Aluminium Cylinder Head Covers

[transalper44]

Have a 2012 GS1200 from new, been in for 5 year service, rode it home and because of the weather not ridden it for 5 days. Yesterday a nice day so got the bike ready and when walking round it, noticed the offside cylinder cover was sitting proud ( a much larger gap between it and the cylinder head as opposed the nearside one) bearing in mind I had it 5 years, I never noticed that before. So my question is, did something foul happened whilst in for a service ?

 

[transalper44]

Sorry, should have said " Aluminium Protection Cylinder Covers".

 

[Bendy toy]

There are three M6 screws holding each cover to the cylinder heads. If they are not loose you have no problem.

Is the RHS closer? Maybe someone backed into it and squashed the cover inwards.

 

[transalper44]

No, it sitting further away from the cylinder head which is odd. The left one is fine The M6 screws are all tight .

 

[Davros]

is the rubber insert missing causing it to appear that there is a bigger gap?

 

[Bendy toy]

All you can do is pop them both off and compare.

Just a thought - A clout at the back end might cause the middle area to poke outwards.

 

[Tractors are go]

Are the spacers there, go between head and cover.

Sent from my GT-N7105 using Tapatalk

 

[Greenman14]

I have experience of buying 2 sets of used covers, and of using them for what they're meant for The rubbers are available from your BMW dealer as separate items at a reasonable price. Any knocks or impacts can cause the covers to bend and it's the devil's own work to get them to fit properly again, I'd suggest removing both and testing the fit: the bolts should line up without bending the covers. If you need to exert any pressure to get the holes to line up then try comparing the fixing lugs as they can easily get bent out of shape, ideally compare with an undamaged set. The rubbers are meant to be in light contact with the cylinder head, if the contact is heavy you'll damage the paintwork. The job of adjusting the fit is something best left to a wet weekend when you feel a surfeit of patience.

 

[transalper44]

Thanks guys for the input, offside cover deficiently not been refitted correctly or something when removed during the service. Shall remove tomorrow and try to solve the issue.

 

[Kenny Rodkiss]

Three screws all the same length and three spacers all the same thickness plus two bits of rubber. The three holes should all line up with NO force required.

 

[Bendy toy]

If you decide to get some aftermarket covers take care what you choose. Three M6 set screws will stand very little shear force and their mounting lugs on the cylinder head not much more. The OEM covers will bend when bashed so the screws are not side loaded. Many aftermarket covers are too stiff (the Touratech type made from laser cut stainless especially so.

I suspect your RHS cover has been pushed in from the back so it now sits out at the mid point above the spark plug. Though its possible the rubbers have been left out of the other side.

 

[transalper44]

Thanks Bendy, took the a fending cover off this morning and refitted (genuine BMW aluminium cover may I add) it. All rudders on both sides are fitted. Still sitting (top lip) further from the cylinder head than the nearside one. Will remove again later and take a rudder hammer too it, see if that will improve things. Something must have happened to it whilst it was removed during the service (hard to prove) but it certainly wasn't like that when it went in. (Main BMW dealer)

 

[Bendy toy]

If the RH cylinder got bumped while bike was put onto centre stand the back end of the cover would get shoved. This could cause the middle of the cover to bow outwards.

Annoying but its actually a good sign. As said - most head protectors are too solid.

 

[steadysteve]

Spacers on the wrong side of the protector ( under the stud head rather than between the cylinder and protector)would also cause the protector to bow outwards. Easy to get wrong apparently