Valve cover removal

[nuttyprof1]

I just bought a used 2003 1200s, with 1030 miles on it, a beautiful bike. I am going to check the valve clearances, since it was not done at 600 miles. The bike is definitely cold blooded and runs slightly rough at idle: I suspect it needs not just the valves checked, but also carbs synch'd and the carb screws backed out after drilling out the plugs. Other than that, it's great. From the manual it looks like I have to remove the entire front fairing to remove the valve cover, which sounds like a pain. When I look at the bike, though, it seems to me like it might be possible to remove it without removing the fairing. What do you guys think?
Giulio in CA

[snofrog]

picture the cam gears/chain sticking above the top of the head about 2" .still have room ?

[kedeg_97B12]

I have a first generation and I don't remove my fairings. I remove the side bolts and pivit and tie them out of the way.
Look on Bill's site here. His is a 2nd generation.
http://www.bladesbandit.com/cam.htm

[Red01]

I don't remove the fairing from my '01 either. I have ditched the PAIR system though. I do take the tank off, remove all the spark plugs and take the breather off the top of the cover, then it'll slide out the side.

[txbanditrydr]

I strip it down to the bone... windshield, fairings, fairing brackets, gas tank, engine guard (signal gen side) - anything that would get in the way.  This allows plenty of clearance to remove the cover but it's still a tight fit.  It also let's me clean everything up real good... once every 8,000 miles isn't too bad.  Just the way I do it.  

[jeepskate99]

No need to remove the fairing.  Just remove the PAIR valve, coils, and the bare aluminum cam-chain cover in the center of the valve cover.  Zip tie all the stuff you can out of the way and remove.  Be very careful of the seals where the spark plugs go when you are moving it out or else you WILL drop them and have a headache.

[ray nielsen]

Before you put it all back together, consider using a gasket cement like HIgh Tack by Permatex to hold the four gaskets over the spark plug openings in place.  Give the stuff time to get tacky before puting them in place on the cylinder cover casting and aligning the oil feed holes.  Then allow some more time before sliging the cover back into place.

Finally, lift up the cover slightly to be sure all four gaskets are in place before buttoning things up.

Good wrenching!

[nuttyprof1]

Any advantages to ditching the PAIR system (other than it's easier to get other stuff out)? Is there a description somewhere of what to take out and what to do with what I imagine will be several openings, tubes, etc. left over?
Nuttyprof1

[jeepskate99]

Any advantages to ditching the PAIR system (other than it's easier to get other stuff out)? Is there a description somewhere of what to take out and what to do with what I imagine will be several openings, tubes, etc. left over?
Nuttyprof1

With the Yosh pipe on my bike the popping on decel was eliminated with the PAIR off.

[txbanditrydr]

Is there a description somewhere of what to take out and what to do with what I imagine will be several openings, tubes, etc. left over?
Nuttyprof1

Yo Nut.... check out the PAIR removal thread found HERE!!!

[daniel1]

there is NO need to remove the fairing!!!  If you remove the left rear most fairing bracket and slide the valve cover out to the left you will have enough clearance.  The bracket is very easy to remove and install.  As others have stated, just go slow and be careful when re-intalling the valve cover so you dont knock off the plug tower gaskets

[Bob Holland]

I vote for removing the fairing and carbs. I like to have everthing out of the way

[Red01]

Remove the carbs for the valve cover?

[kedeg_97B12]

Remove the carbs for the valve cover?

Easy as pie if you have pods.

Air box, smair box...

[Bob Holland]

On the GSXRs, I found that it was eaiser to bring the valve cover from the back, were the carbs are, rotate the valve cover over the top, and set it in place. Old habits are hard to break, so I do the same with the Bandit. And that gets the throttle cables out of the way also.