WreZ Posted October 12, 2011 Share Posted October 12, 2011 So I'm trying to replace my valve oil seals (with the head on the engine) I've tried everything, breaker bar, hitting ratchet w/rubber mallet, heating the sprocket bolt a bit with a torch. My friend suggested placing a thick screwdriver in one of the holes in the sprocket but i don't know exactly where/how. So I guess what i'm asking is, Any protips? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cygnusx1 Posted October 12, 2011 Share Posted October 12, 2011 Not the rubber mallet. Use the steel mallet. This requires IMPACT and VIBRATION. I just went through this today. However, the rest of the engine was going in the trash, so pounding so hard was easy on my stomach. An impact gun might be a more sanitary approach. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators RTz Posted October 12, 2011 Administrators Share Posted October 12, 2011 12" Crescent wrench on the cam lugs (lugs, not lobes) and a 1/2" breaker bar/socket on the bolt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShaggyZ Posted October 12, 2011 Share Posted October 12, 2011 (edited) ... and don let the Crescent damage the valve cover mating surface. Actually, I can't even remember what that looks like so you may not be able to damage it. I still prefer impact gun instead of the breaker bar. Edited October 12, 2011 by ShaggyZ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rossman Posted October 12, 2011 Share Posted October 12, 2011 Hit it with an impact wrench and you'll wonder how you lived without one . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zcarnut Posted October 12, 2011 Share Posted October 12, 2011 Why are you trying to remove the cam sprocket bolt? You can change the valve seals without having to remove the bolt. ??? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WreZ Posted October 12, 2011 Author Share Posted October 12, 2011 Why are you trying to remove the cam sprocket bolt? You can change the valve seals without having to remove the bolt. ??? manual said to remove cam, remove valve springs and then remove the seals. If i didn't remove the cam how could i get a valve spring compressor in there? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m1ghtymaxXx Posted October 12, 2011 Share Posted October 12, 2011 manual said to remove cam, remove valve springs and then remove the seals. If i didn't remove the cam how could i get a valve spring compressor in there? Long screwdriver. Little tricky at first but you should have it down by the time you're done (only done this on a P90 hydro head) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WreZ Posted October 12, 2011 Author Share Posted October 12, 2011 long screwdriver? like to get the keepers out? Could you go into a little more detail maxxx? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zcarnut Posted October 13, 2011 Share Posted October 13, 2011 manual said to remove cam, remove valve springs and then remove the seals. If i didn't remove the cam how could i get a valve spring compressor in there? Because the standard method to compress the valve springs on the Nissan L-head is to use a spring compressor such as KD3087 that hooks around the camshaft and uses it as a lever. A procedure is shown here: http://www.oocities.org/inlinestroker/seals.html I prefer to use compressed air to hold the valves closed. It’s quicker than messing with the rope method. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FricFrac Posted October 13, 2011 Share Posted October 13, 2011 Hit it with an impact wrench and you'll wonder how you lived without one . Agreed! I used my battery operatated one to unbolt my cam and it worked like a charm. Bought it as a kit with another drill and it sat in the drawer forever. Didn't realize what I had.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WreZ Posted October 13, 2011 Author Share Posted October 13, 2011 Thanks Zcar that link helped a lot, didn't know you could remove the valves that way. Alright so i was able to get the cam sprocket off but now that i don't need it off anymore it won't go back on the cam, I didn't let the chain droop or anything but it just won't go on. Does that mean i have to mess with my tensioner or are my arms just made of toothpicks? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cygnusx1 Posted October 13, 2011 Share Posted October 13, 2011 (edited) Did you use a wedge to keep the tensioner from extending? If it extended and popped out of it's cylinder, you will probably need to pull the timing cover off. You can always try to gently pry the tensioner back into place from the top, but that is a longshot. Edited October 13, 2011 by cygnusx1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WreZ Posted October 13, 2011 Author Share Posted October 13, 2011 i had a friend keep a small crowbar on it to keep it from extending while I wiggled the sprocket out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShaggyZ Posted October 13, 2011 Share Posted October 13, 2011 Even with the wedge at the tensioner, I always had trouble getting the sprocket back on. I somewhat foolishly would stick a small rod or philip's head screwdriver and shove it through the bolt hole of the sprocket into the cam and give a little upward leveraging. Never damaged the internal threads but often worried about it. But first, read below to make sure your tensioner is all the way in. You definitely do NOT have to take off the front cover to get the tensioner back in all the way. I'm a pro now at getting it to slide back in; takes maybe 10 seconds. Just need a long screwdriver and good lighting down there. With a little upward tension on the chain, push down gently on the tensioner's slider with the screwdriver until it slides in the rest of the way. This should not take much muscle at all. Since learning this method, I don't try to hard to keep it from coming out, partly because the wood wedge I used would put sawdust or splinters in the oil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WreZ Posted October 13, 2011 Author Share Posted October 13, 2011 Thanks shaggy I'll try that this afternoon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WreZ Posted October 14, 2011 Author Share Posted October 14, 2011 Crap I think this whole situation just got FUBAR, while wiggling the sprocket onto the timing chain I accidentally erased all 3 paint/orientation marks I made on the chain...Am I completely screwed on this? Before I removed the sprocket I cranked the engine until the outer 1 marker on the cam sprocket was completely vertical if that helps (vertical as in it lined up with the upper thrust washer bolt) I try to just change out some seals but life never lets me just get away with that, nope its gotta be a learning experience... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShaggyZ Posted October 14, 2011 Share Posted October 14, 2011 You're on the path to learning. Keep trucking. TDC is for suckers.... kinda. Losing it is no big deal; everything just needs to be in agreement when it's buttoned up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cygnusx1 Posted October 14, 2011 Share Posted October 14, 2011 (edited) Yeah, put the crank on TDC and the cam mark on the mark and install chain and sprocket. Make sure the drivers side of the chain is taut and the tensioner is in place. Chain marks mean nothing as long as the cam and crank are in the right place relative to eachother. Edited October 14, 2011 by cygnusx1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WreZ Posted October 17, 2011 Author Share Posted October 17, 2011 This tensioner is kicking my ass, I can't seem to get the right combo of chain tension and screwdriver force to get it to go back in! Anybody else have any more protips on getting the tensioner shaft back into its seat? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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