Ok so for the life of me I can't figure this one out and our old friend google doesn't help either. What gives? As usual, any info is welcomed...
Ok I see that people can buy them and even cut up a perfectly good original make a two piece but what's the point?
"These Enduro valve covers can be used on either side (inlet or exhaust side). Furthermore the half valve cover is available separately. That saves space in the luggage of the long distance traveler and all others wishing to take a spare valve cover on tour." Taken from www.bmw2valve.com
I think the one in the picture is from a single (R26-R27). In their case, it made it easier to remove the covers. The ones for modern twins are just silly.
The old /2 bikes use the same valve cover gasket as the Airheads but the valve cover is shallow. It won't fit except with a spacer, which some people have made to use multi finned /2 covers on the Airheads. I suspect the original two piece cover from R26/27 bikes will also be too shallow to fit an Airhead. It looks too shallow in the pic.
It started with dakar bikes, so they could carry half a valve cover in case they crack one in a get-off rather than carrying a whole valve cover. People thought that was cool so they did it too.
If they are good enough for Gaston, they are good enough for me. I don't need the two piece covers, but I am going to convert the race bike to bolts through the covers rather than the studs.
I think the R75 was the first to have them. And then I believe post war twin cams had them too. Both were BMW's first wet top heads on their twins. (At least wet tops with oil sourced from the engines since all the other BMW OHV twins had their top end oil poured in from the outside versus oiled from the engine per a real wet top engine.) Maybe R75's had them for the same reason the PD race bikes had them regardless of them being BMW's first wet top twins?
R50/2 and R60/2 engines use the same valve cover gasket as all the Airheads from 1970 thru 1995. 15 11 12 1 338 426 GASKET - ASBESTFREI 0.04 2 $5.07 07 11 12 1 338 426 GASKET - ASBESTFREI 0.04 2 $5.07
Rats. I got that backwards! I went back and edited the mis-info out. It's a shame more don't do this! But most never admit it's mis-info to start with! And then start accusing me of what they do. Oh well.
Going by the amount of 'supershaft screwed with this post Today at 03:44 PM', you must get it backwards an awful lot. You're a funny guy, man.
I NEVER change anything but typos and such. If I ever change the meaning in any way I make a note of it. Like I did up above. Oh, now I see what you are going on about. I do sometimes add info on to a post. I am just following official ADVR good inmate suggested practice. Your something else too!
