Probably not entirely relevant, but I usually replace oil seals on all the
old british motorcycles I work with with pretty good results. They usually
slip right over the valve guides and are a simple task before or after
putting the valve in place. Most have a flange (?) that holds the seal in
place on the guide and rarely need adjustment or fiddeling around to get to
stay once the springs are put on. Sometimes the springs have a bottom
washer that also holds the seal in place.
I say go for it.
M. W. Jordan, Jr.
Greenwood, MS
----------
> From: Karl Vacek <kvacek@sprynet.com>
> To: triumphs@autox.team.net
> Subject: Re: TR 6 Valve Stem Oil Seals
> Date: Tuesday, April 15, 1997 10:18 PM
>
> > > I was wondering if anyone on the list has any first hand
> expierience with
> > > installing valve stem oil seals.
> >
> > Ken, I'm in the process of doing this right now! I just dropped my
> head
> > off at the machine shop and showed him one of my old seals. Note
> that
> > my
> > old seals were not stock, but something which was added from my
> previous
> > machine shop over 6 years ago.
> >
> >Not a whole lot of oil is up in that
> > part of the engine anyway so I would guess they aren't "necessary".
> > However, with a little wear, those seals will be a good long term
> > investment, and it'll be a long while before you see that puff of
> blue
> > smoke which some of us dread on startup. :-)
> >
>
> There's more than one way to look at this. Many cars just use the
> "umbrella" retainer with an o-ring slipped in before inserting the
> keepers. This keeps gross amounts of oil from flowing down the valve
> stem (mostly when the engine is sitting). The retainer and spring(s)
> shield the valve stem from most of the oil splashing around. With
> decent guides you can't lose much oil down the valve stems. Then too,
> a little lubrication will help keep the guides & stems from wearing --
> if your seals work too well, you could actually accelerate the wear.
>
> -Karl
>
>
|