Valve Covers - Modern Vs. Peanut, And Painting

[BPT]

I've always liked the stock covers on my more "moden" bike.  But recently I saw a bike with some peanut covers that had been finished in black but with exposed fins and thought they looked pretty good.

I know that the covers are supposed to all be interchangeable. Other than aesthetics, is there any difference between the two?  I've read the peanut covers aren't quite as thick and so might be a bit noisier but that's it. 

For painting and/or powder coating - to expose the fins, do most use the paint everything, then sand method?  That seems to be the most common and might be easier than detailed masking of everything.  Would that be the same for powder coating?  I was only wondering  about how the painted edges hold up if you use the sanding method.

       Thanks

[Bob_Roller]

I'm looking at valve covers that have an oil servicing port in the valve cover of the left cylinder, like the oilheads have .

[BPT]

In my late night, obsessive valve cover research this week, I saw one of those, with the oil port.  I can't remember where.......  but I'm thinking it was Siebenrock, which is where I saw some nicely finished peanut covers.

How do those work?

[mrclubike]

Here is the peanut cover with the oil fill port
It come from Max

The opposite side come from Capital  cycle

Apparently their is different Manufactures because they do not match
The texture and brightness is different
So if you are particular best to  get them from the same place   

[BPT]

Ok, looked it up, it was Siebenrock.  I saw a few things on Google about them, I guess I was thinking it was something more involved than just a hole with a plug.

That would make topping up easier.   But still a pain with the dipstick I'd have to keep.

[marcmax]

I put a set of peanut valve covers on porely for the look. I had them powder coated and then sanded out the center ribs, That was 5 years ago and they still look like new.

[Tony Smith]

It's like choosing a watch or some other piece of persoanl apparel.

My wife loved the peanut covers so I bought her a set for Christmas a few years back.

They interchange with the later covers, depending on who made them (and there are quite a few manufacturers) they may be thicker or thinner than OEM.  I think the the ones with the filler are a little pointless as you still have to pull the dipstick to read the level and you need a funnel regardless - at least on the oilhead you have a sight-glass for oil level.

The peanut covers don't do anything for me so I was happy to take the wife's backed out late covers when I fitted the peanut ones for her.

[BPT]

I already have a regular set of the peanut covers and they're OEM BMW.  I'm not sure if that means they're better or worse than any repros.  The only difference I heard about using them was you might hear more valve noise but I'm not sure I'd even notice that.

Thanks for your reply Marcmax.  I knew that was the common method to expose the metal but was concerned there might be a problem with flaking or something at the edges.  Glad to hear it held up.  I found a powder coater locally with a low minimum so I was thinking about giving that a try.

[mrclubike]

  I think the the ones with the filler are a little pointless as you still have to pull the dipstick to read the level and you need a funnel regardless - at least on the oilhead you have a sight-glass for oil level.
.

I did look at putting a sight glass in my pan extension but I didnt find anything I liked or was easy to fit 

[georgesgiralt]

Hello !
I've had a lot of parts powder coater. And the starter cover.
Here are two picts one just after powder coating, the other after careful sanding...
It is perfect even after a couple of years.

[georgesgiralt]

before ...

[BPT]

Nice, Georges!