Topic: #2 tappet covers

[nccb]

Anyone happen to have any pointers on getting some of the valve covers off?  I have removed all of them fairly easily with a 6 sided socket but I cannot get anything in for #2.  A member sent me a p.m. recommending some vice-grips which I will try out this week if the pb blaster I have been soaking it in for the past 2 days doesnt work. 

I am thinking of adjusting all of the valves I have open, minus the 2, and running the bike whenever it dries up to heat up the casing.  Think a warm engine will help with the cover?  I know not to adjust it while warm but don't know what else to do.  My wife has allowed me to buy the things I need for maintenance, which subsequently included all the odds and ends I felt like needing   I'd hate to have to get some more #$%*.  I tell her, "its just a matter of getting it back in shape, once that's done I won't be spending money on it. . ."

[Vinhead1957]

Vice grips love to eat aluminum. Proper sized 6 point wrench. With the PB use some heat, hair dryer and gentle taps rubber mallet. Too much force will snap those threads right off.

[LesterPiglet]

I use a ring spanner.

[ekpent]

I have gotten hard to get off ones that the PO had ruined the socket fittings by taking a large pair of good channel locks and grasping the outer edge of the round cap and turning. By grabbing the outer edge and not the center hex section you lower the risk of breaking the cap and then having to remove whats left of the threads and maybe losing metal down the hole.

[george]

Sometimes after they have been so tight and dry the threaded ring will just stay in the hole , no big deal , gently nudge it out with a sharp screwdriver, watch the fingers as it is usually very sharp. The gentler the attack the more successful I have been.
If you need some pm me , got plenty , free .

[Gordon]

  I tell her, "its just a matter of getting it back in shape, once that's done I won't be spending money on it. . ."

Did she buy it?!!

[xsmooth69x]

[nccb]

  I tell her, "its just a matter of getting it back in shape, once that's done I won't be spending money on it. . ."

Did she buy it?!!

no

[bollingball]

Those things are cheap plus you have a offer for a free one use some channel locks or vice grips and it will come right out. when putting them on after a tune up just finger tight plus a little more very little. Let the misses know tools are not just for a bike. Go in the bath room and loosen the big drain nut on the trap show her the leak and say darn if I just had some vice grips. Delete this message right away
Ken

[Bootlegger56]

Vice grips love to eat aluminum. Proper sized 6 point wrench. With the PB use some heat, hair dryer and gentle taps rubber mallet. Too much force will snap those threads right off.

The vise grips I am talking about are vise grip wrench's.  They clamp like vise grips but from three SMOOTH sides.  On both of my bikes the PO's had ate several of the tappet covers up and these things popped them right out.

http://www.irwin.com/tools/locking-tools/the-original-locking-wrenches

[InTheStreet]

Or you could do this.

If they start to round, don't tap a slightly smaller standard socket on and try to turn it.  If you do that, don't try to notch it for a screw driver bit and use an impact driver borrowed from a friend.  If you dothat, break a piece of the edge off and it'll spin out by hand.

It worked for me! 

[bollingball]

Anyone happen to have any pointers on getting some of the valve covers off?  I have removed all of them fairly easily with a 6 sided socket but I cannot get anything in for #2.  A member sent me a p.m. recommending some vice-grips which I will try out this week if the pb blaster I have been soaking it in for the past 2 days doesnt work. 

I am thinking of adjusting all of the valves I have open, minus the 2, and running the bike whenever it dries up to heat up the casing.  Think a warm engine will help with the cover?  I know not to adjust it while warm but don't know what else to do.  My wife has allowed me to buy the things I need for maintenance, which subsequently included all the odds and ends I felt like needing   I'd hate to have to get some more #$%*.  I tell her, "its just a matter of getting it back in shape, once that's done I won't be spending money on it. . ."

Problem is that excuse will run out real quick. Better off showing her that you need them for the house especially the kitchen they love their kitchen's. 
Ken

[ekpent]

Or you could do this.

If they start to round, don't tap a slightly smaller standard socket on and try to turn it.  If you do that, don't try to notch it for a screw driver bit and use an impact driver borrowed from a friend.  If you dothat, break a piece of the edge off and it'll spin out by hand.

It worked for me! 

Thats why channel locks around the outside of the cap works good,no breaking.

[nccb]

Thanks,  I guess the channel locks will need to be what I try. Problem with #2 is I can fit a socket in due to the frame sitting right over it.  I guess the exhaust valve I can undo the ignition switch but the intake valve is a #$%*.

[Steve_K]

When you replace the covers, consider some new orings in the covers.  Mine were sort of square shaped and were over tightened to seal.

They were only some 40 years old and just did not hold up!(I'm in smart a$$ mode)

Steve

[nccb]

will do.  One thing for sure, these puppies are getting finger tightened and then just a nudge to 1/8" over that.  George, I may have to take you up on your offer

[george]

will do.  One thing for sure, these puppies are getting finger tightened and then just a nudge to 1/8" over that.  George, I may have to take you up on your offer

No problem sir , let me know !