I'm working on getting my valve seals replaced and I loosened the bolts on the valvetrain and timing belt side and distributor side. I removed the distributor. I can't get the valvetrain to budge. I'm leery of forcing it in any way because I don't want to damage it. I can't seem to find info on this either. The videos and forums that I've read about the valvetrain removal make it seem super easy. The long bolts don't want to come out either. They will loosen to a point and then it seems like there are more threads after a gap. I don't want to strip the threads. Again, I can't find anything about this. Am I missing something or is there a technique to coaxe the train off? Thanks in advance.

 

There are dowel pins that align the caps to the head so you need to pull the entire assembly
upward with some force. You can use the plastic handle of a screwdriver to pry on the dizzy side to get it started. If you try to completely remove the bolts they will get hung up on the shafts and take some spinning/tugging to remove. If you leave the bolts in it’ll keep the whole assembly together and make it much easier to reinstall

 

Thank you much. I was able to get the valve train off how you described. However my valve spring tool is too big for my springs and I don't want to force it into the spring. I'll be getting a Honda valve spring tool and go back at the seals when I get it.
I'm pretty sure that I have a blown HG as well so I'll be pulling the head. Cylinder 4 and the exhaust port for it are gunked up pretty bad. I have a Haynes book to go by but any tips that aren't included in the book would be appreciated.
Thank you.

 

If you want to get the springs/retainers removed quickly, or while you’re waiting for a valve spring compressor to arrive, you can use a deep socket and a mallet to get them off. Just put the open end of the socket on the retainer and give it a swift whack with your mallet. Make sure you don’t loose the keepers (there are 2 per valve) and don’t mix up the valves. And don’t try this until you take the head off of the block, or you’ll drop the valves

 

Thank you much. After reading some more, the Honda valve spring tool that a lot of guys were talking about is a modified valve spring tool. I put mine on my belt sander, the bottom side of the tool so that the spring won't slip off, and grinded it thin enough to fit in the spring. I also pinched in the cap depressor as it was too wide. I'm a bit leery of knocking on the springs with a hammer. I've seen it done so there shouldn't be issue but I'm weird. Thank you for your time good sir. I'm currently changing the intake manifold gasket. Fun times.