Topic: Changing valve cover, easiest way? HELP!

[77cb750]

Well this past weekend I attempted to change out my stock valvecover with my new chrome piece. Soon found that I can't remove it because it hits the frame backbone tube. ARGHHHH! What's the easiest way to get this thing installed? I'm guessing the whole engine needs to come out?  Thanks

This is on my '77K

[GroovieGhoulie]

Yes, on the 750, the whole engine has to come out to do top-end work.

Don't force your arse-grapes out when lifting that 240-pound motor!!! 

[maksuttt]

Or, you can buy a Seeley frame and remove top end without any problem in the future

[siter81]

The easiest way to remove valve cover is.Pay someone else to do it?Damn gotta pull the motor.Good luck.Find a friend to help you lift it out.That sucker is heavy.

[Tim.]

Sell the 750 and get a 500/550 - you can completely disassemble the engine in the frame 

Seriously, as mentioned, you're stuck having to pull the engine.  Worse than it sounds.  When you get into it, it goes pretty quick.  Of course, pulling it just to put on a chrome cover would be a bit silly - any work you need to do on the engine?  Might as well plan for it and do it while the engine is out.

[KilgoreTrout]

I haven't done this but, I know of guys that chop the outside braces that run parallel with the center tube under the tank. They say you can then work on the whole top end no prob. Anybody have any thoughts on this?

[GroovieGhoulie]

Bear in mind that this is just my OPINION, and as such can be disregarded:

I wouldn't go chopping into frame members.

Take it for what it's worth.

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

Bet you have a sawsall in that garage. Some guys have cut out sections of the tubes to make them removable then reassembled without a permanent weld. Different ways to do this. You will, in all likelihood, lose some of the strength without a weld. Since you have it this far, pop off the head & jugs and have it bored for 836. You won't have a better chance or excuse. After you go this far you'll understand why you don't do it often.  

[Terry in Australia]

Why not just cut all the top tubes off and maybe fit a hinge to move them out of the way? Because the structural integrity of your frame will be destroyed, the same as if you were to go hacking into your backbone support rails!

God almighty, take me now, the loonies are running the asylum! If you thought your bike was a bit "iffy" in the handling department, wait until you ride it with no support rails to stop your frame from flexing like a limbo dancer on PCP!

It really isn't that hard to remove the engine, and like tintin said, it'd be an ideal opportunity to give the top end of your engine the once-over with the valve cover off. Might be a good idea to replace those rubber donuts under the cam towers, Murphy's law dictates that they'll probably start leaking 2 days after you reinstall the engine otherwise.

But don't go swinging a hack saw near it if you don't know the consequences of your actions. Cheers, Terry.

[KilgoreTrout]

Why not just cut all the top tubes off and maybe fit a hinge to move them out of the way? Because the structural integrity of your frame will be destroyed, the same as if you were to go hacking into your backbone support rails!

God almighty, take me now, the loonies are running the asylum! If you thought your bike was a bit "iffy" in the handling department, wait until you ride it with no support rails to stop your frame from flexing like a limbo dancer on PCP!

It really isn't that hard to remove the engine, and like tintin said, it'd be an ideal opportunity to give the top end of your engine the once-over with the valve cover off. Might be a good idea to replace those rubber donuts under the cam towers, Murphy's law dictates that they'll probably start leaking 2 days after you reinstall the engine otherwise.

But don't go swinging a hack saw near it if you don't know the consequences of your actions. Cheers, Terry.

Thank you for saying that. The axe is now back in the closet.

[Terry in Australia]

Good Man.

[TwoTired]

I remember John Soliday, instigator of the SOHC4 group, post on this topic years ago.  John used to race his 750, I think in WERA back east.

Anyway, he told the story of riding a prospective purchase.  He took the prospect 750 into the twistys for a test run.  He said it was the scariest 750 he ever rode. Impossible to hold a line leaned over, and power changes within the turn were a real eye opener of the wild variety.  When he, gladly, brought it back to the seller and asked about the poor handling, the seller mentioned that it got this way after the top end work.  Further discussion revealed that he did the work with the engine in the frame.  What?  Yes, you guessed it.  The two frame braces above the valve cover were cut off.  With that, the frame became Spaghetti al dente.

Cheers,

[KilgoreTrout]

Ha ha. What kind of dumb ass would even think about cutting out those bars? Some people shouldn't be allowed near motorsickels.

[750goes]

If you are going ahead and taking the motor out, and if you feel like doing it the easy way..

disconnnect all the required stuff, loosen/remove all the engine mount nuts on the right hand side (clutch side).
lay the bike down gently on this side
remove the nuts and through bolts from the left hand side
now lift the frame off the motor and stand it up again.
do whatever work is required
then
assembly is the reverse
or you can lift it in and out with a few mates.

do the right thing and clean everything while its out, makes it a lot easier, also as another post said, if you plan on doing any engine work now is the time, or just a real good maintenance check, whatever is needed.
good experience as well...
keep smiling...

[Terry in Australia]

Ha ha. What kind of dumb ass would even think about cutting out those bars? Some people shouldn't be allowed near motorsickels.

That's it mate, and I've always maintained that some people shouldn't be allowed to operate tools either, ha ha! (present company excluded, of course!) Cheers, Terry.

[dusterdude]

i personally dont see a problem with cutting the two tubes,IF they are put back in somehow or another pinned in place or welded back in.

[crazypj]

It was a common mod in the 70's for drag racers, but they only had to go in a straigh line down a relativly smooth track. I friend had some bolt in pieces to restore 'strength'  but he didnt really ride twisty bits.
PJ

[78 k550]

What ever you do don't do this.

[Gordon]

So, I guess they never welded them back in. Is everyone here assuming that once removed for easy access that a few simple welds wouldn't be used?

I don't know, I see some pretty strange assumptions.

I guess we had better incarcerate all the amen frame builders and stretchers, because we know after they cut a frame wide open, they never weld if back together before riding...

Yeah, a lot of sanity in this thread.

I think the point most were trying to make is that cutting and welding the frame simply to replace the stock valve cover with a shiny one is not necessarily the brightest of ideas.  Seems pretty obvious to me, but apparently that's not the case. 

[Tim.]

What I never understood is why Honda did this in the first place.  It seems they could have easily avoided it.  Bent tubes might have worked, or just adding 1/2 inch or whatever minimal extra clearance is needed.

When my friend and I were looking at his '77 750K, we thought perhaps by removing the front engine mount bolts and the bottom rear, the engine could perhaps pivot forward/down enough to get the required space.  Close, but not quite.  Even this would be better than removing the engine.

Like I say - buy a 500/550!

[siter81]

Could someone come over to my house and remove(I meant show me how)  my 750 motor and then replace it with the donor motor i bought.Please?

Just funnin around.I have already had the motor out once and need to swap it for the donor,I am just not looking forward to doing it.

[crazypj]

What I never understood is why Honda did this in the first place.  It seems they could have easily avoided it.  Bent tubes might have worked, or just adding 1/2 inch or whatever minimal extra clearance is needed.

When my friend and I were looking at his '77 750K, we thought perhaps by removing the front engine mount bolts and the bottom rear, the engine could perhaps pivot forward/down enough to get the required space.  Close, but not quite.  Even this would be better than removing the engine.

Like I say - buy a 500/550!

It wont work tilting motor. Buy a 550? Good idea.
PJ

[Gordon]

Could someone come over to my house and remove(I meant show me)how  my 750 motor is removed and then replace it with the donor motor i bought.Please?

Just funnin around.I have already had the motor out once and need to swap it for the donor,I am just not looking forward to doing it.

I definitely don't relish the thought of having to pull mine ever again.  Still don't know exactly how I managed to get it back in the first time.  The friend who helped me get it out wasn't around, but somehow I got it back in with just one floor jack, one scissors jack, and a milk crate.  Gotta love those milk crates!

[Gordon]

Like I say - buy a 500/550!

While I do love my 550, it's definitely no replacement for the mighty 750!

[Tim.]

While I do love my 550, it's definitely no replacement for the mighty 750!

Phooey    Who needs all that power anyhow.