175 TS Camshaft Bearing Carrier Cover Stuck!

[Samurai]

Hi Guys,

I'm in the final stages of a complete strip/rebuild of a 1959 175 TS and all has gone well up until the last stage where I'm stripping the cylinder head prior to having all the cases soda blasted.

I have now removed the camshaft nut, bevel gear, circlip/shim, valves/springs etc., leaving only the camshaft, bearings and rockers in place, but here I've come to a grinding halt and need some advice! The left-hand camshaft cover is stuck TIGHT!!! Yes, I have removed the four allen screws.

I've read all the posts I can see on here relating to the removal of the left-hand side camshaft bearing carrier cover and have tried everything: stainless steel rod down the centre of the camshaft to try and 'tap' the cover loose, heat and wooden block on the edge of the cover to try and get it to 'twist', gentle(ish) tapping on the end of the camshaft (via a block of wood) to see if that would shift it, soaking everything in WD40 and paraffin - all to no avail

I've been a bit reluctant up to now to really belt the end of the camshaft for fear of doing irreparable damage to it or something else and have just about resigned myself to taking the head to my local classic bike engineers to see if they can shift it. However, before I do, can anyone tell me if I've missed something obvious or is it often difficult to remove this damn cover? Is it safe to heat the head up in the oven and give the camshaft a good wack?

Any advice would be most welcome, it's really frustrating to have got so far and fallen at the last hurdle!

Cheers,

Samurai.

[double diamond]

If the cap is that difficult to remove, using a pin through the cam to remove the cap risks punching a hole through the cap. You can drive the cap out with the cam. Make sure the right side lobe on the cam doesn’t interfere with the left side rocker arm when you drive the cam out; the right side lobe should be pointing downward. Use some sort of drift arrangement that will not mushroom the end of the cam, perhaps something with a pilot that will fit in the hole through the center of the cam. Warming the cap might soften the adhesive and aid in removal. Matt

[Samurai]

Hi Matt,

Thanks for the advice, I think that's going to be my next move. I kinda thought that I might be able to drive it out with the cam in the way you described and I was hoping that someone like you would give me the confidence to do so!

I've had the head soaking in diesel since before Christmas (about three/four weeks now), taking it out every now and then, heating it up in the oven (with my wife's permission I might add!) or a heat gun and belting the end of the cover with a hammer and wooden block. This has freed up the cover just enough to enable it to twist clockwise/anticlockwise but only with the hammer/block for persuasion.

This appears to be as far as I can get, so I'll employ your method at the weekend.

Cheers,

Jason.

[Eldert]

Hi Jason

make sure you turn the camshaft so that the camlobes will clear the rockerarms .

the keyway has to face upwards .

good luck Eldert