Thermostat sleeve

[jimrockireland]

I have a 1983 MCM228R engine where the thermostat sits under a brass sleeve and is held down by a lip on the sleeve. Every time I change the thermostat the only way I can remove it is to pry up on the sleeve and in the process destroy it. The sleeve costs $25. I was wondering if I installed the sleeve with a little grease next time would this help remove it without destroying it? Would the grease clog up my cooling water circulation?

 

[Bt Doctur]

your doing it wrong then, I have a screwdriver with a slight lip curved upward and a 1 inch spacer welded to it. goes under the lip and the spacer keeps the shaft above the other end of the sleeve

 

[jimrockireland]

Next time I'll give it a try. I have tried to pry up on the thermostat itself but the thermostat begins to bend without moving the sleeve.