Valve stem seal removal

[mattrosersv]

Got up early today to crack on with my engine rebuild and now a bit stuck..

First stem seal I tried to remove has started to tear. It looks like the replacements are threaded on the inside but the old ones won't even twist.

Any tips?

A bit frustrated at the mo since I can't crack on with the bottom end rebuild either as my number 3 main cap bearing does not fit (tang in wrong place). Ahhhggg, might as well go back to bed.

Matt

[clive f]

never striped a rv8, but normally the old valve stem seals are a bugger to remove, and are destroyed when removing them.

the new ones that look threaded, are you sure these are not just ridges in the rubber so that the seals grip inside the head, you`ll probably need to carefully tap them into place.

hope this helps, there will be many experienced rv8 guys along later, once they get their arses out of bed

[mattrosersv]

Cheers Clive. I stopped trying when one started to tear for fear of making a real pigs ear of it. I just bought a removal/install tool off ebay for 20 quid following a bit of tinterent research so hopefully will do the job.

Very frustrated as car has been off road since Feb while I completed a chassis refurb. It is alll back together now and I was hoping to get it finished this weeked

Matt

[Goaty Bill]

I've never done an RV8 either, but I've never re-used a set of valve stem seals on any other engine, GM, Ford, Chrysler or MG.

It's always been standard practice to change them.
Had a quick look at a picture of the seals, and assuming what I looked at is what you've got, 'upside down' rubber cup style, I'd say you should replace them as a matter of course.

[Ribol]

clive f said:

............the new ones that look threaded, are you sure these are not just ridges in the rubber so that the seals grip inside the head, you`ll probably need to carefully tap them into place.

+1

Most VSS have a metal ring in them to support the rubber/neoprene otherwise they would be too loose to stay in place, just dig them out with a screwdriver.

[Pupp]

Just get hold of them with a decent set of grips/pliers and yank them off... they do go brittle so be prepared for bits to fly, especially the little seal springs on the top lip and the circlips at the bottom. There are no threads.

[mb450]

I did this recently on a Rangerover 4.6 engine. Bought enough to do the chim when I next have the heads off.

Just pulled the old stem seals off with pliers and pushed them new ones on with a suitably sized socket (so as not to damage the cup on top of the seal)