Topic: How to pry cylinder head off the right way?

[juntjoo]

I think I'm doing this wrong and I don't want to get in the habit of scuffing things up. Actually I want to get OUT of the habit. I've got all the bolts out of the threads.



It's not really budging. Are there bolts I'm missing? I only see the obvious ones holding it down.  Do I just need to find one spot and plan on it to be the pry point I always abuse and just hammer away at it? As you can see I'm currently using to steak knife cause it's thinner than my standard pry tools. I must be missing some bolts or there is some trick I'm unaware of. Please enlighten...

[Bankerdanny]

I don't think I would separate the head that way. You are just asking for a major scratch. I would use a dead blow hammer to loosen the head.

[flybox1]

^+1
Heat, tap, repeat

[Phinn]

How many bolts did you find and remove? Counting them is the only way I know of to determine if you got them all.

[bochnak]

Dead blow over and over again. You can hit the cooling fins it you hit them straight on, never on an angle.

What year and model?

[juntjoo]

Ah ha! I only counted 12 but there's 13

Thanks guys. If removing this 13th bolt doesn't do it the heat then hammer method should work. I've actually done that on a car years ago. Just forgot that method. Thanks

[chewbacca5000]

Taking that last bolt off the valve cover/rocker box should pop up and come off.

[juntjoo]

82' 650

[juntjoo]

What are these called? Two on each side that look like they only help secure the head laterally.



I imagine they're nice and seized up in there. Anyway, so I've been torching in and around there but after smelling burnt rubber I don't know if I should trust my method. Maybe my torch is too fat or I'm just not careful enough

[juntjoo]

Dead blow over and over again. You can hit the cooling fins it you hit them straight on, never on an angle.

What year and model?

You mean like this?



When you said that I wasn't sure what you meant as there is no spot to hit strategically on those fins anywhere  to break the connection. Anyway, you should've said 'do NOT hit them' so I would've made sure not to but I guess I'm clumsy and I hit it anyway. These sand filled type hammers, only ones I have besides a regular hammer don't seem to work.

Any other ideas anyone?

[juntjoo]

Taking that last bolt off the valve cover/rocker box should pop up and come off.

You mean these?



I need another suggestion. I'm at that point I always come to where my monkey brain, perhaps the majority of it lol, is tempting me pick it up and throw it on the ground, to get it off AND to teach it not to test my patience. Ideas please 

[chewbacca5000]

Taking that last bolt off the valve cover/rocker box should pop up and come off.

You mean these?



I need another suggestion. I'm at that point I always come to where my monkey brain, perhaps the majority of it lol, is tempting me pick it up and throw it on the ground, to get it off AND to teach it not to test my patience. Ideas please 

yes those should be them.  Sorry about the chip.  The sand filled hammer is also known as a dead blow hammer used for driving out bearings and races.

Pretty sure the other posted meant rubber mallet.  I would at this point take a deep breath and give go do something else for a bit.  Just give it a little rest.

[754]

First pic right below the top cover, that I don't understand. Why it is there.?
Just below that..great place to tap, it must go upward.. Do not use excess hammering. Force.
If at this point you did not know there is dowels, good times to quit and start reading the manual..

[cb650]

Thats not the head.  Cam cover.   the rocker covers should be off and have the valves all loose.  AND there are a 4 bolts under the center.  If I remeber right there are 22 of them.   

[flatlander]

If at this point you did not know there is dowels, good times to quit and start reading the manual..

that's the best piece of advice so far.
and please put a piece of wood or something between the hammer and the head before battering it further.

[754]

Looks like he is right, it's just he rocker cover he is trying to get off.
Why are the top covers still in place?   ?
 
Chalk this one up to, the cost of...trying to getting in the engine without having or reading the manual...

[bochnak]

Dead blow over and over again. You can hit the cooling fins it you hit them straight on, never on an angle.

What year and model?

You mean like this?



When you said that I wasn't sure what you meant as there is no spot to hit strategically on those fins anywhere  to break the connection. Anyway, you should've said 'do NOT hit them' so I would've made sure not to but I guess I'm clumsy and I hit it anyway. These sand filled type hammers, only ones I have besides a regular hammer don't seem to work.

Any other ideas anyone?

No, I apologize, that is not what I meant. I should have been more specific.