clearance to remove valve cover?

[Rema1000]

I'm having trouble pulling the valve cover.  Its top rubs on the left-to-right tube in the frame, and there is just barely not enough clearance.  Or rather, the two screws at the forward end of the breather cover rub on the frame.  Do I need to remove those two screws to be able to pull the valve cover out?

[KevinC]

Pull the breather right off, then there is lots of room.

[Rema1000]

Thanks, that did the trick.  Maybe I missed that step in my manual.  BTW,  the manual says I need to get new o-rings for the 6 cover bolts.  Is that usually necessary, and if so, should I find some same-size rings at the hardware store, or is this a Suzuki-special part?  If not, am I likely to get a better seal if I leave them in and wipe them down, or pull them out and clean them?

[Diderich]

There are o rings on the bolts?!  Hmm...i've had my cover off three times now and never replaced them and don't have any leaks...They must be reusable  

[KevinC]

I never replace mine on any engine, and never had a leak there. They will be metric o-rings, and are a bit hard to come by in NA. The SAE standard stuff never quite matches up.

Just put the cover back on, with a bit of goop at the corners of the cover gasket where the half moons are.

[aslam]

Yeah, there are O-rings on those bolts.  Unless they look like they're not working (you'd notice with oil leakage) then I'd say you're fine.  When you go to retighten the valve cover just remember that you don't need to tighten the bolts with O-rings as much as the other 2 that do not have them.

ASLAM