Dowel Pin Etiquette, Keeping Track of Them

Reprinted by Permission from Mr Tidy's Tech Tips

Most of us will at sometime, will either check the adjustable fingers on the rocker arms or do some sort of engine work on the Road Star.  If you notice in the diagram there are 6 dowel pins between the cylinder head and the valve cover.  (shaded in red) These dowel pins are free floating, meaning they are not anchored to anyone cover, spacer or head. As you remove the Valve Cover, spacer plate, or rocker arm base the possibility of one or more of these dowel pins will drop down and fall in to the valve area or worst into the engine oil return port opposite side of the putrid area. When removing for the first time anyone item, look care-fully as you lift upward to see if a dowel pin might be hanging downward. If so, carefully slide in some paper or use your fingers as to not allow them to drop down and into your engine. To insure they will stay put next time you venture into the engine use a drop of blue loctite upon each dowel.  2 ea. in the head, 2 ea. into rocker arm base, 2 ea. into the spacer plate. Next time the dowels will remain in the lower piece of hardware and limit the possibility of losing one of them. If the need arises to remove the pins a little heat or a pair of needle nose vise grips will remove them easy enough. The Dowel Pins are appox 50 cents each, Cheap enough if damaged from removal and cheaper than fishing for one in the bottom of your engine.

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DISCLAIMER: This information and procedure is provided as a courtesy and is for informational purposes only.  Neither the publishers nor the authors accept any responsibility for the accuracy, applicability, or suitability of this procedure.  You assume all risks associated with the use of this information.  NEITHER THE PUBLISHERs NOR THE AUTHORs SHALL IN ANY EVENT BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, PUNITIVE, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, OF ANY NATURE ARISING OUT OF OR IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH THE USE OR MISUSE OF THIS INFORMATION OR LACK OF INFORMATION.  Any type of modification or service work on your motorcycle should always be performed by a professional mechanic. If performed incorrectly, this procedure may endanger the safety of you and others on your motorcycle and possibly invalidate your manufacturer’s warranty.

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