'83 GS450 cam cover question.

[jeremyseg]

Hi everyone. Last fall I bought my first bike, my 1983 GS450L. 18K miles with a few drips here and there, but a good runner. Today I planned on starting the repairs by checking the valve clearance. My question refers to the Haynes manual where it says I need to remove the chrome end caps before I can remove the cam cover. I can see a small screw on the inside, but there is no way of getting a screwdriver up in there. Now I think the manual is wrong but I don't want to proceed until I'm sure. The cam cover is on there really good and I tried to get it to pop off with a mallet but decided to check on the end caps before I go any further. Thanks again! Jeremy

[tom203]

Hang on, a 450 advisor will arrive soon! It looks to me that the end caps are just attached to cover( like my 650), but Haynes might just be recommending removing them first to aid in sliding cover off head. Cover is likely to be stuck on good (maybe 25 plus years), so it will need coaxing. You did get new gasket,right???


Official welcome due shortly! be ready

[bakirkwold]

Just take off the bolts and remove the cover. It might be easier of you take off the breather cover as well. If its stuck use a rubber hammer on it. One you have the cover off you can remove the chrome end caps if you wish. And Welcome to the forums!

[pete]

Firstly welcome to the forums!

As for the cover, yeah you don't need to take the end caps off.

All I do with mine is take the tank off, undo the valve cover bolts, and wiggle it off over the camchain and under the frame rails. I usually have to lift some of the wiring loom up to get it out but it can be done with the end caps on and with the breather cover on...

Take note mine's an '82 but I can't see the '83 being that different given the more modern GS500's are pretty much the same...

[jeremyseg]

Thanks guys! Got the cover off yesterday morning. After sitting 2 days without the bolts in it popped right off with a few taps. Valves are spot on and don't need any adjustment. I hoped that would be the case with the low mileage on the bike. Next on the list is the chain tensioner thats leaking, then I'll sync the carbs, clean the oil sump, and change the oil. Thanks again! Jeremy

[pete]

Glad to hear it Jeremy, and doubly glad to hear your tackling all the maintenance tasks too