We need to replace the valve stem oil seals on son's Zetec.
Any pointers for replacing them without a full head-off job?
Looking around it seems as if hooking up an airline to a modified spark-plug might work or stuffing rope (non-fibrous) into the plug hole to stop the valves dropping could be the answer.
Any thoughts/advice gratefully received.
Cheers, Pewe

i have seen the compressor through the sparkplug hole deing done before but imho it looked more of a faff than actually popping off the head from the start. the bloke ended up taking the head off in the end because he forgot to put the spark plugs back in when he moved to a new cylinder. so when he couldn't account for one of the interchangeable screw driver bits he thought it may have gone into one of the cylinders. which in fact it had. if he hadn't been diligent enough to count up his tools before firing up the motor it would have been a desaster.

how many miles has the engine done? it could be a good time to pop the head off and see if anything else needs looking at? the only thing is that when you start that where do you stop? open up the crank to check the shells? replace the rings while your at it etc etc. mind you, i have an obsession with taking things apart.

[Edited on 29/3/10 by skinned knuckles]

Skinned, my inclination is to strip things down as well rather than short-cut but it's a £400 banger so maybe the rope trick's worth a try. Seems like that's less of a gamble than compressed air leaking out through worn bores or valves.
Cheers, Pewe

ive got a ebay ford service CD and the airline way seems to be in their service manual quoting special tools for the job, seems to be as you say modified plug for the airline and a lever activated bolt on spring compressor.

in situe swap of valve stenm seals was always was a recognised way of doing them on a 1600cvh, but instead of airline just put the piston at TDC and compressed the valve spring till valve/piston contact.

Still think on a fiesta it will be just as easy to take head off and do it that way

[Edited on 29/3/10 by will121]

i would remove the head tbh, sure its only the stem seals not piston rings

With the correct tool it's not too bad a job without taking the head off Sykes Pickavant do one but it's not cheap.