Stuck valve cover, how to break free?

[Guest]

Hi psyguy, you've done a fantastic job with the block and side covers on Bruno, good one mate.

cheers :-D

[Guest]

There was a good long thread on the GTAForums site where a dude in Toronto was bound and bent on bringing his sportbike down a flight of stairs to a basement apartment. Despite numerous arguments against it he was (at last post) determined to do it. I don't know how it turned out but I can see it ending in tears.

When I was young and strong, I once carried a Ford flathead V8 short block out of a friend's basement. I have no idea how he got it there.

[madadam]

Better idea....just put your feet up.....or catch up on your household projects ( and keep the boss happy) 'til the 24 weekend. Weather should be good by then:-D

Cheers,
Spyug

This is good advice.

I have no desire to bring the thing inside. In the fall I was considering yanking the engine, but got lazy/wise and changed my mind. And of course I've no shortage of household projects to keep me occupied until spring.

Cheers,
Adam

[Guest]

Nice self portrait. :-D

[TheCafeKid]

My 750 has been in my basement all winter. Took the motor out outside, then with the help of a friend and fellow GSR, wheeled the frame sans motor and tank down without incident. Then the motor followed after. She'll come out the same way this spring, and i have to say, its been nice to be able to work on her all winter, as i dont have a garage. I certainly wouldnt be anywhere near done as i am now if i hadnt.

[madadam]

My 750 has been in my basement all winter. Took the motor out outside, then with the help of a friend and fellow GSR, wheeled the frame sans motor and tank down without incident. Then the motor followed after. She'll come out the same way this spring, and i have to say, its been nice to be able to work on her all winter, as i dont have a garage. I certainly wouldnt be anywhere near done as i am now if i hadnt.

You, sir, are far more ambitious than I

[madadam]

Nice self portrait. :-D

Thanks!

Um.. you .. too .. ?

[salty_monk]

I reckon you need a lump of soft wood 2 x 1" about 8" long should do it & then get your club hammer & give it a good solid whack on the front corners of the cover (with the wood in the middle as a drift).

That's what got mine off & it hadn't been removed in quite a few years (TPO had done about 300 miles a year for 5years plus so it hadn't needed it).

The wooden drift allows you to be more accurate than just clubbing it with a mallet... this has worked for me on all the case covers I've removed & many stubborn car engine parts too.

Dan

[madadam]

An update!

Well, I finally got the cover off! \\/

After having no luck with the old wood block and hammer trick, I went to plan B -- I used a medium-sized flat-head screwdriver as a wedge. I tapped it in at the bolt holes so that if/when it marred the surfaces, it at least in places that have some level of redundancy. I had to do that about six times around the perimeter of the cover, and it still needed a hearty pull to separate.

Getting the gasket bits off took about three hours with a wooden scraper, some brake cleaner (also tried a generic industrial cleaner and carb cleaner with no luck), and a razor scraper for the more troublesome bits.

One of the valves did need adjustment, so at least it wasn't all for naught.

My replacement gasket should be in soon, then the only job left is replacing the fork seals. Bring on the good weather!

Thanks to everyone for their replies!

Cheers,
Adam