Removing left hand engine cover

[ggdav]

Is there a trick to removing the left hand engine cover from the bros motor?

I've removed all bolts and given it quite a few good hard hits with a solid rubber mallet, but it won't budge

[ParcNHawk]

Do you have the manual?
Which way are you hitting it?
There are 2 hollow dowels that hold the cover on unless you pull it straight off.

[DrPMC]

Is this left as viewed from the front (clutch side) or from behind (generator side)? Not that it makes any difference, inasmuch that there’s no special trick to releasing either cover. I usually find that the heat spanner helps in most of these situations - a hot air gun or even a carefully used blowtorch may help to release it.

If it is the gasket sealant that is the culprit, you might consider just greasing the paper gasket in future. Unless the mating surfaces have been badly abused the paper gasket is more than enough to make an oil tight seal and greasing both sides will keep it place during assembly and allow you to reuse it in the future. My experience is that the only joint that needs silicone is between the two crankcase halves.

Obviously all the mating parts were well made by Honda and the engine generates very little crankcase pressure (which is why people get away with a little filter on the breather on the rocker - some parallel twins of my acquaintance would be just pumping oil out of the breather),

[ParcNHawk]

Both side covers have extra bosses near 2 of the bolts at opposite sides that allow prying from behind.

I would be very careful with heat to not (at best) damage the clear coat or (at worst) warp the cover.

Using a cantilevered piece of wood and a deadblow hammer will minimize the chances of damage.

[ParcNHawk]