On the 450: how on gods earth do you get the valve cover off

[fabme123]

I tried in vein today and nothing seemed to work. I removed the CDI wiring and everything else I could think of. Any ideas?

thanks

[jeff schenkel]

pretty sure you pull the tank on that like you do (to make it easier) on the 250.

[fabme123]

seats pulled off. tank pulled off CDI removed. Still cant find the room to remove the cover

[jeff schenkel]

gary's got one. he'll probably be along a little later with your answer.

[Rebel Neutron]

Your desperate plea for help reminded me so much of my own struggles that I finally registered so that I could help.

The first step is to remove the tank and detach the CDI, which you've already accomplished. I'm not 100% sure that detaching the CDI is necessary, but I always end up doing it anyway.

At this point, the Clymer manual claims that you can simply tilt the cover forward and remove it. I have found this to be impossible and I suspect that instructions in Clymer are a cruel joke.

The way I get the cover off is by straddling the engine, facing forward. I then lift the cover up while moving the cables that run between the frame and valve cover out of the way so that the cover can be raised as high as possible. Then I slowly slide the cover to the right while keeping the cables out of the way, jiggling it around, continuing to lift the cover as high as possible, and hoping for a miracle.

Once I get the cover off, I often wonder whether I'll ever get it back on, but I usually find that part to be much easier.

[GearJammer]

Welcome aboard, Rebel Neutron & thanx for the excellent post! :wink:

[fabme123]

Next Monday I will try your advice, but I gotta tell you. The rear presents a major problem. Its as if you cant clear the rear if straddeling the bike facing forward. There is a peice back there, but if you can do it, Ill try again.

Thanks again

[glw]

It's tight. Damn tight. It takes finesse.
Here is a picture just before I removed the valve cover. This will show you what you have to remove. (By the way, I strongly recommended documenting your disassembly step by step with a digital camera. Priceless when you can't remember where something went.) And yes, you do need to remove the CDI.
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a130/garywooster/Rebel%20450/ValveCover_BoltsRemoved.jpg
Here it is with the valve cover off.
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a130/garywooster/Rebel%20450/ValveCoverOff.jpg
And here is how I adjust the valves.
http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a130/garywooster/Rebel%20450/AdjustingValves.jpg

[miscusi]

"Your desperate plea for help reminded me so much of my own struggles that I finally registered so that I could help. "

Bless your kind soul !

[fabme123]

Thanks again for the pics. Ill just have to try again. Sucks but I gotta wait for monday.

Have a great day all

[cTc]

glw: nice picture guide you got there.

[fabme123]

PS did you have the heads bead blasted or did you clean them yourself? They look great and mine can use some cleaning.

Thanks

[glw]

PS did you have the heads bead blasted or did you clean them yourself? They look great and mine can use some cleaning.
Was that a question for me?
I have done nothing to the heads. However, when I do digital photos I always finesse them slightly. I crop and increase the gamma which brings out the darker parts of the photo. Maybe all you're seeing is the "darkroom" work. The engine does look very good though, inside and out, and that's with over 40,000 miles. The only bad part is that the clear coat on the head cover is not in very good shape.