O ring installation advice
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 8,838
Likes: 31
From: Australia
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,189
Likes: 2
From: Austin TX
Did you know that you have to compress the spring first? The o-ring goes on when you're installing the spring and valve locks. Compress the spring/retainer assembly, install the o-ring seal (use a small flat blade screwdriver to push it down into the second groove if needed), then install the valve locks/keepers. When you release the spring, the o-ring produces a seal around the inside bottom of the retainer.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 5,866
Likes: 60
From: Hellinois
Finalist 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
They're flexible enough you can roll them down over the grooves, just be sure they are not twisted when you get them in place. With all respect to danno85 I would hesitate using a screwdriver, it could nick the ring causing early failure. Your thumb & forefinger are the only "tools" needed for this job, and a drop of oil of course.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 5,043
Likes: 8
From: Tampa Florida
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Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 20,316
Likes: 246
From: Summerland B.C. Canada
Did your seal kit come with the plastic sleeve that slides over stem and lock groove. Makes it easier to get them all the way to their groove without any damage from the lock groove.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 449
Likes: 1
From: Victoria
I checked both packets and only had one sleeve,only lasted for 4 valves,as I'm doing cylinder by cylinder.used it for both seals and then cut it for use inserting the o rings.
Drifting
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,428
Likes: 7
From: Chewelah Wa
I found a small piece of stiff plastic tubing the same diameter of the valve, cut it exactly the right length from the groove to the top of the valve stem (about 5/8") and tapered the bottom of it on my bench grinder. With the valve spring compressed, install o-ring, push tube down until flush with top of valve. works great, no guesswork. The tubing I used was hard plastic, like the type used for a water line. It wasn't PVC, more like hard nylon.
