1997 Accord EX VTEC

I am adjusting my valves today and I got a new gasket kit. Comes with the new cover gasket, Spark plug tube grommets and the VC bolt grommets. How do you get the new grommets on the valve cover bolts? My bolts have a ledge near the threads and the hole in the grommet is as big around as the shaft of the bolt. Any suggestions are appreciated. Thanks

 

I dunk them in hot water for a few minutes to help them get flexible, then use a deepwell socket to push them over the ring on the bolt.

 

Hondadude,
Thank you for your response. Thats basically what I did using a 16 or 17 mm socket...can't remember which one. Worked like a champ. Thank you very much!

swordfish7769

 

The hot water idea is good, it does make the grommets more flexible; what worked best for me was to first separate the metal top of the grommet from the rubber portion, then put the metal part on the bolt. The bolt then goes in the vise with the bolt head down. Using a 7-level flat blade screwdriver as a miniature tire tool, I set the rubber part of the grommet on the thread end of the bolt, then insert the screwdriver down through the grommet and over the raised lip of the bolt. I then push the grommet down with the screwdriver, bracing the flat part of the blade against the raised lip of the thread end. A 7-level screwdriver is a very small screwdriver, and it works quite well for this.

 

That works....

Me, a piece of vac hose over the threads of the bolt/and is about the correct outer diameter of the "stop" on the bolt. Spray lube on the new rubber....then a deepwell socket of the proper size to push it over/down.....done .....we all have ways of getting to the same result.

 

Another option is to add a cone over the treads to help stretch the gasket over the flange.
I used the tip from a caulk tube cap. I cut it off at the diameter of the flange and just twisted it onto the end of the bolt. Add a little silicone grease (maybe oil) and it slides on much easier with no hint of damaging the gasket.

 

Here's a quick YouTube video showing how I got the grommets on the Valve Cover Bolts. I basically just used a small pick like tool in a circular motion, but it's easier to just watch it in this video: