Topic: Sprocket cover

[thelowmax]

Ugh! I hate asking questions like this but... How do you get the sprocket cover off of a Cb750k8, without taking the gear cover off? I think I've even done it before but for some reason, now it's like a Chinese jigsaw puzzle I can't figure out. What am I missing here?

[Stev-o]

Take out the 2 screws and wiggle it out to the right.

[754]

 For some reason they are difficult, you got to hold your tongue just right. Earlier will likely slide in easy..
I  know of a guy with a 78, who rather than trim cover or swap to earlier one, went and ground his frame... I kid you not...

[thelowmax]

So, it does come out. I thought I was going crazy.

I'll have at it again. Thanks.

[firebane]

For some reason they are difficult, you got to hold your tongue just right. Earlier will likely slide in easy..
I  know of a guy with a 78, who rather than trim cover or swap to earlier one, went and ground his frame... I kid you not...

Shaving down that cover is the next thing on my agenda as I was ready to break it in half trying to put it back on. Good thing I had to replace the gasket on the outer cover regardless.

[754]

 I think it comes out...

[70CB750]

I done that, I mean adding more clearance for the cover on the 78F engine.  Also there is - at least in my case - flanged M6 on top that holds it down, I ground the flange off.

But it could be just me, I probably put wrong bolt in that spot.

For some reason they are difficult, you got to hold your tongue just right. Earlier will likely slide in easy..
I  know of a guy with a 78, who rather than trim cover or swap to earlier one, went and ground his frame... I kid you not...

Shaving down that cover is the next thing on my agenda as I was ready to break it in half trying to put it back on. Good thing I had to replace the gasket on the outer cover regardless.

[madmtnmotors]

    Yes, the 78 CB750 front sprocket cover can be removed without taking anything else off. Occasionally I struggle a little, but most of the time it slides right out with no drama. IIRC, once the two screws are out, the cover slides to the rear ever so slightly, then start to rotate the front of the cover outward. There is a "tang" in the upper front that kind of snuggles up under the alternator and starter wires. Once this "tang" clears the wires then lift and rotate the cover back to a more "square" position and align the rear "dogleg" shape of the cover with the dogleg shape in the frame. A little twist of the wrist as the cover approaches the frame to kind of rotate the front of the cover outward seems to help. There was a time I can remember when I struggled with it, and when it did slide out I would exclaim to myself "how'd I do that?"   

I have the same flanged bolt as 70CB750. The "slide to the rear" is the move that clears that flanged engine bolt and starts the movement of the "tang" out from under the wires. 

Welcome to the world of the "crazy 8's!" 

[70CB750]

The late sprocket covers have the cast in post to prevent the sprocket bolt coming out, right?

[madmtnmotors]

The late sprocket covers have the cast in post to prevent the sprocket bolt coming out, right?

Hmmmm.... not sure I've noticed anything like that. The most notable differences are the height of the "short side" at the rear to clear the extra 10mm outboard offset of the later front sprocket shaft:


Early cover dimensions:







And the later cover:







You'll notice the relief cutout in the one bolt hole location (foreground) of the later cover as well.    A lot of the early covers have the extra post that seems to serve as a sort of chain guide or rubbing post.

[70CB750]

Thanks for pictures, I wil check mine when I have time, I am not sure now.

[754]

 hmm...I guess earlier covers wont fit..

[madmtnmotors]

hmm...I guess earlier covers wont fit..

LOL!

Earlier covers will actually bolt on... but the chain will often "self clearance" a portion of the sprocket cover away. I've got at least one example of this laying around somewhere...

[Stev-o]

hmm...I guess earlier covers wont fit..

LOL!

Earlier covers will actually bolt on... but the chain will often "self clearance" a portion of the sprocket cover away. I've got at least one example of this laying around somewhere...

me too!

[Swoop]

You can add a shim washer to the upper bolt to eliminate the "self adjustment" feature.

[madmtnmotors]

You can add a shim washer to the upper bolt to eliminate the "self adjustment" feature.

How do you fit a 3/8" (10mm) shim in there?

[thelowmax]

    There was a time I can remember when I struggled with it, and when it did slide out I would exclaim to myself "how'd I do that?"   

I have the same flanged bolt as 70CB750. The "slide to the rear" is the move that clears that flanged engine bolt and starts the movement of the "tang" out from under the wires. 

Welcome to the world of the "crazy 8's!" 

I'm pretty sure I've done the exact same thing before but for some reason it seems like a new struggle. Nope. Thanks for the help.

[thelowmax]

I'm sliding it back, tilting it out, jiggling it, pulling it, wanting to hit it with something blunt. It's not off yet. I'm still struggling.

[madmtnmotors]

Okay, I just went out and pulled the sprocket cover on my K8 so maybe I can clarify the movement. Took me all of about 30 seconds, so I put it on and took it back off a couple of times just to be sure. I'm not going to shoot a video for this simple task so follow along closely:

>Remove the two attachment screws
>Slide the sprocket cover to the rear until you can lift the sprocket cover upwards
>Rotate the bottom rear of the cover outward in the gap between the rear of the transmission cover and the frame to between 30 and 45 degrees
>From this position rotate the front of the sprocket cover outward leaving the upper rear of the sprocket cover behind the frame until the front of the cover clears the transmission cover. This move also requires sliding the forward "tang" out from under the alternator and starter wires that can sometimes hang on. Work the cover fore and aft a little as you make these motions until you find the "sweet spot". Continue rotating the front of the cover outward until the rear of the cover follows it out.
>Voila' 


*Install is reverse of removal. 

[Stev-o]

Work fore and aft a little make these motions until you find the "sweet spot".

That's what she said!

[70CB750]

Work fore and aft a little make these motions until you find the "sweet spot".

That's what she said!

Groan

[70CB750]

^^^ wait, thats what she did