Cylinder Head cover removal

[Bookmon]

Now that temps have backed off, I plan to find what has cut my output power in half and what is causing a clatter in the clyinder region.
QUESTION: Should I replace my cylinder head gasket? It's only been on about 3 months.
I ask because I've been reading that "Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" Book. Pirsig seems to yank off his heads for this and that every other day. Surely he doesn't relace gaskets each time.
(Actually, I'm thinking all that work on his bike on the trip is somewhat of a ruse.)

[MisterCinders]

Are you removing the valve cover or the actual head?

[Bookmon]

Valve.... If I go farther, yes! new gaskets because I've not done those before. But for now, Hoping valves will do.

[chuck hahn]

Why was the cover off 3 months ago? Have you put guages to the carbs....out of balance carbs will cause those symptoms. Have you inspected the clutch springs in the back of the basket to see if they are loose? How about the clutch hub nut itself? How about the front sprocket? How about a stuck cam chain tensioner thats not doing its tightening job? Lots of what ifs here that can all be culprits to rattle / clattering noises.

[Bookmon]

well, the whole thang was in many peices from a repair job gone bad. That is why head off. I was thinking tensioner. Thought I had to remove the head to tighten the tensioner?

[Steve]

The tensioner can not be "tightened", and I know for a fact that it was set correctly when we installed it.

A possible source of noise could be simply valve adjustment. There was a bit of rust on various parts when we put stuff back together.
Some of the rust has probable been beaten back into submission, resulting in some extra clearances on the valves.

.

[chuck hahn]

Negative... You loosen that jam nut on the side and screw the center threaded rod in till it jams against the rod. Tighten the lam nut and remove the tensioner. DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES rotate the engine with it off!! Loosen the jam nut once its off and release the rod to see that it move freely and snaps back good and tight. You can also look at Cliffs site for the tensioner rebuild tutorial if you find anything out of sorts. Chances are its gonna be moving, but at least you can visually verify that it is good. Clean it up a bit while its off. To reinstall, depress the rod and tighten the screw against it..install and release the rod so its tensioning the chain. To properly set set it, you screew in the screw till it touches the rod, back out about 1/8 to 1/4 turn and tighten the jam nut.