Topic: Replacing valve cover gasket...re-adjust valves?

[Scott S]

 CB550.... valve cover gasket is leaking. I have a new gasket on hand.

 If I put the engine at TDC on #1 and replace the gasket, then be very careful (using the rubber band trick) when putting the valve cover back on, any reason why the valve adjustment would have changed?

[69cb750]

Check valve clearance when done.

[Scott S]

 I planned on checking.  I'm just curious if there is any reason for it to change.

[robvangulik]

A. you use a new gasket UNDER the valve cover and
B. you can never guarantee you use exactly the same force securing the cover.

[bryanj]

On the 550 its not a gasket its an O ring in a groove so, in theory, there is a metal to metal joint which SHOULD go down the same every time but is it worth the risk?

[DaveBarbier]

Scott, your question sounds like it has changed. If so, by how much? It has dowel pins locating the cover but will it go back to exactly the same place? Probably not. I bet it would be very close, close enough to not worry about it if you had to do this work on the side of the road and ride to your next destination Assuming you don’t have feeler gauges in your tool set.

[flatlander]

in theory, it should not change as the dowel pins should keep things aligned the same way and the gasket (o-ring) should bottom out. but in practice there may be enough tolerance for minor differences.

why not do as you suggest, i.e. proceed carefully and keep tappet adjustment in place - then re-check after assembly?
if you're lucky it's good - if not then you just have to adjust them again which you would've had to do if loosening them in the first place, anyway.