1. Some members were not receiving emails sent from XJbikes.com. For example: "Forgot your password?" function to reset your password would not send email to some members. I believe this has been resolved now. Please use "Contact Us" form (see page footer link) if you still have email issues. SnoSheriff

    Hello Guest. You have limited privileges and you can't "SEARCH" the forums. Please "Log In" or "Sign Up" for additional functionality. Click HERE to proceed.

Valve Cover Bolt Snapped - Can I Pull the Camshaft Cap ?

Discussion in 'XJ Technical Chat' started by Shannonside, Mar 21, 2012.

  1. Shannonside

    Shannonside Member

    Messages:
    33
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    6
    Tightening down the valve cover after fitting new shims, without a torque wrench. I overcooked it.

    The Bolt at Intake 3 snapped. So I can't get at it with a left-handed drill or an Easyout as the frame is in the way.

    The remainder of the bolt is in the camshaft cap, recessed into it.

    I know the following is not best practice, to put it mildly...

    I will risk pulling the cap to get it sorted out. The thing is, should I

    a) Just pull the cap, leaving everything else alone ? Or...

    b) Loosen gradually and evenly all six intake-side caps, before completely removing the cap with the bolt in it ?

    Thanks in advance for any help.

    ps Before anyone asks, no, there is no good reason for why I didn't use a torque wrench. Just rushing to get the bike ready for a trip tomorrow. 8)

    Live and learn, eh ? :lol:
     
  2. dinoracer

    dinoracer Member

    Messages:
    386
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Location:
    Chattanooga, TN
    You will loose nothing by pulling the cam cap. Trying to remember but one side is a dummy cam cap and the other is actually a bearing surface for the cam. Make sure that you are very careful when you loosen up the screws that hold the cap down, There could be two hollow dowel's or bushings that locate the cap. Best to stuff rags next to cam chain area so not to have the bushing fall down into the pan or worse on the crank!!. Putting it back on is as easy as making sure all surfaces are clean and oreinted properly. Then snug the screws down then torque to specs. One more thing, You can't purchase cam caps as bearing surfaces, they are matched and machined to each head. You can't interchange them from one head to another. Take care with it and don't damage it. Its not rocket science but here is one place where a thought process will help out.

    Err just read that this is for a 900 motor.. This was for a 600 cc motor but it should be similar.

    Sean
     
  3. LVSteve2011

    LVSteve2011 Member

    Messages:
    708
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Location:
    Las Vegas NV
    Here is what I would do: rotate the cam lobe closest to the cap that you want to remove away from the shim, then there should be no stress on that cap.
     
  4. Shannonside

    Shannonside Member

    Messages:
    33
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    6
    Thanks guys, great food for thought. It was the idea of altering the stress points on the camshaft that was making me reticent. Sort of like the general idea of torqueing things evenly.

    I will hopefully find that is is not a bearing surface type of cap. Will report what i find.

    Thanks to you both.
     
  5. bigfitz52

    bigfitz52 Well-Known Member Premium Member

    Messages:
    21,283
    Likes Received:
    419
    Trophy Points:
    83
    Location:
    Rural SE Michigan 60 miles N of Motown
    If it IS a bearing cap and not a dummy, then you'll need to loosen them all, carefully and in stages, and then replace the offending cap.

    Sean is correct; however, you can replace a bearing cap BUT ONLY ON THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS: the replacement cap has to be fitted and the bearing clearance checked with Plastigauge. IF AND ONLY IF it's completely in spec, you can run it. The caveat is; if it's NOT in spec you have to find another one and check it the same way. It could take a few tries to get one that's right.
     
  6. Shannonside

    Shannonside Member

    Messages:
    33
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    6
    hi bigfitz, once again thanks to you for the interesting info.

    I can confirm that we are dealing with a dummy after all. (Sounds like something my wife says about me when she's on the phone to her family...)

    It was a simple matter to remove it, and because the thread protruded out the bottom of the piece it was straightforward to spin it out.
     
  7. mtnbikecrazy55

    mtnbikecrazy55 Active Member

    Messages:
    2,620
    Likes Received:
    24
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Location:
    Green Bay, Wisconsin
    glad to hear you got it out without too much grief, now go buy a torque wrench!! :D Happy riding!
     

Share This Page