Stuck valve cover *now not stuck*

[Yorkshire Geek]

I'm trying to check the valve clearances on my XJ600S Diversion but the valve cover is stubbornly refusing to move. I've taken the bolts out and hit the edges with a mallet but the bloody thing won't shift. Looking at the bolts and surrounding area I suspect it's never been off in it's entire 20 year life.

With my fists of ham I could almost certainly bray it harder and probably break it but I'm hoping the BCF denizens can suggest a less destructive route.

[iooi]

Something slim under the edge (into gasket) to break the seal. Thin knife might do it.
Unless of course some previous owner has not used a gasket and used gasket seal to lock it down
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Just because my bike was A DIVVY, does not mean i am......

[chris-red]

Be careful I wouldn't use anything metal unless there are any specific point designed to be prised. I'd try using plastic car trim removal tools.
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Well, you know what they say. If you want to save the world, you have to push a few old ladies down the stairs.
Skudd:- Perhaps she just thinks you are a window licker and is being nice just in case she becomes another Jill Dando.
WANTED:- Fujinon (Fuji) M42 (Screw on) lenses, let me know if you have anything.

[MCN]

Hair drier to heat up the joint. (Not the 20s Speak-Easy sort of Joint.)

Constant gentle leverage over a wide area will persuade the goo to give it up.
You need to be careful of 'point loading' the cover or head in case you bend or crack them.

Check the parts book to see how many screws/nut hold it down. Count how many bolts/nuts in your hand.
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Disclaimer: The comments above may be predicted text and not necessarily the opinion of MCN.

[Yorkshire Geek]

[Yorkshire Geek]

To clarify - if I do use a prying implement do I want to be prying the gasket and valve cover up away from the engine or the valve cover away from the gasket?

[ADSrox0r]

Probably won't matter if you pry it open with pointyness, the gasket will need replacing.
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Current bikes: '08 VFR 800 VTEC(yo) , '07 ZZR1400 Winter hack: '95 Aprilia 650 Pegaso Currently lusting after: RC30

[Pete.]

I use a rubber mallet for jobs like this.
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a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[Yorkshire Geek]

[jaffa90]

A seal is a seal,
Constant gentle leverage over a wide area will persuade the goo to give it up.
You need to be careful of 'point loading' the cover or head in case you bend or crack them.
I agree with MCN.

[Fizzer Thou]

[Yorkshire Geek]

Hair dryer and mallet combo did it, unfortunately there's not enough clearance to get the fucker off so now I need to drop the oil and remove the radiator. That's bloody irritating.

[Yorkshire Geek]

To get the valve cover off I ended up removing the following...

Seat
Fuel tank
Air box
Carburettors
Windshield
Indicators
Fairing
Oil drain and remove oil filter.
Radiator

When I finally got inside I found 6 of the 8 clearances out of tolerance, not sure how happy I am about that on the one hand it means I have more to do before I can re-assemble it, on the other hand it means this wasn't a total waste of time.

Now to work out how to get these shims out...

[Yorkshire Geek]

Got the buggers out using the method in this thread and some eyebrow tweezers (she'll never notice).

Used Pete's calculator to work out which ones I want and with some shuffling that leaves me with two shims to buy so now waiting on the internet.

Much as this is a pain in the arse i know my bike a lot better now and i haven't put £125 into someone else's pocket.