Well I finally got around to replacing the valve cover gasket on my '99 Accord EX 5-speed with 4 cyl. I could not figure out how to get the old bolt gromets OFF the bolts!! The Fel-pro gasket set I got came with them but how do you get the old bolt gromets off and the new ones on??

Also MAN are the spark plug tube gaskets hard to get out!!

 

For the spark plug tube gaskets I use a flat screw driver to pry them out. To install the new ones, I lightly oil the outside of the gasket and then push them into the valve cover.

For the bolt grommets... take a utility knife and cut the old ones off. Then I find a suitable socket that fits the grommet nicely and take the new grommets, socket, and bolt to the bench vice. Use a little oil to help the install, place everything into the vice as so... bolt/grommet/socket. slowly tighten up the vice while making sure the grommet does not slip into the socket and everything stays straight. Or you could muscle it in there but I prefer to do it the easier way.

 

Don't have a vise. Might see if it is sealed ok with the old ones and keep teh new gromets for latter.

 

I had the same issue when I was chainging the valve cover gasket on my 1999 Accord during the timing belt job.

The valve cover alone took more time then the whole timing belt job. What a nightmare. I didn't have a vise either. I didn't change the gorment as well.

 

Does your valve cover gaskets leak??

 

you could try using a c-clamp?

or just muscle them on. It'll take a while and probably hurt your hands a bit but thats the way I did it my first time on my Accord. Since then I've used a vise to make it easier on myself.

 

I used a lighter, heat up the grommets and squeeze em in. Worked great for me.