Help! Help! I Broke a Valve Cover Bolt...

[82ndCowboy]

I broke a valve cover bolt while putting my front valve cover back on.
So my question is?
If I take that cam shaft cap off and take out the broken bolt? Do I need to loosen all the cam shaft cap bolts and re torque them is a criss cross pattern?
Or is it ok to just re torque that one cam shaft cap back on?

Thanks in advance, guys!
I'll be hunting down a valve cover bolt Monday! Hope Boxenstopp has one!

 

[shawn kloker]

Holy shit! How did you snap that off? I would guess that you could get the broken bolt out with out removing the cam cap.If not you would be ok to remove that cam cap then retorque it.

 

[Nobody]

Some people should not touch tools:surprise:

Put the bike on your trail, remember not to drop it, and bring it to boxenstop and let Joe fix it:rofl_200:

 

[maxcruiser]

I broke a valve cover bolt while putting my front valve cover back on.
So my question is?
If I take that cam shaft cap off and take out the broken bolt? Do I need to loosen all the cam shaft cap bolts and re torque them is a criss cross pattern?
Or is it ok to just re torque that one cam shaft cap back on?

Thanks in advance, guys!
I'll be hunting down a valve cover bolt Monday! Hope Boxenstopp has one!

Your not alone - I actually cracked one of the cam shaft cap on my old bike :bang head: Dealer does not sell them seperate - have to buy the complete head - ya right! Ended up buying a complete set of them off ebay and I think they came with the bolts - if you can't get the broken bolt out - let me know which cap it is and it's yours - you pay postage

I was lucky - measured tolerance with plastigage and the replacement was the same as the original.

Let me know if you want it.

:cheers: Mike

 

[one2dmax]

caps are not interchangeable. They are bored after they are torqued to that head then removed so the cams can be installed. I have replaced caps before but it may take 5-10 caps to get one that aligns close enough to work. You can remove that one cap (preferably after you rotate the cam so there is no load from trying to open a valve). If you need a bolt I have plenty on hand I can send you for the price of postage (which is not cheap these days).

Sean

 

[maxcruiser]

caps are not interchangeable. They are bored after they are torqued to that head then removed so the cams can be installed. I have replaced caps before but it may take 5-10 caps to get one that aligns close enough to work. You can remove that one cap (preferably after you rotate the cam so there is no load from trying to open a valve). If you need a bolt I have plenty on hand I can send you for the price of postage (which is not cheap these days).

Sean

I understand what your saying Sean, but I ran the engine for over 25000 miles after that with no issue. As mentioned, the measurement was the same on both caps.

Mike

 

[82ndCowboy]

Thanks guys!
I went a head after reading your advice this morning and took the cap off and the bolt came right out, it was almost as if it broke with a screw driver slot in it. No drilling and tapping was required. Then I re torqued it back on. Everything is back together now cept for that one valve cover bolt.
What can I say, I was on beer number 3, Ozzy was rocking on the radio and I was feeling pretty proud of myself that I got the valve covers off and then back on with new gaskets. I guess I just wasn't aware of my own strength.
It wasn't as bad as I thought it was. Once I found the secret servo screws. Cept I have a new found hate for valve cover bolt seals! LOL!

Thanks for the offer on the bolts Sean. If Boxenstopp doesn't have one, or I can't get a hold of Joe, I'll have you send me one.

 

[4gasem]

Thanks guys!
I went a head after reading your advice this morning and took the cap off and the bolt came right out, it was almost as if it broke with a screw driver slot in it. No drilling and tapping was required. Then I re torqued it back on. Everything is back together now cept for that one valve cover bolt.
What can I say, I was on beer number 3, Ozzy was rocking on the radio and I was feeling pretty proud of myself that I got the valve covers off and then back on with new gaskets. I guess I just wasn't aware of my own strength.
It wasn't as bad as I thought it was. Once I found the secret servo screws. Cept I have a new found hate for valve cover bolt seals! LOL!

Thanks for the offer on the bolts Sean. If Boxenstopp doesn't have one, or I can't get a hold of Joe, I'll have you send me one.

Which is the reason I ALWAYS use a torque wrench! It's worth the time and money!:thumbs up:

Glad you got it sorted!:banana:

 

[lankeeyankee]

What are secret servo screws are they by any chance near the muffler bearing
I am going to give you the benifit of the doubt here cause I would think you would strip the cam cap out before snapping the bolt.

 

[KJShover]

What are secret servo screws are they by any chance near the muffler bearing
I am going to give you the benifit of the doubt here cause I would think you would strip the cam cap out before snapping the bolt.

Dayum, Mufflers have bearings? just one more thing I have to take care of. :whistlin:

 

[82ndCowboy]

Which is the reason I ALWAYS use a torque wrench! It's worth the time and money!:thumbs up:

Glad you got it sorted!:banana:

I Would have used the torque wrench but it didn't fit up under. So I used a regular ratchet. Bad choice I know! So a new tool on my list is a small compact torque wrench for future endeavors.

What are secret servo screws are they by any chance near the muffler bearing
I am going to give you the benifit of the doubt here cause I would think you would strip the cam cap out before snapping the bolt.

The secret servo screws I was referring to are the two long screws above the VBoost Servo motor, for the bracket. You can only get to them if you take off the radiator cap housing thingy. The obvious screws for the servo motor you can't get to because the coils are in the way.
I don't know how I didn't strip the threads to be honest with ya! I'm just lucky that I didn't. I'd much rather hunt down a bolt than tap and thread or buy a new set of cam caps.

 

[lankeeyankee]

I Would have used the torque wrench but it didn't fit up under. So I used a regular ratchet. Bad choice I know! So a new tool on my list is a small compact torque wrench for future endeavors.



The secret servo screws I was referring to are the two long screws above the VBoost Servo motor, for the bracket. You can only get to them if you take off the radiator cap housing thingy. The obvious screws for the servo motor you can't get to because the coils are in the way.
I don't know how I didn't strip the threads to be honest with ya! I'm just lucky that I didn't. I'd much rather hunt down a bolt than tap and thread or buy a new set of cam caps.

Ohh, I dont remove the servo to just take the valve cover off. I was wondering what ya meant. If you need any cam caps or valve cover bolts let me I am in TN and can ship em out in the AM. I have 3 spare motors also. All with BAD cranks but everything else is good shape.
99,03,05 engines bad cranks
Hopefully this 85 wont grenade on me.

 

[lankeeyankee]

Dayum, Mufflers have bearings? just one more thing I have to take care of. :whistlin:

Yeah ya didnt know that? The muffler bearings are located near the Muffler Fluid Resovoir.
You should replace em every year call the dealer asap they are cheap.

:rofl_200: