Can you start a 22R with the valve cover off or will oil spray all over my garage and engine? I know it sounds like a dumb question but I know some engines you can without this happening, Im trying to track down a valve tap in my Trekker, I just ordered a FelPro VS50357R gasket set and was thinking about pulling the cover off this afternoon and using a mic to see if I can hear which is tapping, for all I know the cover is tourqed too much and a rocker is tapping against it. Either way I want to check the valves out and take a peek under there! Thanks again

 

I am no pro by any means.. but I have been part of a few rebuilds and have had no problems running the engine without the valve cover, but oil will squirt just not crazy.. anyways, if you adjust the valves by the book, you should solve any valve noise. Hope this helps.

 

No. Donot start the engine without the valve cover on and tightened. Should i say never. And its a 22r your never going to get the valve tap out of it. Even if you get close your only going to have to make very frequent valve adjustments through out the year. The rockers never get close enough to the valve cover to hit it unless you tighten it down to where the grommets and valve cover gasket have squished down flat. Check clerances and get them as close as you can to perfect. Remember the 22r's vlaves are adjusted "hot"