Laeger CRF450 valve cover removal

[CADWELL]

Well like the thread reads guys, I keep running into road bumps when it comes down to doing maintnance on this bike. Now it's checking the valve clearences and perhaps changing shims when it comes down to it.

The top frame rails on the bike are just wide enough to pull the valve cover up until I get to the bevelled(sp) edge where the gasket seats. This part on the cover is to wide and prevents from pulling the cover completely off. When I go to try and slide the cover against the frame rails it hits against the Uni cam assembly and rubs the PC off. This keeps me from sliding it foward or backward enough to get the cover off from under the frame rails.

I'm all about simplicity when it comes down to this aspect of the sport but I'm a bit stumped. I've already had to comletely loosen the motor to get the oil drain bolt out and I don't want to have to do this to check the valves unless I have to. Anyone have any experience with this. I don't have any pics, but will get some as soon as I get a chance.

[jrspawn]

I feel your pain man. I never understood why laeger didnt update the valve cover and drain plug issue.

On my old laeger crfs i would just pull the engine for any work needed to be done. Doesnt take long at all to yank it out, its just more a hastle i guess.

[protrax]

yeah loosen the engine mounts , then it will slide right out

[outacontrol]

been down that road, only way is to tilt the motor..

[hontrx265r]

Man that blows... my crf it slides right off. I thought it was very interesting the way mark laeger built these frames. No kick extender... the motor is shifted and so is the frame basically like it should be. If you actually take a look when the plastic is off its crazy the way everything is put together.

[quadpornstar]

Some of the frames had just enough clearance, and some of them don't. I have talked to a few guys that have used a jack or porta power to to bend the frame rails out just a 1/16" or 1/8" to allow enough clearance to pull the valve cover. Mine just makes it. When it comes thru the frame rails, it actually rubs just a fuzz. Not a big deal- having one of them, and riding one of them, makes all the hassel totally worth it.

[CADWELL]

Thanks for the input fellas.

I was affriad there would be no way around loosening up the motor. What sucks is I'll have to remove the swing arm pivot bolt which is what I wanted to avoid.

Because now that means removing the front sprocket which means loosening the carrier bearing to give the chain some slack. Remove the exhaust, remove all the motor mounts and possibly drain the coolant....all to check the valves hahaha..

I went ahead and ordered at shim kit and where as normally I might let a bit of adjustment just go a bit further, I'm just gonna plan on replacing the shims to spec even if they're off by a bit LOL.

[chriscrf]

I also have a laeger crf450r and to do motor work i have to remove engine from cradle.....the one thing i can do is remove the oil drain bolt but i barely can get a socket on it......its easier to work on it once on a work table anyways.......Like jrspawn said.......doesnt take that long to get motor on table...mine takes about 45 minutes.........Hybrids Got to Love them!