outside of the seal, and tap them on the guides, be careful not to damage the seal when installing the valve, use oil or assembly lube.

I've used a sprk plug socket with small news paper tucked in side, strike valve spring, be sure not to hit valve, valve keepers will come off, sometimes they fly off, so keeping with a clean area in case you need to find one, remove spring, remove seal, replace, I would do one at a time so as not to get valves mixed up, you then need a valve spring compressor to push down spring and replace keepers, I always lightly tap the spring afterwards, it is absoulety crucial you get keepers on straight, if one goes flying off you could do extensive motor damage, and might damage yourself, in a pinch I've used a large c" clamp and a peice of pipe with a u cut on both sides.

I'm not sure what you have in the way of tools, but I suspect what you are posting about is a valve spring compressor. You'll need some form of one...some folks have made their own (there are a number of posts on this site detailing those efforts) or you can purchase one (the prices have come down lately). BUT, you will need one. Other tools required in the reassembly process are two torque wrenches, one in ft-lbs and the other in in-lbs...and a valve shim tool. When the head is disassembled, the valve stem seals are quickly and easily replaced.

no, i was talking about the seals. I did the same c clamp method with a piece of 3/4 pvc worked excellent for 13 bucks. back to the seals i think my manual was refering to the valve guides needing a special tool for replacement. I am not replacing the guides, just the seals and want to be sure that i dont damage them. sounds like fitting them inside a socket snugly and pressing them on is the recommended method.

calvin17d wrote:

no, i was talking about the seals. I did the same c clamp method with a piece of 3/4 pvc worked excellent for 13 bucks. back to the seals i think my manual was refering to the valve guides needing a special tool for replacement. I am not replacing the guides, just the seals and want to be sure that i dont damage them. sounds like fitting them inside a socket snugly and pressing them on is the recommended method.

Ah, just the seals...you'll damage them when you pull them off...use a needlenose or something similar...make sure you don't grab the tip of the guide with the pliers...to replace, just push them on with the tip of your finger, you'll be able to feel when they slide into place.

finally got around to putting these suckers on. It was not easy and they certainly did not slide right on, even with a little synth grease. I ended up using a method that involved some creativity with a socket. If anyone ever has trouble with these send me a PM and I might have an idea or 2.