Hi on the x flow steam seals, do you just leave them loose arround the valve as there is nothing to push the bottom of the seal over to hold the seal in place?

check you got the right seal they should tap on secure fit, with a socket or like

If the head has had new valve guides fitted,and the old guides removed to allow for double springs, the standard seals will not fit. Burton supply oil rings to fit the valve stem, but general concesus is that they are a waste of time, as they just stick at the top of the stem, having no effect.
This same question has been asked on the Lotus 7 site, most peoples answer was to leave them off!
Cheers John

I am not sure how, or why they work, but work they do. If you leave them off you will end up doing a head rebuild to stop burning oil.

What would you do go for the burtons modified ones or put the old ones on, when i took it apart the ones that where on where the sandard ones that where just over the valves going up and down?

The head has had new guides in

the depression in the inlet keeps the small ring sucked against the gap between the valve and head.. the exhaust has expanded gas in it so dont suck any oil in... somthing like that...

With these 'umbrella' type seals I've always assumed the theory was that any oil running down from the rocker shaft, etc, would run off from the 'rim' of the umbrella, and would be directed away from the valve stem.
Could be completely wrong of course, but as another poster has mentioned, they DO seem to do the job.