Valve stem oil seal removal

[Barrymo38]

Hi,

I am stripping a cylinder head from a turbo engine and for the life of me I can find no way to remove the valve stem oil seals. Does anyone know of a special tool or of a technique to get the little blighters off ?

Thanks
Barrymo38

[Jamie N]

They can be a challenge to remove right enough, a couple of things that I have used is a pair of long nosed wire strippers which have 2 sharp teeth on each end which point at each other, these allow you to grip the body of the seal and wiggle it whilst pulling towards you, another option is to use a fine sharp chisel and split down the side of the seal, obviously you need a steady and careful hand but done with due care and attention it is probably the easier method.

There are other options but that is how I have done them many times and never had a problem.

[Barrymo38]

Thanks Jamie,

I will give these suggestions a try

Regards and thanks for the very rapid response

Barry

[lotusflasherman]

Resurrecting an old thread but it's got the right title ...
Bought these today to remove obstinate seals on my Subaru engine. So easy with the right tool and only £7.45 ! Good for fitting new ones too.
Will suit Elan as well and I'm sure I'll find other uses for them.. look ideal for picking up that bolt that's dropped somewhere awkward where a magnet won't work..

s-l500.jpg

valve stem oil seal removal pliers

[simonbuk]

I've never understood how they remain in place ? What stops them from moving once in place ?

[Dave Eds]

Nice one flickerman.

My mate across the pond says the same company make a pair of these for Isuzu engines too, but you need to file a bit off to make them work on the M100.

[Rice crispy]

Nice one flickerman.

My mate across the pond says the same company make a pair of these for Isuzu engines too, but you need to file a bit off to make them work on the M100.

I vote we let him back on the forum as it's not as much fun without seeing the steam coming from his ears when he can't tell the clever people on here how stupid they are

[simonbuk]

Unfortunately theres little to no technical information or published specs to make educated decisions as to whether these are suited to our Elan valve stem seals.

Has anyone actually calculated out the theoretical pressure required of the stock pliers and the aftermarket alternatives? Has anyone actually figured out all the specs of this tool ?



C'mon.......lets let him back in....

[lotusflasherman]

Unfortunately theres little to no technical information or published specs to make educated decisions as to whether these are suited to our Elan valve stem seals.

Has anyone actually calculated out the theoretical pressure required of the stock pliers and the aftermarket alternatives? Has anyone actually figured out all the specs of this tool ?



C'mon.......lets let him back in....

Yes, it's 13.8 Trumps. (A Trump is a unit that means anything I want it to be )

To answer your earlier question ... the top of the guide has a machined groove and the seal has a circular moulding that sits in it. That's why they are so difficult to get off when the rubber goes hard..

This is the Subaru version .... not to be confused with Izoozoo...

valve stem seal.jpg

[dapinky]

I'm a bit worried, now.....

.... I bought a set of stem seals from Rocks a few years ago, but now realise that I might have to file a bit off the bottom to make them fit the Elan head - no problem, I have a chainsaw which will do the job.

My question relates to this tool, though....... The 'bent screwdriver and snipe-nose pliers' I have always used on every other engine I've worked on appears to be incorrect.

I don't want to buy a specialist tool unless it is 'branded' for a Lotus in case it doesn't work....... so do I need to bend the screwdriver in my Elan toolkit to do the job properly?

I'm hoping that there may be an ill-informed expert on here who can put my mind at ease.

[lotusflasherman]

Dave, these ones are also available from me at £157.75. Part Number AL0T0D0SH...

lota dosh0.jpg

[simonbuk]

So the seal that site within is rubber ?

When that object sits in the head - what holds that in ?

I think I need to take a head to pieces.......

[dapinky]

In the interest of education over flippancy and ammusement.....

Simon,

The Lotus stem seals are similar to the ones Phil has pictured, but the inner surface is coated with a rubber compound which is a tight fit over the metal tube protruding from the head (top of valve guide). It also seals against the actual valve stem which protrudes beyond the valve stem seal - thus preventing excess oil from dripping down the valve stem into the combustion chamber, but still allowing the valve to slide through it. On some engines they are on all valves (like ours!) but on some they are only on the inlet valve stems.

[lotusflasherman]

Not had an Elan to bits Dave - are they just an interference fit or grooved?

Subaru boxer engine has the most complicated arrangement I've seen - little garter springs and different seals on Inlet & Exhaust valves even though both valve stems are 5.0mm diam...
I just replaced Green where Green came off and Black where Black came off but having taken photo I can now see Green has EX and black has IN .. glad I got them right on that head..

Still got another to do, which is why I've still got some unused seals...

valve stem seals.jpg

[Rambo]

Nice one flickerman.

My mate across the pond says the same company make a pair of these for Isuzu engines too, but you need to file a bit off to make them work on the M100.

I've heard your mate Trumpy's coming across the pond this summer to stay near High Cross, Herts. He's going to bring a set of these valve stem oil seal pliers and demonstrate the use of them on your bollox

[dapinky]

Not had an Elan to bits Dave - are they just an interference fit or grooved?

Interference fit - nowt too complicated on these engines!

[lotusflasherman]

Not had an Elan to bits Dave - are they just an interference fit or grooved?

Interference fit - nowt too complicated on these engines!

What ! but it's Izoozoo based - thought they were the dog's bollocks according to our friend ..

[Rambo]

What ! but it's Izoozoo based - thought they were the dog's bollocks according to our friend ..

http://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/vi0AAOxyT ... s-l300.jpg

[Dave Eds]

Nice one flickerman.

My mate across the pond says the same company make a pair of these for Isuzu engines too, but you need to file a bit off to make them work on the M100.

I've heard your mate Trumpy's coming across the pond this summer to stay near High Cross, Herts. He's going to bring a set of these valve stem oil seal pliers and demonstrate the use of them on your bollox

I'll be in Mickleton that day