Topic: does valve cover come off without taking engine out of frame?

[hevykevy420]

I've been searching for this answer for a few hours but so far I've found that to remove the head the engine has to come out.  Is there a way to remove the valve cover only with the engine in frame?

I need to replace a leaking valve cover seal.  I'm not sure why its leaking as it is a brand new rebuild with a new seal and I used a bunch of non-hardening gasket sealer on both sides of the gasket, but it is leaking all over the head from the cover area.  I do know that when I bolted the cover on for some reason it didn't seem like the cover was sitting flush onto the head.  Do these covers get warped if they are off the bike for a long time?

Also, I don't have any vent tubes hooked up.  Nothing was hooked up before I tore down, and the bike was running fine with no valve cover leak.  Will hooking the vent tubes up somehow prevent the valve cover leak?

[crazypj]

750's? Yes. unless you cut away the lower 2 tubes that triangulate to the sterering head. OK for drag racing not a good idea if you want to go round corners.
 500/550/650 No
PJ

[SteveD CB500F]

I think what PJ means (to answer the question) is:

750: No
 
500/550/650: Yes

350/400: ?

[dusterdude]

thanks steve,i was getting kinda confused there for a minute.

[hevykevy420]

yeah, me too...should've posted the bike cc.

yeah, i have a 750 so i guess i have to pull the engine...i can't believe that.  i've come this far and a stupid valve cover gasket is going to cause me to start over again!!!  

[SteveD CB500F]

For the observant amongst us, your bike is noted on the bottom of all your posts. 

[crazypj]

750's? Yes. unless you cut away the lower 2 tubes that triangulate to the sterering head. OK for drag racing not a good idea if you want to go round corners.
 500/550/650 No
PJ

oops, hit enter without checking, put the 500 bit in between 750 and no. then added the frame cutting bit. I'm going to have to learn to type some day ( but not today)
thanks Steve
PJ

[spencer2043]

It's actually possible to replace the gasket by pulling the engine mounting bolts and the exhaust pipes (for clearance) and dropping the engine down and forward enough to work(carefully!) the new gasket under the cover and over the rockers; however if you have good paint on the frame and engine parts there is a good chance of incurring unsightly scratches on them.  Of course, by the time you do all the bolt removal and so forth , you might as well pull the engine out anyway if you have help to lift it!  I didn't have any help which is why I did it that way in the first place.