| Author | Message | ||
     Olinxb12r |
So I want to switch out my XB12R's tan case covers on boths sides for the black ones off of a friends of mine's XB9S. I've had a discussion about it before, and I think we have all pretty much agreed that I should be able to make the switch without any clearance issues. I have heard that the cam cover is a pain in the ass to get off though. I'm going to borrow a manual from a friend and go through the manual as I do it, but I was wondering if anyone has some tips for me. I've heard there is a certian way you have to remove it and that everything is spring loading under the cover. I don't want to pull it and have a huge mess on my hands. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks! | ||
| Typeone |
i want to do the same eventually but i just bought a can of HD black wrinkle finish from Daves instead. still gonna be a pain i think so i'm avoiding it for now. must... get... rid... of... gold!  | ||
| Norrie |
You have to remove the rockers to take the tension off the cams. i.e. you have to rotate the engine in the frame to take the rocker covers off and then release the tension from the cams. I was going to take my cover off to polish it and was told this. I wouldn't recommend doing it any other way. Norrie. | ||
| M1combat |
Same here. Rotate, loosen rockers, pull cover. It's a job. | ||
| Daman |
I just straight up took off the cam cover and painted it, put it back on. So far its good with 8000 miles on it. | ||
| Alex |
Donīt forget to remove the cam position sensor and sensor plate (You need to drill the round cover rivets to get there). Otherwise You will pull Number 2 cam right out with the cover. After reassembly You need to adjust the sensor plate as per manual (You donīt need the Digital Technician, just go with the fuel pump sound). It might be a good idea to mark the sensor plate position before disassembly so You have a starting point at reassembly. And use Buell rivets to close the round cover. Have fun. Alex | ||
| Spike |
As mentioned, the proper way to do it is to loosen the rockers first, which requires rotating the engine down, which is a fair amount of work for the home mechanic. I've been wanting to swap out my cam cover too, it's just more work than I want to go through just for aesthetics. For what it's worth, I've *heard* that you can get away with pulling the cam cover without loosening the rockers if you turn the motor to TDC to minimize the load on the cams. In either case, if you do pull the cam cover you should install the new oil pump gear while you're at it. It's well worth the ~$50. | ||
| Hogs |
ALEX, Spike as well So are you guys saying that you can take the cam cover off without doing any top end removal in the rockers etc. HAve you done this yourselfs?? | ||
| Spike |
All I can say is that I've heard you can pull the cam cover without pulling the rockers if you turn the motor to top dead center. I haven't seen it done nor tried it myself, so if you do it do so at your own risk. On the other hand, I can't see why it wouldn't work, so if anyone tries it and has good luck be sure to let us know. | ||
| Hogs |
Right on Spike... YEah never heard anyone doing it yet themselves so if any have, please post here or where ever as long as we all can see this... | ||
| Alex |
Hogs, my post was meant as an addition to the previous posts. Iīm a professional engine builder so I wouldnīt open the cam cover with spring tension on it (I wouldnīt say it is possible but I simply wouldnīt do it). There are three ways to go: 1. remove all rockers so You will find no spring tension on the cams 2. remove only the pushrods from one cylinder and have the other cylinder on compression TDC so there will be almost none stress on the cams 3. Remove no pushrod. Put the engine to one cylinderīs overlap TDC. Give the engine a while to bleed down the hydraulics. You may get away with little stress on the cams. As I said my favorite would be way number 1 but if I had to do it in an emergency situation (like on the race track with no time to be lost) I might go with number 3 if necessary. The major question is does it make any sense to paint the cam cover on the race track? Is black faster than tan? I donīt know  Best regards Alex |
