| Author | Message | ||
     Rek |
Hey all, I've been messing w/ my exhaust system for the last year. First the headers cracked. I took them off and rewelded everything. A couple months later they're cracked again. Fine. Bought a new (used) set of stock headers on ebay and okay-fine. Then the back hanger bracket on the can breaks off, right in the middle of BFE no less. Tie it up w/ wire stolen off a nearby fence and we're back in business. Re-welded the hanger when we get back home, and install a large hose clamp as back-up and all is well. Yesterday I finally get some decent weather and put 300 miles on the bike. When I get back home I notice both bolts holding the rear of the muffler have pulled right through the bracket and once again the muffler is hanging (after reading the dropped muffler and wreck post in stormfronts this really scares me). Is there any way to beef up the AU bracket on the rear of the V&H muffler to w/stand a little more abuse than it currently does? Rob | ||
| Djkaplan |
It sounds like you're missing the dogbone that fits underneath the rear bracket on the can. It makes it impossible for the bolts to pull through the bracket. | ||
| Rek |
It sounds like you're missing the dogbone Can I get that from V&H? It probabley fell out after the first incedent. Rob | ||
| Djkaplan |
I don't know, but it seems like you should. If not, you certainly could get one fabricated, or just make your own with a piece of steel flatbar and a tap. | ||
| Rek |
Dogbone update: I contacted V&H via email and w/in a few hours they replied that a new dogbone was on the way, gratis no less. All in all a very pleasant experience. Rob | ||
| Rek |
The dogbone and associated bolts came in the mail today. How's that for service? Pro Bono no less. I must be special? Rob | ||
| Djkaplan |
Good luck getting the little bugger fastened! | ||
| Rek |
LOL I know what you mean. The last time I messed w/ it 2 hours before we got it all back together. Now I'll be dealing w/ deformed metal to boot. Sigh. Isn't that why we love these bikes? Rob | ||
| Wyckedflesh |
If the bracket welded to the muffler is torn, take the time to get it re-tig welded before bolting it back in place. | ||
| Rek |
Just finished the project. About 30 min start to finish. The hose-clamp back-up saved my bracket and onlly the nuts pulled through. The previous owner (I assume?) had installed the muffler w/out a dog-bone using bolts and nuts w/ no backing. Like a dummy after rewelding it last time I re-installed it the same way (now that was a biotch, holding those little nuts w/ needle-nose while trying to start the bolts). Way, way easier using the threaded dog-bone, piece o' cake actually. Rob | ||
| Tbolt_pilot |
Had the same problem with my V&H pipe. Had it tig'd back together and remounted it. However, the small front mount at the joint between muffler and pipe, that one broke twice, so I left it off and it doesn't hurt. Also had an extra bracket on the rear mount that caused the muffler to hang down an extra 2". Took it out too. Don't know why it was there. Anybody else have it? | ||
| Rosko |
that should have replaced the stock muffler mounting bracket....you are using two, instead of one | ||
| Tbolt_pilot |
It was the previous owner (or his service guy) who put the exhaust on that way. I knew something was wrong when I looked at it hangin down that far. | ||
| Djkaplan |
You're setting yourself up for a potentially disasterous accident if you keep running that V&H without a front mount. | ||
| Rek |
Yeah, read the AZ stormfronts post about Wyked's muffler disaster. Rob | ||
| Tbolt_pilot |
Maybe you are thinking about the wrong mount. It still has the 3 sided mount at the front of the muffler that bolts to the engine case. The broke one on mine was actually on the header tube at the slip-on joint. It was a 1/2 by @2" piece with a slot in it. Not much of a bracket. But I do appreciate the concern. | ||
| Wyckedflesh |
Tbolt, that is where I had added a P-clamp that went MIA taking the springs with it. That allowed the canister to move enough to pop free and jam into the asphault...It may not be much of a bracket but it does help limit the movement of the canister slipjoint and the elbow. | ||
| Scooterroid |
I just installed a carbon fiber Vance & Hines on my '01 S3T. (I love it!) I would definitely put that clamp (that tightens the pipe to the header) back on. I went back and looked at Wyckedflesh's pics. Dang. |
