Valve clearance adjusted, now white smoke

[exzachtly1]

The other theory I have about the snap is that it might have been the tachometer gear. The tach is all floaty and bouncy when I ride about 50-60mph (if tends to wobble around after being at around 4-5krpm consistently). Upon inspection, the center of the gears looked pretty stripped and even gouged on some. I think I need a new tach drive gear. Maybe this is what made the snapping sound??

[chuck hahn]

I think you may be right on about that..but you wouldnt be able to seat the cover if the gears hadnt meshed. Maybe the teeth arent meshing as its turning and that what made the snap.

The cable itself reseating into the square reepticle on the drive end would also make a snap sound if it wasnt fully in.

[gs11ezrydr]

I would also inspect where the tach drive gear mounts inside the valve cover as I have seen it crack the cover in that area where the gear turns inside the cover.Since you heard a "pop" you mave have cracked the cover and you have already stated that the gear was damaged. Inspect the camshaft drive gear also.Hopefully all is well for ya! But sounds like things wern't aligned up for ya when you tighten down the valve cover.Also depending on how far you pushed down on the shim bucket exchanging the shims you can damage the valve stem seal causing it to smoke.