| Author | Message | ||
     Matteson |
So I have a slight weep on the rear valve cover and I tightened a bolt down too much and now it's stripped. What are my options? I don't think I can get that cover off without rotation. After I rotate maybe try getting a thread repair in there? Or cut the bolt out of the cover and tap and re-thread the head? I'm so pissed. | ||
| Stirz007 |
Next time you do a valve adjust, or otherwise rotate the motor, spend $20 and go with the thread insert route. I've had to do a half-dozen on mine in various locations (not on the head thankfully) over the years. Unfortunately it just happens with aluminum . I bought a complete metric kit (6 sizes or so) a few years back, and am glad I did. | ||
| Oldog |
are you sure that you cant remove the rear cover with the engine up? if you can pull it and cover the open engine use your favorite thread repair item ( heli coil or time cert ) there are others. the screws on most of this bike with very few exceptions are smallish and don't require much torque... | ||
| Matteson |
the shock mount bolt is in the way. I cant lift it up enough. Need get it lifted in the rear I guess to take the weight off and remove that thing, but will I have enough clearance? I just may find out. | ||
| Matteson |
I wasn't very clear earlier. It's not stripped. I snapped it off. So should I buy a new valve cover or cut the bolt out and extract the one in the head and move forward. | ||
| Stirz007 |
Ohhh - looks like minor surgery may be required! Go ahead and rotate motor to get access (better yet, drop the motor - by taking out rear two mounting bolts), drill it and extract bolt. A little heat and some penetrating oil will help. You might be able to not rotate or drop motor if the bolt in question is one of the five not partially blocked from above, as obviously you'll need room to drill a concentric hole down the center of the remaining bolt part. If the bolt is broken off "clean", you can use a center punch to locate the drill, then use a size or two smaller than the bolt so you only drill broken bolt and not the head. Use an extractor, take your time and you should be able to get it out without removing valve cover. Use grease and/or a vacuum to catch metal shavings as well as you can. It'll be a PITA, but do-able. It'll be easier if you drop the motor (once you go through that process). If it broke off below the head, you can use something like this:   If it's above the surface of the head, you may be able to get some vice grips on it, and rotate the bolt out that way. In either case, I don't see why you'd need a new valve cover unless you damage it somehow. (Message edited by Stirz007 on February 15, 2014) | ||
| Matteson |
The bolts in the valve cover can't be removed. So I would really love to just tap it out with the cover on but I can't. I tried taking the shock bolt out to try and wiggle the cover out. Isn't happening. Rotate it is. I will have to cut off the existing bolt in the cover and run a standard one I guess. The only reason I thought about a new valve cover was so all the bolts would be the same. | ||
| Stirz007 |
Yeah, I know the ones. I need to pull my rear before season starts (still snow on the ground here) but haven't gotten to it yet. I remember they are captive bolts, but have to think "how'd they get them on in the first place?". I'll pull my parts manual and see if they are a separate item or part of the valve cover. Dang!!  They are shown as a separate part number (CA0037.1AM), and I'm thinking that they weren't "cast in" to the valve cover, meaning they were installed after valve cover casting and paint, so there has to be a way to get them out. Without having it in front of me, I'm at a bit of a loss, sorry. (Message edited by Stirz007 on February 15, 2014) | ||
| Mhpalin |
Chris you can pull them out I know I have done it before,don't ask me why.Just give it a good Pull they will pop out.  | ||
| Matteson |
Im not rotating this girl. I'm pulling the frame. Gotta go get a stand so I'm not playing the balancing act. Man I have had a ton of things go wrong with her. But when we ride it's pure bliss. | ||
| Figorvonbuellingham |
If the tap extractor doesnt work try a left handed drill bit. Sometimes you can use one of those in a drill and reverse them out. Get some Kroil and let it soak in there. |
