Engine/Transmission (1998.5 - 2002) What is valve cover magic incantation?

[DMather]

OK, who want to provide the magic incantation that is needed to get the valve cover off? (2002)



It can't go straight up as it hits the cowl before it clears, it can't go left as it hits the heater hose connection and it can't go right due to the electrical and intake.



I'm considering removing the heater hose but that torques me off to have to do that for an otherwise simple job. #@$%!



Now that I see how aggravating it is I understand why it has never had a valve adjustment in almost 340K miles. (yes, it clatters up a storm and I'm sure the millage/performance is suffering. )

 

[blacksheepdiesel]

DMather,

Me thinks you have to donate blood to the Cummins gods before it comes off...

Seriously, remove the bolts (translation "take them out") of the valve cover. Then lift up and take it toward the passenger side, maybe cocked a little downward toward the exhaust manifold. It takes a little jiggling but it will come out and THEN you will be an expert at it! Unfortunately, by the time you need to do the next valve adjustment you will have forgotten how!

Godspeed,
Trent

 

[mhenon]

I'm considering removing the heater hose but that torques me off to have to do that for an otherwise simple job. #@$%!

Take the heater hose off. It just make the job that much easier.

Mike

 

[Gary - K7GLD]

Just play it like a chinese puzzle - tilt it to one side of the engine for clearance, then towards the front - no need to disconnect anything:



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[GOT-Torque]

Just push it over the heater hose connection, the hose will bend allowing you to get it over the vertical piece. Then slide it forward until you can lift it off. No need to remove the heater hose. Good Luck...

 

[DMather]

Thanks for the feedback.

I was too impatient to wait for replies and I decided I was going to win this battle so I headed out to the barn to try again. Ended up doing like GOT-Torque suggested, slid it up and over the heater hose. (slimed it good!)



In case anyone ever wondered... .



338,000 miles without an adjustment puts the intake at . 021 and the exhaust at . 042. Gee, I wonder if I might see some improvement and less clatter? :-laf



I'm going to let it finish cooling down and adjust everything in the morning.



Gary - I'm holding off on the chinese puzzle for mounting the D700 & FT100 under the center seat with the inverter as well as designing a nice stainless mount for the heads at the 4 oclock from the am/fm.

 

[NoSeeUm]

As others have said, to remove it you just take your left hand and push down on the heater hose. You cant the valve cover off the head to the passenger side of the engine. Once the bolts clear all the junk on the head pretty much just slide it out straight forward.



Installing it is just the reverse. Slide it straight back, off to the passenger side of the head so the cover bolts clear. Hold the heater hose down while you do this. Then cant it back over onto the head. There is a tendency to get hung up on the cowling insulation so watch out for that as it will rip pretty easy.



I never have pulled out the valve cover bolts to remove or re-install. Once you get the trick of it, it is very easy.



Jim