Engine Case oil relief valve question

Ok, when I dissassembled my case I removed the two plugs on each case half and removed the contents (plugs, springs, and one guide).
Well after reviewing my books and notes I have decided that there should be a pair of PISTONS in the holes that I obviously never saw because they didn't come out. Well I kept saying to myself that next time I got up to where the engine is that I'd take a look at it and see if I could find these pistons.
Then today I was buying some more tools:
Dial gauge, Z mount, tensioner holder, and feeler gauge when I noticed a tool called a "Oil relief valve piston puller". Well, humph. I'm guessiing that you have to pull these suckers out of there and I'm betting that mine are still in the case halves.
Is there a way to remove these bastards w/o buying the $30 tool?
thanks,

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Leland Pate

___79 SC Targa

I think they comr out pretty easily. I do know if you get your cases hot dipped with them in there you need a machine shop to get them out. I know because it happened to me.

Yeah, luckily I haven't had the pieces hot tanked yet.
But they sure didn't just drop out with everything else!


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Leland Pate

___79 SC Targa

Leland,

I believe you can get the pistons out with a piece of wooden trim molding scrap ... perhaps 1/2" x 1/2", or thereabouts, whittled in a taper for the last 3/4" ... inserted after you have sprayed a large amount of brake cleaner/degreaser into the bore. A twisting, continuous motion in one direction should be used while tying to 'wedge' the wooden tool into the piston, then continuing with the same dierction, pull back slightly, and slowly with smooth force try to get the piston to come out. I have used this same technique on VW relief pistons, and patience is the key, so don't get in a hurry. Good luck!

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Warren Hall
1973 911S Targa

the best tool i ever made for pulling stuck oil relief pistons was made from a large rattail file. get one that's fatter than the inside of the piston.(they're fatter in the center than the end), cut it off with a cutoff tool so it's just the right size to enter the piston an 1/8" or so. tap it in a bit more, clamp a small visegrip to it, and twist the piston out. being the teeth on the file are spiral, it will grip better in one direction than the other. real stuck ones require patience, but it usually gets them.don't get too carried away pounding on it, or you will expand the piston tighter in the hole!

[This message has been edited by john walker's workshop (edited 03-22-2001).]

This Board rocks.

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'83 SC

Thanks for the tips, I'll take a look at it and let you all know how it turns out!

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Leland Pate

___79 SC Targa

Leland, I just did this 15 minutes ago. Use the wood handle from one of those small wire brushes you buy in hardware or autoparts stores. Shave just a small amount from each corner and it works perfectly. I have never had any trouble with this method, and I would NOT use anything metal. Good Luck.
Tom

the file suggestion works real well for a really stuck check valve. the wood idea is good for not seriously stuck ones. so is the file tool. you barely have to push it in to remove it. can't see why a metal tool, in the right hands, would hurt anything.