What is the best set of panhead rocker covers to quiet the valve train noise? I'm probably looking for nice thick cast aluminum, prefer chrome plated. I made the mistake of buying stainless covers, no felts inside. Between the rocker covers and open primary, it's just too tinney... Please name a manufacture or a link.

Thanks

 

They used to have the heavy finned aluminum ones that were pretty quiet. I don't think they make them any more. I have stainless ones with some felt glued inside the top. The kind of felt they make boot liners out of. Been quieter for years.

 

Are you looking for covers for an actual panhead or covers that make an Evo or twinkie look like a panhead?

 

OEM HD came in stainless, steel and aluminum. Don't know about aftermarket. But, from what you are describing, it seems you are missing the felt pads that should be glued to the underside of the covers.

Before you spend the money on somethoing costly, get some, try it and I would suggest your upper end noise just about goes away.

The HD part number is #17507-48. They were used on all pans from 1948-1965.

 

It's a S&S 88" Panhead in a 48 frame, about 1/3 of the frame is factory, the rest is chopped or new. Pic in my sig is a 97 Fatboy I chopped, that's an EVO.

I have felts, just didn't put them in. What kind of glue do you use?

Thanks

 

www.customcycleengineering.com

 

I used some Gorilla glue. Don't get happy with the glue, it expands a lot. Of course make sure the metal is clean and grease free.

 

What weight oil you using?

That new water weight synthetic will make any HD engine chatty up top...when I had my twinkie I hated synthetic...went back to heavier dino.

Course in my Shovel...thick stuff great!

 

you don't really need to glue them, with stock covers the felt will squish between the cover and rocker studs/nuts enough that the felts behave themselves.

 

Glueing them helps kill the harmonic transfer quit a bit otherwise those tins like to ring