Valve cover removal and installation

Moto Guzzi V700, V7 Special, Ambassador, 850 GT, 850 GT California, Eldorado, and 850 California Police models

If you do any work at all on these bikes, even if just to polish the valve covers, you will grow quickly tired of removing and reinstalling the eight Allen head bolts using the standard L shaped Allen wrench. I make my life easier with two tools: (1) I use a 5 millimeter T handle Allen wrench to do the initial loosening and final tightening of the bolts, (2) I made a customized Allen bit for my cordless drill. Essentially, I cut the short end off of an old 5 millimeter L shaped Allen wrench. I chuck the long end of the L in my cordless drill, set the torque to it's lowest setting, and run the bolts in and out very quickly. I am careful to start the bolts by hand...I do not want to cross-thread the head!

If the valve cover is stuck when you try to remove it, do not pry it off. If you do, you are likely to tweak it and may never seal right again. Instead, using a rubber hammer, tap it on it's side.

I grease both sides of my valve cover gaskets when I install them. I think it makes it easier to remove them later.