No one mentioned the fiendishly complicated bit...
(two bits, actually)
1. You have to remove the spark plug cap that runs through the center of the head
first, pry off the plastic strip cover thingie...not hard to do, no it won't break if you push the end closest to the rear of the bike away from the bike ...
BE CAREFUL prying out the plug cap...they are breakable... if you have a late-model 1200 then it didn't come with a little tool to help pull the cap off, so take two screwdrivers (cover them with tape if you want or not...) and gently engage the indentations on the top and bottom of the cap and ease the cap out of the rocker cover. It has a big rubber bit that snugs up over the sparkplug end so it takes a little prying... be firm, yet gentle
The other thing to be careful about:
When you pull the old rocker cover off, you may or may not dislodge the big rubber shouldered washer that you can see in the diagram. It usually stays in the hole between the sparkplug and the end of the head.
Fish it out and stick it on the tube part of the new rocker cover so that when you stick that on the head, it properly seats the washer. If you leave it in the hole, it probably won't seal properly and you will mash it on assembly and leak oil. You do not have to replace it each time...they are reusable, but you should seat it on the rocker cover "sticking out bit"before assembly.
Everything you have to do is much easier than it sounds...don't be intimidated.
Do, however put a drip pan or a few layers of newspaper under the cylinder before you take the old cover off, as there will be some oil sitting in the bottom of the rocker cover that will drop out and ruin your living room carpet(I can't be the only one who does this in the living room, can I?)
