slampoud wrote:
>
> I'm doing a head gasket change on a 1987 Honda Accord 2.0liter fuel
> injected engine.
> Part of the procedure involves replacing the old valve stem seals with
> OEM replacements, in this case. The valve stem seals that are giving me
> trouble are the ones used for the exhaust valves, so there are 4 of
> them. Now, removing the old ones was really really hard (it took hours
> of pliers and prying with a flathead screwdriver), but installing the
> new ones seems near impossible!
>
> Is there a trick to this? What I've tried so far is lubricating them
> with engine oil and then either pushing or twisting them on. I've
> already destroyed one by hammering it in (they're made of a metal
> sleeve coated with rubber, on the inside, which extends to a rubber
> collar around the valve -- hammering on them made the rubber collar
> tear).
>
> Another approach I tried was to use a 10mm socket, which fits pretty
> closely on top of the metal sleeve, but does not touch the rubber
> collar, and a rubber mallet to hammer on it. This has worked better
> than the mallet directly onto the seal, which was disastrous, but I
> still worry that it will weaken the collar enough for the seals to fall
> apart sooner rather than later... Worked better in this case means I've
> managed to get one out of four in!
>
> The honda shop manual and the chilton manual say nothing about proper
> installation procedure, yet this seems like the sort of thing where if
> you fatigue the part during installation, it fails spectacularly later.
>
> So, has anyone had experience with this? How do people get these on?
> Should I perhaps try heating the seals?
>

Don't use heat and don't twist them!!! Most techs will use a socket like
you did and lightly tap them in place. A 10 mm socket might be a little on
the small side. Try using a deep chrome 6 point 12 mm socket. This will
probably sit closer to the shoulder of the seal where it has more
strength. I can't remember if I used any motor oil on the valve guides.
However, when I do the stem seals with the engine still in the car (and with
the valve held in place with compressed air) I will use a little oil on the
valve stem.

Eric