replacing valve stem seals without pulling the head

[ben1be]

My 62 burns oil on start-up for 3 minutes. Does`nt lose coolant, only uses a qt of oil evry 2500 miles. Compression is 148 - 150 on all cylinders. I think oil leaks into the cylinders through the valve stem seals when it sits.

The Haynes manual has a procedure using compressed air to hold the valves in place while replacing the seals without lifting the head. Is it worth it? Has anyone ever tried it?

 

[Dynosoar]

Valves

I would not try to do the vale stems with compressed air if your compretion is at 150. You should use sthe rope method.

1. Pull spark plugs (yes all six)
2.put piston at or very near TDC on compression stroke (on the cylinder you are working on)
3. push a soft nylon rope into cylinder to keep vavle from hitting piston
4. remove valve retainers and springs (with appropriate tool)
5. replace seals
6. replace springs and retainrs
7.Pull rope out ouf cylinder
8. relace spark plugs (after you are done with all six)
9.Go wheeling

 

[Gumby]

The compressed air method is scary. The rope method is safe.


That being said, it's pretty easy to pull the head.

 

[Godwin]

Did this once with an FJ40, well mainly watched while the machine shop guy did most of the work. It was fairly straightforward except for the last one or two valves which were a tight fit for the tool he was using to compress the springs. But being at a machine shop he dug out some metal scraps and whipped up something to deal with the rearmost valves.

 

[honk]

Using compressed air is the way to go. You need an adapted piece of hose with an airline connector on one end and a sparkplug thread connector on the other.

I used a sparkplug base with a hose bib brazed on for years. It was part of my 'special' tools.