How the fcuk do you strip those..? I've heard of the threads giving way but stripping the heads...!!!
Here is how it is done:
First they (tappet covers) are put in with a socket crooked, THEN over tightened like their life depended on that nut. (Like a quick oil change business would do)
Then when removing, a chisel takes a chunk out of the valve cover.
The bike is put in back of the house with no cover.
15 years later the owner sells the bike and tells the new
owner that the last time he rode it ran.
See....Simple.
That person now works at an oil change business. Your car is next on the rack!
lol, I am now that PO. I stripped the head. It wasn't a 6 sided socket that I used either. My fault. Plus I wasn't paying attention, I was looking at something else when I went to loosen it, thus, the head gets stripped.
For everyone else... Thanks for the tips. I ordered a new tappet cover and will be working on it this weekend. I'll try to tap a 6 headed socket on. If that doesn't work, I'll try the vise grip or a chisel and hammer...
I am still confused.
The cylinder "head" is under the valve cover so you did not damage the "head".
If the tappet cover is still on the valve cover then the cylinder head cover may not be stripped either.
So are you saying only the tappet cover hex nut is damaged?
Make sure you tap the tappet cover very lightly with a small hammer to loosen the molecular bond THEN try loosening it.
BTW....Why does your avatar show another accident? LOL..lol 
When did I say I was in
another accident??? What? Now I'm confused.
My one and only accident was in 2007 with my SV650 (in the avatar). That's been my avatar since then. Trust me I know when and how many times I've gone down, lol. Now, I'M CONFUSED. LOL
Really...
I've been riding the CB550 and an 848 EVO, both of which I've never gone down on (hope that I never will with these, crossing my fingers).
Also, I thought I put a pic up of tappet covers on this thread? And I mentioned stripping the "head" off those? No?
Oh well, I'll sit back and wait my tappet covers to come in...
I'll post up when I get the stripped tappet covers (for clarification...
stripped six point head) off.
