Why am I having such a hard time getting the old spark plug tube seals out. Is there a trick to removing them that im unaware of?

 

Pry them out with a screwdriver. Put the shaft inside the hole under the seal and pop it upward. That worked for me.

>>>>>Put the shaft inside the hole <<<<< The Key

 

They are a pain! I always wind up ripping them apart when removing them.

 

Pop them out with a flat head.

 

i had this exact same problem and a flathead screwdriver did not help. There is a metal ring inside the rubber of the seal, grab the ring with a set of pliers and pry it out. It's the only thing that worked for me.

 

flathead and hammer

 

Yeah, they a beotch.

 

I got em out. They were just tough after being baked on for 10+yrs. I didnt know they had a metal ring inside the seal, i thought i was messing something up when i tried to cut them out and hit the metal ring. Anyways i got em, thanks.

 

This.

 

flathead and hammer, in my experience just scuffs up the inside wall of where the seal should seat. use a punch or something with a non-sharp edge and/or broader face so you can push them out without scraping the valve cover up. if you scrape up the seal surface enough, i'd assume you are hurting the chances to make a better seal.