valve stem seals question

[flagstaff]

OK - i've been refurbishing the cylinder head of a M102 motor. i took off the old valve stem seals without noting their exact seating. my question is, do the valve seals sit right down flush with the valve spring lower seat? the replacement parts i have don't appear to that, even with brute force applied.

would be very grateful to know that i don't have to remove the valves again!

 

[TimN]

I usually use a socket with an extension that just sits nicely on the top of the seal. Couple of light taps with a rubber mallet will normally get it to sit down.

 

[flagstaff]

hm ... i tried that, and the seals still didn't want to go all the way down. the way they are now (not seated flush with the lower valve spring seat) actually aligns the spring in the seal with the indent for said spring on the valve guide ... so it seems like it must be okay. can't put the cyl head back on like this though, not without getting a definitive answer (or seeing another cyl head with the valves in!!)

thanks anyway though