Years ago I adjusted 914 valves laying on my back under the car on stands. Now I have a 4-post lift and I can stand up to do the job. Only problem is I can't see how I can get the valve cover off, never mind adjusting valves. The heat exchangers seem to block everything ('70 1.7). A pro once told me he removed the bail by looping a shop towel over it and pulling down. I can't even see how I could get a straight pull down. Is the lift my problem? Do I need to put the car on stands, pull a wheel and lay under the car like in the old days?

Jim, I still do it laying down! I just pop one of the ends out and then take the bale off, then pop the valve cover off.
Geoff

I generally end up doing it Geoff's way, but I start by looping a shop rag around the bail and then pull down.

Do you think pulling one end of the bail wire out is OK? it seems like this would be bad for the bail wire over time.

They are some kind of spring steel, I use a large screw driver and carefully pry it out. Don't use a crowbar and reef on it and bend it!
Geoff

I just use a small claw hammer. Hook it over the center of the bale and yank down on it. Getting it off is easy. Getting it back on is a bit more difficult.

Demick

The only thing I worry about when I end up prying one side off is that when the bail pops out of the socket in the head, it takes a little bit of aluminum with it.

Getting them back on is the hard part. I've still got the late style exhaust on mine and I believe the heat exchangers are more in the way.