I've been looking through my Helm's and reading up on the valve stem seal replacement procedure. It basically tells you to compress the valve spring, remove the retainer, replace the seal, reinstall and compress the spring, and reinstall the retainer. My question is, how do you get the retainer off? The Helm's just says "remove retainer" or something like that, and is pretty vague. How is the retainer held in place? To complete this job, I would need a valve spring compressor, and a valve stem seal remover/installer, correct? Would I be able to use universal tools, or would I need Honda-specific ones? This is for a D16Y8, btw. Any insight is greatly appreciated.

 

depends on the valvespring removal tool you use, but with the valve held fromt he bottom and spring compressed, use a magnet and remove the two lil keepers then decompress and retainer is now free.

you can install seals by hand, just need standard seal removal tool ...

greg

 

Thanks for the reply. So the retainer just comes off when the spring is compressed? Do you need to rotate it or something? I guess I don't really understand how it's physically attached to the top of the valve. The c-clamp style compressors are designed to hold the valve from the bottom, right? Do seal removal tools come in different sizes, or are they all the same?

 

The top of the spring compressor is designed so when you compress the assembly you can remove the keepers-2 little semi circles that hold the retainer to the valve stem(grooves). Once those are removed- you slowly release the spring compressor tension- so the retainer doesn't hit you in the eye hole. Once released, the retainer and spring come right out and you can replace your stem seal. Put it all back on the opposite way.

 

I see, so the retainers are just held on by those grooves?

 

Now how would you remove the valve stem seals

 

They make a tool for removing the seals. I'm just wondering if they're all pretty much universal, or if you need a specific size for Honda seals. The same goes for compressors. I've noticed that most list 3/8" or 7/16" as their size. Does it matter what size you get if you're working on a Honda?

 

You can get the springs off without a spring compressor.
Put a socket on the retainers and whack it with a mallet, the retainer clips will pop out. Piece a cake.

 

Who makes these tools and where can i get one or is there a ghetto rigged alternative

 

you can get all the tools needed for the job for under $200 from Snap-on tools

 

I'm guess ing you could use something like this:

or this:

 

what would those do if vice grips didn't work for me. I literally clamp the seal so hard i crushed them and then proceeded to yank but still no hope.

 

You asked for the ghetto way so here it is. I just did mine the other day.

I removed the springs by using an old Deep socket, I cut out the sides not quite to the bottom of the socket, welded a washer to the nut end. I then placed the home made adapter on top of the valve spring and wacked it with a mallet, the retainers would pop out. Just make sure you dont loose the retainers.

After I had installed the new seals I simply used a vice clamp(Very common), tack welded the end of the clamp so it wouldnt swivel. I then taped the adapter I made to the tack welded end of the clamp and went at.

Suprisingly, It worked really well. all with tools I found around the garage,

 

 

Great post!

I'm also doing this work, and according to my Helms, use a tool that is commercially available: Lisle 57900 or KD tools 3350

I can't find them anywhere! Actually the Lisle tool with that part number is a belt tool!

 

Yah, you want to avoid crushing them. That will only make them more diffcult, maybe impossible, to remove.

Try and "uncrush" them. If you pinched them at 12 and 6 o'clock, then put the nose of your pliers at 3 and 9 o'clock and try and squeeze the seal so it goes round again. Then, use a pair of needle nose pliers to try and pull it off. It doesn't need a lot of clamping force, just enough to grip the seal. I turned and rocked mine back and forth a little while I pulled up. Some were tougher than others, but they all came off.