KZ1000 cam cover installation

I opened up the cam cover on my '79 KZ1000 LTD yesterday. There was a bit of a squeeze getting it over the cam chain idler assembly, I managed though.

Checked the valve clearance, replaced the gasket and then... had a very hard time getting that cam cover back on! I ended up taking off one coil (right side) to get the fastening nuts out of the way. Also loosened up the carbs and pulled them back, just in case the throttle cable holders were in the way.

In the end, I pushed a little harder than I wanted to but got the cover back on. Bolted it up, no oil leaks.

Is there a secret to getting this cover on and off smoothly?

remove both coils and carbs, swing the carbs out of the way with the cables atill attatched, pretty much what you already accomplished.....

Yeah that is a super tight fit in between the top idler assembly and the backbone on the frame. I think if there was a little less paint on my frame and not quite so much chrome on my valve cover it would slip right in....