Valve Seal Tool

Yorkie

Yorkie

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A valve seal has slipped off the guide on a head I recently refurbished and I was wondering if anyone has had success refitting the seal. If so, did you make up a special tool or follow Ludwig’s method to remove the springs? Thanks.
 
Yorkie said:
A valve seal has slipped off the guide on a head I recently refurbished and I was wondering if anyone has had success refitting the seal. If so, did you make up a special tool or follow Ludwig’s method to remove the springs? Thanks.
Click to expand...
I don't know "Ludwig's method". I've used the old car method of a sparkplug adapter and air and I've used rope through the sparkplug hole. In either case, I take the stud out since there's so little room to work, as well as the rocker.
 
I completed the job yesterday. Not too tough. It took 3 hours but I had to make up a tool that compressed the valve spring against the frame. I found a video online of a guy from the uk and it worked a treat. I had to remove the rocker and the cover stud.
 

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Yorkie said:
I completed the job yesterday. Not too tough. It took 3 hours but I had to make up a tool that compressed the valve spring against the frame. I found a video online of a guy from the uk and it worked a treat. I had to remove the rocker and the cover stud.
Click to expand...
How did you go about holding the valve up?
Thanks,Mike
 
I stuffed nylon rope into the combustion chamber. I first put the cylinder ar TDC then uses a lot of 3mm rope and packed it in. Worked great
 
Yorkie said:
A valve seal has slipped off the guide on a head I recently refurbished and I was wondering if anyone has had success refitting the seal. If so, did you make up a special tool or follow Ludwig’s method to remove the springs? Thanks.
Click to expand...
The seals can slip off due to the valve guide grooves not being machined deep enough.
Did you fit non genuine guides when refurbishing the head?
 
Some years ago, I posted a tutorial how to do it with the help of 2 easy to make tools:

Valve Seal Tool

I made a few sets to give away (all gone)
Valve Seal Toolupload picture

Slide it in the plug hole, lip towards valve, nut fingertight.. done:

Valve Seal Tool
Neater and much faster than the old rope trick.

Valve spring compressor:

Valve Seal Tool
( exhaust valve for demo)

Also: It is not necessary to completely remove the rocker, which again speeds up the job.
 
Last edited:
Skoti said:
The seals can slip off due to the valve guide grooves not being machined deep enough.
Did you fit non genuine guides when refurbishing the head?
Click to expand...
The guides came from Andover Norton. The issue was probably down to me and not AN’s part. All is good now and not a puff of smoke anymore.
 
ludwig said:
Some years ago, I posted a tutorial how to do it with the help of 2 easy to make tools:

Valve Seal Tool

I made a few sets to give away (all gone)
Valve Seal Toolupload picture

Slide it in the plug hole, lip towards valve, nut fingertight.. done:

Valve Seal Tool
Neater and much faster than the old rope trick.

Valve spring compressor:

Valve Seal Tool
( exhaust valve for demo)

Also: It is not necessary to completely remove the rocker, which again speeds up the job.
Click to expand...
Hi Ludwig, what about making some more kits up ….put me down for one
 
ludwig said:
Some years ago, I posted a tutorial how to do it with the help of 2 easy to make tools:

Valve Seal Tool

I made a few sets to give away (all gone)
Valve Seal Toolupload picture

Slide it in the plug hole, lip towards valve, nut fingertight.. done:

Valve Seal Tool
Neater and much faster than the old rope trick.

Valve spring compressor:

Valve Seal Tool
( exhaust valve for demo)

Also: It is not necessary to completely remove the rocker, which again speeds up the job.
Click to expand...
How is the top of the compressor anchored on the bike?
How do you access the seal after the above step? (I searched for the original thread but couldnt find it).
 
ludwig said:
It is not.
It is screwed in the rocker.
Click to expand...
So once you've screwed down the springs you can remove the collets then the the little compressor from the rocker and extract the springs whilst keeping the valve in place?
 
Saber said:
Seems like the rocker arm would be in the way
Click to expand...
A link to a post with an attached document with Ludwig's method procedure:

Replacing Valve Stem Seals (in situ) Pitfalls?

Given the obvious signs of valve stem seal leakage and oil consumption. I think the logical first step is replacing the stem seals and see what happens. https://www.accessnorton.com/NortonCommando/where-is-all-the-oil-going.35053/ I ordered new valve stem seals As well as a rocker shaft...
www.accessnorton.com www.accessnorton.com

I could not find locally the required thread for rocker arm head in suitable length to make the tool.
Ludwig sent me his tool and it worked fine.

Btw, I've never used the special slide hammer to remove spindles. I use my sparkplug box wrench to sit over the spindle opening on head, some washers, nuts and suitable length of all thread rod into end of spindle to withdraw it, after heating head.
 
Last edited:
Tornado said:
A link to a post with an attached document with Ludwig's method procedure:

Replacing Valve Stem Seals (in situ) Pitfalls?

Given the obvious signs of valve stem seal leakage and oil consumption. I think the logical first step is replacing the stem seals and see what happens. https://www.accessnorton.com/NortonCommando/where-is-all-the-oil-going.35053/ I ordered new valve stem seals As well as a rocker shaft...
www.accessnorton.com www.accessnorton.com

I could not find locally the required thread for rocker arm head in suitable length to make the tool.
Ludwig sent me his tool and it worked fine.

Btw, I've never used the special slide hammer to remove spindles. I use my sparkplug box wrench to sit over the spindle opening on head, some washers, nuts and suitable length of all thread rod into end of spindle to withdraw it, after heating head.
Click to expand...
Rocker spindle removal has been a long time back , but remember using a rear axle adjuster screwed in and pulling out of the hot head . I suffer from C.R.S. nowadays .
 
Yorkie said:
That’s what i used. I have a spare one just for that purpose
Click to expand...
Can't recall the thread type and size but I just used a bit of all thread I had on my bench to withdraw the spindles as I described above. The rocker head adjuster is the odd thread type....cycle thread I believe.
 
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