I removed the decorative covers from the head of my bike. There's that one bolt that is left behind. How can that bolt be removed without removing the cover? Has anyone had success with cutting it with a disc or saws all? I was thinking of scoring it with a blade and trying to snap it.

At the moment I have a spacer on mine.......however what I have is a stud with a nut on the bottom so that I I can remove it when I want to.

I should take it off and shorten it so that it doesn't stick up like ti does - it has not been a priority for me as my tanks sits so low that you can't see this stud when the tank is on.



The only way to get this off without removing the head cover, would be to cut off the head of the bolt with a hacksaw blade. You will not be able to remove it is any portion of the stud remains attached to the bolt hex head.

I think that it is important to have a working bolt in that location, as it holds the left front corner of the cylinder head cover and keeps the seal intact (and the oil inside the engine).

Dave wrote on 12/20/16 at 12:32:05:

I think that it is important to have a working bolt in that location, as it holds the left front corner of the cylinder head cover and keeps the seal intact (and the oil inside the engine).

I didn't realize that. I thought it was used to hold the cover in place. With that knowledge I'll create a sleeve for it. I've left it lose for two riding seasons and can hear it rattling from time to time.

I like the idea that the bolt helps hold down the cover. It can't hurt.

The bolt does help to hold the cylinder head and cylinder head cover together.  In the following photo it is the far right bolt hole, and you can see the sealing surface just behind it.  The bolt head slides into the slotted groove as you assemble the head cover onto the head.



This is the bottom of the cylinder head cover, and the bolt hole is also the right rear one....it is outside the sealing surface - but does help to hold things together and keep things from warping or the sealant from coming loose.

Will we need to egg you on until it's done?

justin_o_guy2 wrote on 12/20/16 at 20:59:36:

Nope. I instructed the mechanic working on the bike now ot leave those off for me so I can get right onto them once the bike is back. I have the ferric chloride to strip the chrome in the mail and already have the correct size of spikes. So it's just a matter of finding some free time during these hectic holidays to sneak down to the basement.