CCI Aluminum Panhead Rocker Arm Covers

[41craig]

A friend has a chopper with CCI type rocker arm covers on it. They are cast aluminum. My question is do they need the felts? I always thought that the felts were to tone down the rocker arm clatter. Also, what is the best glue for the felts?
Thanks, Craig

[T. Cotten]

Borrowed from the Indian Fours, Craig,

The felts were intended to maintain oil upon the rockers to reduce wear at start-up.
(Note the drool-holes in the top blocks of intake rocker assemblies.)

Any sound-dampening was a secondary side-benefit, at a time when Flatty Clatter was accepted as a matter of fact, and the new hydraulics were already phenomenally quiet.

I suspect 'sound dampening' was just another sleezyriders legend.

...Cotten

[41craig]

Thanks, Cotten! I remember a friend in the early '70's that just got his swingarm Pan chopper running and it clattered like hell. We asked him if he had the felts installed and he said "No". Knowing better these days I'm guessing that he put solid lifters in it, and they weren't adjusted properly. Oil in the felts makes sense. Is there any new super-duper glue out there that is best for the felts?
Craig

[BigLakeBob]

When I put the felts in my covers about 6 years ago I experimented with different glues. Can't remember the whole list, about 5. Different adheasives, contact cement, weatherstripping, etc. I cleaned a piece of aluminum simulating the cover, applied the glue and put a weight on top. After the glue cured, I then put the sample in oil for a day or so to check adhesion. The only one of the 5 I tested that held up was original Gorilla Glue. I could not pry the felt off. When I actually did the covers I made a block with steps in it so it would evenly apply pressure to the steps in an original cover. I have not removed the covers from the running bike yet, so I can't confirm if the glue has held up.

[T. Cotten]

When I put the felts in my covers about 6 years ago I experimented with different glues. Can't remember the whole list, about 5. Different adheasives, contact cement, weatherstripping, etc. I cleaned a piece of aluminum simulating the cover, applied the glue and put a weight on top. After the glue cured, I then put the sample in oil for a day or so to check adhesion. The only one of the 5 I tested that held up was original Gorilla Glue. I could not pry the felt off. When I actually did the covers I made a block with steps in it so it would evenly apply pressure to the steps in an original cover. I have not removed the covers from the running bike yet, so I can't confirm if the glue has held up.

The MOCO told me over the phone, BLB,

Use 3M #800 Industrial Adhesive, and for the cases too.

But that was decades ago...

Next to nothing will survive if a leaky petcock fouls the oil.

....Cotten

[otis71]

I’ve used gorilla glue also with no problems.

[41craig]

Thanks to everyone for the help! Over the years I worked on Flatheads, Knuckleheads, Shovelheads, Sportsters, but not a lot of Pans.
Thanks again, Craig