how to remove tachometer from valve cover '81 gs550T

[noaho]

hi everyone.

Doing my first valve check on my 81 GS550T. When removing the valve cover I need to remove the tachometer as well. How do I do this?? I'm having trouble figuring out how to do so. I've turned the large metal casing that sticks out of the mount both ways, tried pulling it out but no luck. Just want to make sure I'm doing the right thing. Thanks so much.

here's a picture of it:

https://imgur.com/sNQgTnQ

[Rich82GS750TZ]

You got the tab and nut off. That’s really all that’s holding it on. Take the cable off first, the knurled part, loosen with a channel lock pliers or similar, gently. Use a rag or something in the teeth if you can. Now that the cable is out of the way, get some PB blaster or something in there where the round tach drive housing meets the valve cover. There’s on oring on that shaft that’s making it a snug fit. Use the padded pliers twist and pull the housing out. This part is easily buggered. And I’ve seen them broken from too much force. But they are made to come out.

make sure to replace the flat oring and the oil seal inside the shaft with new OEM.

Edit:
I just reread the original post. Your taking the valve cover off for clearance check. Sorry. No need to remove the drive housing unless it’s leaking oil there.

if the housing is turning when you try to remove the cable, put the tab and nut back on to hold it in place while you turn the knurled part/end on the tach cable. Again PB blaster is your friend is corrosion is fighting you.

[bwringer]

The part numbers may or may not be different on your bike, and the tach fitting plugs into a different location, but this procedure may help:

https://www.bwringer.com/gs/tachcableseals.html

Basically, that fitting just pulls out, but the band seal is likely hardened over the years and these things get stuck very tightly. It may be easier to remove it while the VC is still held in place on the engine.

On bikes like this with the tach drive in the valve cover, you do need to remove the cable, but you don't necessarily need to remove the fitting. Yours doesn't appear to be leaking yet, anyway. However, when you re-install the valve cover, make VERY VERY sure that you wiggle the drive gear a little as you drop the valve cover into place and ensure that it meshes properly with the drive teeth on the camshaft. Do NOT just whack it on there and cinch the bolts down, or you run the risk of breaking the teeth.

Also, the proper thickness of the valve cover gasket is very important on these bikes, since that sets the running clearance of the tach gear and the cam. Many, if not most, aftermarket valve cover gaskets are incorrect, so this is one instance where the correct OEM part can save a lot of fuzzlement and possibly prevent damage.

If you coat an OEM gasket with a bit of grease before installing, you can safely re-use it many times.