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Author Topic: Help! Busted Tapet Cover  (Read 1636 times)

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Offline Popwood

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Help! Busted Tapet Cover
« on: July 18, 2009, 02:29:50 PM »
Now I've done it. While removing the tapet cover, the whole top twisted off leaving all the threads in the cover. :( How do I remove the threaded part?
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Offline Bob Wessner

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Re: Help! Busted Tapet Cover
« Reply #1 on: July 18, 2009, 02:31:58 PM »
If you can take a picture to show where/how it's broken, it might help with the suggestions. A lot might depend what's left in there.
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Offline 1timduke

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Re: Help! Busted Tapet Cover
« Reply #2 on: July 18, 2009, 02:37:16 PM »
Similar thing happened to me.   I inserted a pair of needlenose pliers into the hole and opened them up, using the backside of the pliers to bear against the busted threads.   Took a couple tries, but it worked. 

BTW how tight should those things be, no matter how loose I make mine, they'll always hella tight when I go to adjust my clearance?

-Tim
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Offline Gordon

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Re: Help! Busted Tapet Cover
« Reply #3 on: July 18, 2009, 02:37:59 PM »
Are the threads seized in there?  I'm assuming so otherwise they wouldn't have stayed behind.  I would stuff a rag down inside the hole and spray the threads with some penetrating oil and let it sit for at least a couple of hours.  Then take a small flat-head screwdriver and a hammer and gently tap the threads in the counter-clockwise direction to unscrew them from the hole.  
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Offline Popwood

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Re: Help! Busted Tapet Cover
« Reply #4 on: July 18, 2009, 02:39:13 PM »
Whew! Went out to take a picture and while just feeling around it, noticed it moved. Then I just spun the threaded part right out. When it happened, I just walked away in disgust holding the busted off part assuming the threads would be jammed on. So no problem after all.
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Current Rides:
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1975 cb750K
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Past Rides:
1988 400 Hawk
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Offline Bob Wessner

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Re: Help! Busted Tapet Cover
« Reply #5 on: July 18, 2009, 02:50:42 PM »
Nice bit of luck. Glad to hear it's solved.. do you have a spare?
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Offline Gordon

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Re: Help! Busted Tapet Cover
« Reply #6 on: July 18, 2009, 02:55:37 PM »
Quote from: Popwood on July 18, 2009, 02:39:13 PM
Whew! Went out to take a picture and while just feeling around it, noticed it moved. Then I just spun the threaded part right out. When it happened, I just walked away in disgust holding the busted off part assuming the threads would be jammed on. So no problem after all.

Sounds like the tappet cover was wrenched down way too tight last time and probably broke the threads off just enough to keep the top in place until you tried to remove it this time.  

That's the biggest problem with those covers.  They put a 17mm nut on them so people tend to think they need a lot of torque to tighten them down, but in reality they only need to be just snug enough for the o-ring to keep the oil inside.  
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Offline Popwood

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Re: Help! Busted Tapet Cover
« Reply #7 on: July 18, 2009, 04:25:18 PM »
Yup, feeling real lucky. And I've learned my lesson. I think what I need to do is replace the O rings so they do their job. I can get another cover easily enough at Western Hills Honda-- another bit of luck, having a vintage parts dealer right here in town. Bought another tapet cover just a few weeks ago for my other bike due to PO problem.

Thanks all for your help.
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Current Rides:
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Offline OldSchool_IsCool

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Re: Help! Busted Tapet Cover
« Reply #8 on: July 18, 2009, 04:32:45 PM »
for the benefit of future searchers, I did a similar thing a few years back.  I removed the remains with a pipe wrench, being careful not to gauge the tappet cover.
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Offline MCRider

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Re: Help! Busted Tapet Cover
« Reply #9 on: July 18, 2009, 05:25:43 PM »
Quote from: 1timduke on July 18, 2009, 02:37:16 PM
Similar thing happened to me.   I inserted a pair of needlenose pliers into the hole and opened them up, using the backside of the pliers to bear against the busted threads.   Took a couple tries, but it worked.  

BTW how tight should those things be, no matter how loose I make mine, they'll always hella tight when I go to adjust my clearance?

-Tim
I put these in the same category as things with crush washers, like spark plugs, exhaust flanges, drain plugs etc.

I would HAND tighten tappet covers with a glove. Run the bike and if one leaks, skosh it up a tad. if yours are tightening themselves up use some anti-seize, even though its not called for in this application.

Exhausts, drains, tighten with a short wrench till you feel the crush washer give, then a skosh more. Run it and if it leaks,  a skosh more.

PS: Oh yeah, on tappet covers, always put some lube on the Oring. At least motor oil, if not something slicker like assembly lube, maybe even a touch of grease.
« Last Edit: July 18, 2009, 05:30:29 PM by MCRider »
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Offline fmctm1sw

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Re: Help! Busted Tapet Cover
« Reply #10 on: July 18, 2009, 05:31:30 PM »
Add me to the list of many tappet cover destroyers...  Tore up a few of mine, now I'm very careful tighteneing.  Barely more than hand tight...
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Offline Popwood

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Re: Help! Busted Tapet Cover
« Reply #11 on: July 18, 2009, 06:02:55 PM »
OK, now I get overtighening-- the hard way. But I think the real lesson is changing out the O rings. I was cranking down the cover because I was getting a teensie but of oil leaking. The solution-- but correct me if I'm wrong-- is in the O ring, not how tight the tapet cover is cranked.
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Current Rides:
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Offline MCRider

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Re: Help! Busted Tapet Cover
« Reply #12 on: July 18, 2009, 06:21:13 PM »
Quote from: Popwood on July 18, 2009, 06:02:55 PM
OK, now I get overtighening-- the hard way. But I think the real lesson is changing out the O rings. I was cranking down the cover because I was getting a teensie but of oil leaking. The solution-- but correct me if I'm wrong-- is in the O ring, not how tight the tapet cover is cranked.
Fresh O rings are always good, but old ones will last a long time. When tightened dry, they suffer a lot of stress. Not many Oring applications are turned while they are squeezed, scrubbing off their surface. So lube em up.
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Offline BlackMax

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Re: Help! Busted Tapet Cover
« Reply #13 on: July 18, 2009, 10:03:40 PM »
What????????      The EXACT same thing happened to me today.   I was trying to tighten it down a bit, as oil was leaking out.  It was loose as a goose, and on the 3rd turn, the top popped off with the threads still in the valve cover.

I used needle nose plyers, expanded onto the threads, and turned them out.  Eventually, I used my fingers (although I cut them on the sharp edges).

I  doubt you'll have a problem.....
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Offline Gregorymoto

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Re: Help! Busted Tapet Cover
« Reply #14 on: July 19, 2009, 09:05:28 AM »
When you replace them use anti seize on the threads.
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Yep, i have issues with this sort of stuff.
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