What you have here is a very cheap timing cover removal tool.  For about $3.00 at your local auto parts store, you can purchase a "heavy duty gasket scrapper".  It needs to be around 1/8th inch thick, in other words, you should not be able to bend it, period.  This one came pre-bent, but a straight one would be better.  It will work either way.

Take the scrapper and grind the sharp end off with a bench grinder.  I used the one at work.  Round the corners off a bit.  Then use a hand file to shape it so that it fits in the slot of the timing cover snug like.  I guess you could just use the hand file, but that might take a long time.

Put your new tool in the timing cover slot, and while holding the handle firm, use a pair of pliers to turn on the metal part of the gasket scrapper and twist the timing cover out.  Slick huh??  When you put the timing cover back in, use some anti-seize on the threads, and just use your brand new tool. GENTLY.  It just needs to be snug.

What you just made was a very large screwdriver.

I'm lazy, don' like to twist too hard.  So I cut off a short piece of 3/4" x 1/16" bar stock, found a socket that held it nicely, hit that bugger with the impact wrench:



For the screws holding the decompression cable I ran a series of adapters:

The picture does not show it, for my photographer (my daughter), took the pic while I was working on it.  The final edge is a bit more rounded to fit the slot.

I'm kind of a big fella, so it was not too much effort to just use the new tool and a pair of pliers to twist the cover off.  Of course, I'm holding it in the slot firm, and taking my time.

Glad that this worked for someone beside myself.  

I don't know how you can get cheaper than this...



I 1st found the you can stick the skinny side of an old brake pad, but you needed a wrench to turn it.

a and a later...

And I have a wrenchless timing cover remover.
I'll file the wings flat and shorten the blade the next rainy day that comes along.

i used a small hinge today. worked a treat.

I also tried the plate from the seat hold down at the rear of the tank and that fit's as well.  But it's soft so use a large crescent wrench and push it up flush with the cover.

here's another tool that should work,
Quarter-Turn Fastener Tool,$6...

You don't need it on the threads, put it under the head outside of the o'ring.  The threads are oiled.