Anyone else had problems with their valve guide seals coming off?:shock:
I just changed the head on my Jem with the one off my old rally mini (modified 12g940) which I had given a quick valve lap and new stem seals (cup type). When I started her up she was blowing a lot of bluesmoke

So I found the valve stem seals had drifted up the valve stem (only on all 4 exhaust). I popped off the springs and pushed the seals firmly back down (thinking I hadn't put them on properly in the first place) however on restart they worked their way off again .
So I am thinking of putting some loctiote 620 to hold them on. Or maybe my seals are not suitable for double valve springs? My guides don't have the locating ring on them but I have never had trouble in the past.
Any thoughts?

What type of seals are they?
The normal crap black ones that come with the gasket kit?

I don't use those crappy stock 1275 or Metro ones any more, I get decent USA made ones with a brass body & Viton seal. They don't go hard like the stock ones do.
No groove on the guide needed, you just put a drop of Loctite 262 inside them and push them onto the guide.
I just use these on the inlets, seals are not needed on exhausts, they transmit heat better with an oil film there.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

Not sure what quality they are. I got them from "Classic" here in Canberra.

Yeh, I agree Doc, I was thinking of just ripping them off the exhaust but last time I did that rego failed me for being a bit smokey. I'll be building up the main engine soon (after rego) otherwise I would have put some nice Viton seals in.
Might give a bit of Loctite a go...

Thanks

I'm having the same problem at the moment , might have to try those ones that the good Doc perscribed .

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May the fork be with you.

Well I ripped out the exhaust ones and compared them to some old ones I had on a different head and the new ones were a fair bit fatter hence my problem (the inner spring catching and lifting the seal). Funny that the inlet ones are ok? So I put it back together with the exhaust seals left out and it smokes a little but it might get through rego OK (depends on what mood they are in).

I'll get a set of Viton ones just in case.
Here's a link Gerg: http://www.austinamericausa.com/

Yep, that's where I get mine from too- I just send Todd some Uncle Sam $bills via post.
BTW Minis never ever had exhaust seals here until around 1975, when they started fitting them to 998 Clubbys. Why, who knows. There's no vacuum there, really.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

If you are going to have the head redone, get some k-lines put in to the valve guides. at $20 each it may seem expensive compared to new calve guides, but you won't need new guides since they ream the old ones to fit them and it WON'T leak oil because the tolerances are so close. All according to Graham Russell who is a firm believer in them. Got them in my engine.

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the world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page
66 Mini Minor sponsored by http://www.lifeonthehedge.com.au/ The Dog Harness Specialists
It was a pleasure ausmini. I'll miss all you misfits and reprobates

Are k-lines the ones that are like a sleeve that fits inside the valve guide and has teeth that engage into the valve guide to hold it in place? I spoke to an engine builder before and he showed them to me, but I can't remember what they were called.