81 GS450E Valve Head Cover Removal

[Guest]

I have a 1981 450E that I am trying to remove the valve head cover off of to check if the functionality of my cam chain tensioner. However after removing the 12 bolts from the Valve Head Cover I still cannot get the cover to budge let alone off. Am I missing a mysterious nut or bolt . The manual was indicated only the 12 bolts . I tried a rubber mallet lightly in attempts to loosen the gasket/ cover with zero luck. Any info or ideas would greatly be appreciated . Thanks

[Nessism]

Someone may have used gasket adhesive or maybe the cover has never been off before? Hope the later is not the case. You best plan on adjusting the valves while you have the cover off.

[Alexxxx]

https://youtu.be/YIqk6jaK38s

This is the cam chain issue I'm having

[Alexxxx]

Thanks for the reply Nessism. But the valves are not the issue the issue is that I cannot confirm that the cam chain tensioner is picking up the slack in the in the cam chain without seeing it so I'm gonna have to ruin the gastket to get the head cover off I'm thinking

[Nessism]

Regardless of what you find with the tensioner, the valves need to be adjusted or they will burn and damage the engine.

[Alexxxx]

So based on the video it sounds like valves to you? That was my initial thought but I'm gonna have to get into the stick valve head cover somehow

[Nessism]

I don't know what the problem is.

You don't have to take off the valve cover to service the tensioner. But again, you need to check the valves so I'd just go forward the way you are and pull the tensioner as well after the cover is off.

Please check the Newbie Mistakes thread linked in my signature so you know a few things to take care of before problems happen.

[sam000lee]

I think the point Nessim is trying to make is that since it seems this is your first time removing the cylinder head cover, you have never performed a valve adjustment. If you have never done the adjustment then it needs to be done regardless of what that other noise is since neglecting to do so leads to serious engine damage (tight valve = burned valve).

Are you sure you installed the tensioner correctly? With it out, push the rod in with your finger WHILE rotating the knurled nut CCW. When it's depressed all the way, tighten the lockscrew. Install it into the cylinder and then back the screw out HALF TURN only. You should hear/feel the plunger spring out. Then tighten the nut and make sure that you didn't also tighten the screw.

The 12 bolts are all it takes to get the valve cover off. Maybe try spraying it with some penetrating oil and do some tapping again with the mallet.

[Blue Falcon]

I just had the same issue on my 81GS450EX.... Follow the instructions on removing the tensioner, rebuilding and putting back in, it sounds too loose. Once out see how many turns tension it is... then add 1/2 turn when you put it back together. Mine was at 1 turn and I had to up it to 1 1/2 turns...just like the example on bikecliff. I also ordered 2 off of ebay too. It is not difficult to fix. I found a dead spot on mine and had to sand a little on it.

[earlfor]

Is no one able to read the yellow highlighted bar at the top of this page?

"This forum is meant for questions having to do with the forum itself, not GS related questions. Please post to the appropriate forum or your post will be deleted."

[frosty5011]

Is no one able to read the yellow highlighted bar at the top of this page?

"This forum is meant for questions having to do with the forum itself, not GS related questions. Please post to the appropriate forum or your post will be deleted."

.....Fixed!

[Dostoy320]

When I did my valve check last spring I also had issues with removing the cover. Lots and lots of patient, gentle tapping with a mallet eventually worked it loose.

[Alexxxx]

I got it off finally thank you all for the help. Had to carefully cut the gasket free n replaced gasket