Topic: valve cover issues

[creed]

Need help guys!
 
   1974 cb550 14000 miles. It needed a new head gasket, so I replaced all the gaskets down to the base gasket. While I had it apart, I went ahead and gently lapped the valves just enough to clean them up. I went to put it back together and my valve cover rocks and doesn't sit flat on the head. I backed out all the valve adjusters and I am at tdc as well. I am lost on this. The #2 exhaust valve is the one Hanging (hitting the valve stem and rocker) up but if you rotate the motor then other ones want to hit as well. I have torn it apart X10 and nothing sticks out to me. Should the valve cover set with no pressure?

[dave500]

itll have a little pressure on it,even with the adjuster screws removed the rocker itself will touch the valve stem,just square it down but dont use those front bolts on those little ears to apply any pressure,do those last once its down flat.

[Scott S]

 Are you using the rubber band method to hold the rocker arms up when installing the valve cover?

[dave500]

ive never done that either,i just hold which ones foul up and it plops straight on.

[scottly]

ive never done that either,i just hold which ones foul up and it plops straight on.

Yeah Dave, but you know what you're doing. The rubber band trick is the easiest and safest, especially for a noob.

[bryanj]

At least one rocker will be trying to open a valve, make sure alladjusters do not try and push valve top sidewase, rubber bands or fingers, and slowly, evenly and carefully tighten the cover

[Llanier44]

So, sorry if this is “hijacking”, but it is related. I am in the process of finishing a project bike started by the PO. I was trying to set Val e clearances yesterday and was perplexed by the following: when turning the engine with the crank bolt to put the cam in the right posit, I would get to a point where it took way too much pressure to continue cranking the engine over. I searched on here and found a number of posts talking about the rubber band method and the issues that arise from improperly installing the valve cover. The PO had removed it (I know because he painted it and used new stainless hardware to reinstall it).  I’m now thinking he did not know the susceptibility of bending a valve stem. I’m pretty sure that is what is going on. So… what do I do now??  I have manual and multiple resources for procedures, but what am I facing? Can someone “headline” the steps I should follow going forward?  BTW, this forum is probably the best I’ve ever belonged to. I was a car guy for a long time and have been on multiple brand- specific forums, but this one has all the help and encouragement without the requisite load of d-bags who wreck it for the rest. So, hats off to you gentlemen and ladies. It is so refreshing to have some civility.

[scottly]

So, sorry if this is “hijacking”, but it is related. I am in the process of finishing a project bike started by the PO. I was trying to set Val e clearances yesterday and was perplexed by the following: when turning the engine with the crank bolt to put the cam in the right posit, I would get to a point where it took way too much pressure to continue cranking the engine over.

Were the spark plugs installed? If yes, the pressure would have been from compression.

[dave500]

if your turning the motor from the points side dont apply much pressure on that bolt!its not designed for that,use the kicker by hand (with the spark plugs out)and bump it around close to the spot you want,then carefully tweak it with the bolt.