Tappet cover removal?

[mattsz]

My tappet cover came with some kind of gunk bedded in the countersunk "EFI - 500" lettering.  I'd like to remove the cover and clean it out.  Can I do that without upsetting or spilling anything urgent?  If so, should the engine be warm, or cold?  Is there a gasket behind it I should be careful of?

[Arizoni]

The G5 Illustrated Parts List doesn't show a gasket between the inspection cover and the cylinder but that is covering the oil return path from the rocker arms and valves so it must have some sort of sealant.

If I were doing this I would work on the engine when it's cold and probably use a very thin coating of a sealant like Permatex® Ultra Black® Maximum Oil Resistance RTV Silicone Gasket Maker.

[mattsz]

Permatex® Ultra Black® Maximum Oil Resistance RTV Silicone Gasket Maker.

Wow, that's a mouthful!  Thanks, Arizoni.  Maybe I just won't worry about it - it doesn't leak now, and I can probably live with the gunk.  We'll see...

[Arizoni]

If your talking about the markings being filled I suppose you could carefully paint them with DOT 3 or 4 brake fluid a few times and then wipe the paint off.
(Brake fluid dissolves paint).

I left mine as it was and painted the other cast marking indentations red.

[mattsz]

Arizoni - you may recall a PM discussion between us about this.  I am thinking about highlighting my engine in a similar fashion.  My bike has the same plastic starter cover, but rather than the "Royal Enfield" text, my engine covers have the cast winged logo with "RE" letters that match the starter cover's.

My tappet cover is the same as yours, and yes, I was thinking about coloring it to match the rest, but the corners of the recessed lettering are crammed with white gunk - it looks like some kind of wax or polish that is a pain to clean out without a metal scraping tool.  I figured taking the cover right off would make it easier to clean, and easier to re-paint at my desk rather than crouched in my dark garage...

[barenekd]

Taking the cover off is no big deal. I'd use the red Permatex High Tack Gasket Sealant for the cover rather than the Black.
Getting the gunk out is pretty easily done with some Electrical Contact Cleaner and a small brush. No need to remove the cover.
Bare

[b.sheets]

kind of piggy backing off of this thread.... My dad is a tool and dye maker so I'm thinking of mailing him my tappet cover and having him make a plain one without any wording on it. my (dumb) question is: Is there anything I should worry about when taking it off? Will any liquid come flying out? Is there a gasket behind it?

then putting it back on, is that the sealant mentioned in this thread that I need to use to put it back on or do I need to buy a gasket.
Thanks, I'd like to offer a few of these plain tappet covers to others considering it goes well, so answering my (dumb) questions would be appreciated.

Thanks

[Ducati Scotty]

Nothing will spill out, just take it off.

If there's no gasket use just a tiny bit of Permatex Black or a similar sealant.  Not too much, you don't want globs of it sliding down into the crankcase oil.

Scott

[b.sheets]

Nothing will spill out, just take it off.

If there's no gasket use just a tiny bit of Permatex Black or a similar sealant.  Not too much, you don't want globs of it sliding down into the crankcase oil.

Scott

Thank you, as a person with common sense that's what I figured but as a person with not much motorcycle mechanic common sense I would much rather just ask the stupid question.

Anyone interested in a cover?
I'm getting my father to mock up one with the cooling fins on it and a blank polished one.
I'll post pictures after christmas of the finished product.

[JVS]

Meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee. Blank one. Any chance you can post to Sydney, Australia? 

[gremlin]

.............Anyone interested in a cover?...........

Yep !
flat & polished for me as well.

[b.sheets]

My dad is coming down for christmas and we will mock it up. so just after the new year I will have about 10 or so(since a few people are interested) I was only planning on a 2-3 just to have laying around but I think I can get  him to 10 or so. I will definitely keep everyone updated, My dad is on board and said it wouldnt be an issue to get this project going.

and yea, I dont mind shipping to Australia.
as long as ya'll can wait til the new year for an update.

[motorat]

i'll take one...
either flat not polished or fins.

thanks
for doing this.

[b.sheets]

awesome, once the mock up is done I will start up a new threat taking requests!

[mattsz]

FYI... on offer at Hitchcocks: "TAPPET COVER GASKET (NOT fitted as standard)", part # 90250A:

http://www.hitchcocksmotorcycles.com/accessory-engine-gasketseals-efi