1995 850 How to remove front cam seals in seconds.

[gordo850turbo]

After fighting taking out the intake cam seal on my '95 850 Tubo, I was dreading the exhaust side. So I came up with a removal tool that I could get some leverage on. On the intake side I used a paint can opener with modest success, the problem was it was too long for the exhaust side. So I shortened the opener and welded it to make it about 3" long. At 3", you can then put a ratchet with a socket through the ring side of the opener and put the socket over the end of the cam and pry. I removed the exhaust cam seal in about 5 seconds by gently pulling on the ratchet. Cost of tool, free with can of paint.

1. Put opener under seal.

2. Thread ratchet through hole w/ 3/4" socket

3. Gently start pulling on handle.

4. You can see the seal already coming out.

5.Seal is now out. Notice paint from refurb head

6. Regular opener compared to my shortened one. Note I welded loop to keep from bending open like it did on intake side.

7. This is what I cut out with a hack saw.

[cn90]

Nice, however most people don't have the welding tool.

In that situation, I recommend the $15 Lisle tool, we talked about that in the Timing Belt DIY thread.

[obayha]

Thanks for the post. Looks like it should work great and I do have a welding machine.
Just fixed the door stop on drivers side, but will post no pictures of it. Having a welder does not mean I can weld. All I can say is, it works for now.
Shane

[gordo850turbo]

Try to use as small of wire as you can with your welder. I used .025" wire and it seem to work fine. I held the two pieces together with small needle nose locking pliers until I tacked it. Then put it in a vice and welded it as needed. Don't worry about looks. Nobody will see it but you.

[JimBee]

Clever, cool. However, must be very careful not to scratch the sealing surface of the camshaft. If you do it will leak. In that regard, I think the self-threading screw technique is a bit safer. That's also described on this site.

[obayha]

Looks like the opener would fall short of contacting the side as shown in the picture. But as always, the chance is there. The front exhaust cam would be the most difficult one to remove in my book.
Small wire for welder..Thanks
Shane

[abscate]

Or beat the free paint tool with a BFH on an anvil, cut to length, and then bend it to make to lip in your kids braces.

Put it into a Volvo blue box and sell it as the OEM seal tool, 29.99 with a 5 dollar core charge.

[j-dawg]

Instead of shortening/welding the can opener, why not just use an extension on the socket?

[abscate]

Because you run out of room to fit the paint can tool in the engine bay...

[j-dawg]

Good point. Forgot we were talking Volvos for a second, sorry.