| Author | Message | ||
     S1owner |
Just looking for some info. I have never pulled a cam cover off. What is involved? I am poundering the thought of cutting the cover down but do not know the work? | ||
| Stev0 |
Take it top dead centre compression stroke on front cylinder before you start. rocker boxes off to relieve the pressure on the cams. Timing cover off and remove timing cup. Remove cam cover being careful not to pull the cams out with the cover, try and leave them in the motor, it makes it a LOT easier if they're not disturbed. If they are this is where having it at top dead centre already will save a LOT of heartache. | ||
| Jolly |
its actually quite easy to re-time the motor if the cams fall out when you pull the cover...I learned the hard way and was really unsure about what could happen, but it was really a basic assembly and it times up really pretty easy. I was actually surprised at how easy the job was especially for how complicated it could sound. the manual has a nice photo of how to set the cam gears back up which makes it fairly straight forward. | ||
| S1owner |
Cool as I will be doing the xb rocker conversion also and repacing base gaskets it will be my winter project so it sounds fairly straight forward just take my time. | ||
| Stev0 |
it's not a difficult job especially if you've got the manual. As Jolly said the cams aren't a major issue but there is a bit of a trick. I've seen a few guys out one tooth. you may need to rock it back and forth a bit to make sure the timing marks line up spot on. Also a light smear of Loctite 518 "raspberry jam" over your base gaskets and rocker box gaskets helps.. | ||
| Reepicheep |
Depending on what cylinder is at TDC, the cam timing marks won't line up correctly. TDC for one cylinder is a way to only have to unload one rocker box instead of both boxes. You can probably get the cam cover off even loaded, but it puts a lot of pressure on the cam bushings (bad but not an immediate disaster) and you probably won't be able to get the cam cover back on... so you end up pulling a rocker box or two anyway. That was my experience anyway. If it's a tuber, its probably a good idea to replace that oil pump pinion gear anyway, which requires pulling the cam cover, so just do both at once and deal with both rocker boxes... its only another 20 minutes or so, and it will require a lot less other fussing. | ||
| Harleyelf |
Not just the rocker covers, but the rocker arms themselves come off to relieve tension. The marks don't line up every rotation, but you can put them all in alignment without damaging anything. Best is to leave them in place. | ||
| Spiderman |
Step one: Buy a Manual | ||
| Buellistic |
"AND" a PARTS BOOK for your YEAR/MODEL BUELL !!! | ||
| Scott_in_nh |
You will want to add the upgraded oil pump gear while you are in there. | ||
| Stev0 |
Yeah Reepi. I've removed the cam cover without taking the rocker covers off to replace a broken oil pump drive gear. There's a lot of ways around things when you've got experience but also many ways to get into trouble if you don't have that experience... The old , Buy the manual and follow it is still the best advice for most. I know we're moving a little away from just taking the cam cover off but here's NRHS's guide to changing cams. http://www.hammerperf.com/ttxlcaminstall.shtml (Message edited by stev0 on July 31, 2013) | ||
| S1owner |
Have the manual and the parts book. Plus every note of knowledge from anything and everyone I have came across. Buellistic thanks for the 101 and I still will call you on the crank case vent just need the time to sit. I just like to gather all the info ahead of time from people that have done it so I can hopefully avoid any mistakes/ mishaps they made or expierienced. | ||
| Jolly |
I had NRHS do my cam cover undercut and then they shot it with black for me. looks great! its the perfect time to do everything...down the rabbit hole... XB rocker box conversion, catch can, cam cover cut down, oil pump drive gear, you will need exhaust gaskets as you have to pull the exhaust to really get in there, great time to check your exhaust studs and install new ones if they look rough..do you have the updated exhaust "Y" shaped exhaust hangar?...are your push rod tubes leaking at the bases? I found a great set up that I am really happy with and they are super easy to install and much better than the stock ones...I did a write up here on the forum for my S3T that was leaking at the base of one rod..so "hey I think Ill have my cam cover under cut cause it looks cool"..is a real rabbit hole or a great opportunity to fix quite a few problem areas. | ||
| Akbuell |
When I did my oil pump drive gear, I put one cyl on TDC, removed the rocker box, then put the other cyl on TDC and removed that rocker box. After getting the other bric-a-brac out of the way, I pulled the cam cover, then pulled all of the cams, and put them on the bench. Kinda necessary anyway to replace the oil pump drive gear. For reassembly, I just followed the service manual. It may be necessary to reach in behind a cam or two and push the lifter up to let the cam seat. Hope this helps, Dave | ||
| Cupcake_mike |
I pulled mine off and cut it down with a cut off wheel, hacksaw, file and flap disc. Its not perfect, but didn't cost me $100 and only took about an hour...   | ||
| Littlebuggles |
Here's mine, took a little over a pound of material off. Starting weight was between 5.5-6lbs, finished weight 4.5lbs. I'm pretty particular about my bike, so I filed all the edges to a nice radius and lightly sanded out file marks then sprayed with the texture black.  | ||
| Jayvee |
Good job on keeping whatever is down on the bottom left, a dowel or oil passage? Nice | ||
| Littlebuggles |
I used a screw driver to gently push cams back into the chest as I pulled to cover off since they wanted to drift outward, I didn't want to mess with lining up marks and all that stuff, was easier to just keep it simple. Tools used, metal cutting band saw, belt sander, rotozip for some heavy detail trimming (back end and angle cut to the dowel post thingy) followed by dremel, then some quick file work for the finer details. | ||
| Littlebuggles |
The webbing on the back give you some nice lines to follow if you are inclined to do that sort of thing. Rough cut weight  Pre-cut weight  | ||
| S1owner |
Nice!! Any of you have any issues in tear down or reinstall? | ||
| Littlebuggles |
I was an idiot and didn't remove the timing cup so I pulled the main gear despite my best efforts to pull it apart without having to relieve the valves. Had to rotate the motor to TDC and reset all the cams. It was irritating, but not too tough once I read all the documentation. | ||
| S1owner |
Thanks guys sounds like read read read and dismantle slowly read drink a beer read dismantle slowly till it is off! Is that about right? | ||
| Reepicheep |
For what its worth... On my M2 I got the cam cover off fine without touching the rocker boxes (even though it may not have been wise), but no way was it going back on that way unless I would have put a scary amount of force on it. | ||
| Ratbuell |
And the reason for that is, valve springs push on rocker arms. Rocker arms push on pushrods. Pushrods push on lifters. Lifters push on cams. Cams ride in two bushings, one in the engine case (inner) and one in the cam cover (outer). Remove the cam cover without first removing the load from the springs/rockers/lifters and you've just allowed your cam to get shoved crooked in the bushing because it no longer has the outer support. And you have now damaged the brass bushings and possibly the camshaft journal. | ||
| Buellistic |
"BIG MISTAKE IF YOU DO NOT REMOVE THE VALVE SPRING PRESSURE OFF THE CAMS" | ||
| Stev0 |
Buellistic you can do it without removing the rockers. I've changed out an oil pump drive gear on an X1 without removing the rocker covers. Granted it's tricky and I wouldn't recommend it unless you're experienced but it can be done. | ||
| Kevmean |
Experienced or not as the others have pointed out it will damage the inner cam bushings, no ifs no buts .......it will damage them doing it that way even if your name was Erik Buell. It has nothing to do with experience but the laws of physics  | ||
| Buellistic |
THE "KEY" WORD HERE IS "EXPERANCE", SO THOSE THAT WANT TO TAKE THEIR CHANCES, HAVE AT IT !!! (Message edited by buellistic on August 02, 2013) | ||
| S1owner |
I will not be taking chances but I do understand cause there are many things I can do that lees experienced cant in my job knowledge is key! | ||
| S1owner |
OK BOYS Lets not argue no need just wanted some simple info it just makes it a messy thread and confusing. |
