Correct way to remove and install right-side engine cover?
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Intermediate
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 37
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From: North Georgia
Correct way to remove and install right-side engine cover?
Howdy,
First, is there a correct way to remove the right side engine cover on my '77 without pulling out any gears? I've had to pull that cover a few times now and the gears come out with it every single time....
Second, is there a correct way to reinstall it? It does not slide right on at all, takes a lot of finaggling. Is this something that needs to be tapped on with a rubber mallet to get it on? I mean it's a TIGHT fit!
Thanks,
Ludeykrus
First, is there a correct way to remove the right side engine cover on my '77 without pulling out any gears? I've had to pull that cover a few times now and the gears come out with it every single time....
Second, is there a correct way to reinstall it? It does not slide right on at all, takes a lot of finaggling. Is this something that needs to be tapped on with a rubber mallet to get it on? I mean it's a TIGHT fit!
Thanks,
Ludeykrus
Last edited by Ludeykrus; Oct 27, 2008 at 07:48 PM.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,035
Likes: 17
From: Houston Texas
Howdy,
First, is there a correct way to remove the right side engine cover on my '77 without pulling out any gears? I've had to pull that cover a few times now and the gears come out with it every single time....
Second, is there a correct way to reinstall it? It does not slide right on at all, takes a lot of finaggling. Is this something that needs to be tapped on with a rubber mallet to get it on? I mean it's a TIGHT fit!
Thanks,
Ludeykrus
First, is there a correct way to remove the right side engine cover on my '77 without pulling out any gears? I've had to pull that cover a few times now and the gears come out with it every single time....
Second, is there a correct way to reinstall it? It does not slide right on at all, takes a lot of finaggling. Is this something that needs to be tapped on with a rubber mallet to get it on? I mean it's a TIGHT fit!
Thanks,
Ludeykrus
I have never tried that myself, maybe because cams falling out does not bother me at all.
When you install the cover, you are having to line up 4 camshafts. a piniongear shaft, an idle gear shaft, and a couple of dowell pins.....all at once! So it's no wonder the cover is a bit difficult to get back on.
And NO, do not tap anything with a rubber hammer.
I hope you have the push rods removed when you re-install the cover?
Likewise when you remove the cover.
If that is not the case, then you have some of the valve springs pushing the cams downward and this makes it almost impossible to get all of the shafts lined up. So maybe that is the problem causing the installation of the cover to be a challenge?
pg
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,306
Likes: 865
From: Sheboygan, WI
I haven't tried it yet, but I read somewhere on here that if you lay the bike on it's side and leave the pushrods alone when you disassemble , if you give the cover a tap with a plastic mallet right before you lift it off, it will help stick the shims to the cams and allow you to remove the cover w/o dropping everything. Just make sure to loosen the pushrods for re-installing the cover.
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 751
Likes: 6
From: 500 miles south from Artic Circle
I haven't tried it yet, but I read somewhere on here that if you lay the bike on it's side and leave the pushrods alone when you disassemble , if you give the cover a tap with a plastic mallet right before you lift it off, it will help stick the shims to the cams and allow you to remove the cover w/o dropping everything. Just make sure to loosen the pushrods for re-installing the cover.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 5,134
Likes: 146
From: texas
i just did this and i wasnt looking forward to it but for me it went good.basically everything that was said above and i did tap on it BEFORE i took it off with a rubber mallet...did it help?i really dunno but it didnt hurt.i would not tap on it at all to get it back on.i rolled it an took pressure off 2 of the push rods and loosened the others.that is really the key.no cams came out.my bike also leans waay over so that no doubt helped...you might find a way so your bike does that .i cant imagine laying my bike on the ground on purpose for anything though ....that is some serious cam hatred there imo.
ludakris that is a very wicked bike you got there...
ludakris that is a very wicked bike you got there...
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