Valve Stem Seals

[Smokey Eddy]

Valve Seal Setting Tool

If you are doing a head re build you will find
you can’t really seat the valve seals without
a special tool. This will do the job.

$19.95 ea.

Thats from vwdieselparts.com


I just found a 12pnt socket that fit the seals perfectly, joined to an extension, and i hammered them on the valve guides... am i missing something??

How far do they go on? After a couple taps i could feel metal on metal so i stopped thinking they were on all the way.

[the caveman]

You should feel when it seats. A good tap with the hammer will do it. If you have a good feel, it will be obvious when it's good.

[Smokey Eddy]

oh ok. That's what i thought. then i saw this "special" tool and i  thought i ^&%^ed up by using a socket (12 point) on an extension.
Thanks mate.

[cyrus #1]

That's what I do as well Ed!  Did you remember to protect the seals from getting damaged by the valve keeper grooves?

[Smokey Eddy]

Wha?
...
I figured that's what they lock into?
I didn't do anything but press them down

[zukgod1]

No they don't lock into those groves.

The groves are for the keepers to hold the valves in the head.
The seals come with a cool little plastic cap that you stick in the seal so when the valve comes through the guild it slides into the cap and slides past the seal. Basically the cap covers the keeper groves.

[Smokey Eddy]

Oh... I knew how the keepers stick to the valve stems.

I thought there was a groove on the valve guides.

My stem seals didn't come with the plastic piece, they were just seals in a little baggie. I'm not too bothered. They don't catch on the keeper grooves very much. I alread put 4 valves in. I'm still waiting for the other 4.

[Dakotakid]

The partially burned oil will help your exhaust last longer.

[Vincent Waldon]

To put it another way, yup the seals may well be ruined by being pushed past the keeper slots without a protective cap... them slots is sharp.:lol:

Your call, but the seals are cheap and you might not want to be pulling the valve train apart in the very near future because one or more let go ? :wink:

A piece of soda straw makes a good protector btw.

[duffer]

To put it another way, yup the seals may well be ruined by being pushed past the keeper slots without a protective cap... them slots is sharp.:lol:

Your call, but the seals are cheap and you might not want to be pulling the valve train apart in the very near future because one or more let go ? :wink:

A piece of soda straw makes a good protector btw.

  ScotchTape should also work. Just remember to remove it when
  the seals are in place.

[Smokey Eddy]

?
they don't look damaged in any way...
that rubber lives through the valve stems sliding back and forth a budrillion times. It would seem silly that they would be wrecked because they slid past some grooves. I don't see any damage on them what so ever?
They didn't get stick in the grooves and i didn't have a hard time at all getting them to go past. they just slid past them.

Are we talking about the same thing?

I don't think a lot of extra oil is going to get past them now
but i'll keep you posted.

[Vincent Waldon]

Let's put it this way... many of the cars you see on the road burning oil are burning it thru the valve seals as opposed to rings.

Simple devices though they be, they are critical to keeping all the oil misting around under the valve cover from leaking down the valve stems and into the combustion chamber.

Yes the rubber lives thru the valve stems sliding up and down, but not grating past the very sharp edges of the keeper grooves. They might be ok, or they might be damaged, or they might be weakened and fail prematurely.

If they fail, you'll be pulling the timing belt, cam, valve keepers and springs to do an in-engine repair, followed by reassembly and retiming the engine etc etc etc.... that's what we're suggesting you can avoid by replacing the four 1-dollar seals installed without the proper shield now.   :wink:

[jtanguay]

Let's put it this way... many of the cars you see on the road burning oil are burning it thru the valve seals as opposed to rings.

Simple devices though they be, they are critical to keeping all the oil misting around under the valve cover from leaking down the valve stems and into the combustion chamber.

Yes the rubber lives thru the valve stems sliding up and down, but not grating past the very sharp edges of the keeper grooves. They might be ok, or they might be damaged, or they might be weakened and fail prematurely.

If they fail, you'll be pulling the timing belt, cam, valve keepers and springs to do an in-engine repair, followed by reassembly and retiming the engine etc etc etc.... that's what we're suggesting you can avoid by replacing the four 1-dollar seals installed without the proper shield now.   :wink:

i would have to side with vince on this one... it's just too risky!!! and they're cheap enough to replace...

[zukgod1]

Let's put it this way... many of the cars you see on the road burning oil are burning it thru the valve seals as opposed to rings.

Simple devices though they be, they are critical to keeping all the oil misting around under the valve cover from leaking down the valve stems and into the combustion chamber.

Yes the rubber lives thru the valve stems sliding up and down, but not grating past the very sharp edges of the keeper grooves. They might be ok, or they might be damaged, or they might be weakened and fail prematurely.

If they fail, you'll be pulling the timing belt, cam, valve keepers and springs to do an in-engine repair, followed by reassembly and retiming the engine etc etc etc.... that's what we're suggesting you can avoid by replacing the four 1-dollar seals installed without the proper shield now.   :wink:

i would have to side with vince on this one... it's just too risky!!! and they're cheap enough to replace...

I'm there as well..

Just not worth it and EASY to replace right now.

[Smokey Eddy]

Thanks guys  :oops: