jlacoy82

I'm stripping my y8 head and got everything removed but the valve seals and the spring seats. I wanted to see just HOW they were on there, so I muscled one of the valve seals off with a pair of channel locks, but I mangled the hell out of the thing, which disturbs me, because I dont want to damage the valve guides because I know they are fine and dont need replacing. The valve seals are apparently just pressure fitted on there, with like a small rib on the inside of it that fits into a groove on the top of the valve guide and holds it there like an o-ring.
I plan on replacing all the valve seals, but I'd rather not remove them all by brute force and risk damaging the valve guides which I DONT want to replace. I see the tool they have listed in the Helms, its sorta like a flywheel puller, but is there any way to safely DIY with hand tools/something simple? I dont know how much the Honda tool costs, and I'd really rather not find out.... TIA for any tips.


I posted this in the eg/ek civic forum then realized I'd probably get more appropriate responses here.

Rocket

There are specialty pliers and a special mini-slide hammer tool to pull valve seals.

If you are using pliers the cast iron guides won't be harmed unless you have some serious hand strength.

jlacoy82

Yeah, if I just grip the seal up around the top near the spring I could probably just mangle the thing off pretty easily w/o doing any harm to the valve guide, it just leaves some of the rubber/gasket material stuck to the top of the valve guide which peels off pretty easily. I'll see what I can do by hand, I may say screw it and get the RIGHT tool for the job, but who knows.

Thank you.

lohatch

i usually use a pliers and just turn back and forth as i apply upward force. pretty soon, off it comes

jlacoy82

TY lohatch, thats what I did, just wasnt sure if I was gonna damage anything besides the seal itself. If thats the case, I dont have any problem ripping all those damned little things off.

Thanks guys.