| Author | Message | ||
     Schwiiing |
Call me lazy, but I just can't seem to find the info I need in the knowledge vault... I've got a Vance & Hines pipe on my '99 M2. Recently, (after 32K miles) the tab on the top of the pipe that bolts up to the front exhaust mount has fatigued and snapped off. The crack is at the bottom of the tab where it meets the exhaust pipe. I've had that crack welded up twice. Now, the tab has cracked a bit higher up - right through the bolt eye-hole in the tab. The guy at the muffler shop (who's been helping me) figures that exhaust mount bushing is shot - between the heat of the weldings, age, and torque on the bolt itself to keep it tight. He thinks that without a good bushing, we've got metal on metal, torqued down, and we're just compounding the problem. He wants to replace the bushing before we beef up the tab on the V&H pipe A trip to the dealership reveals that the bushing I need is part of a kit (now obsolete) that has been replaced w/ a newly configured front exhaust mount. For some reason, my VIN number doesn't qualify for the upgrade courtesy of Buell/HD. I'm looking for options. The parts guy at the dealership hasn't been able to locate a price for the upgrade kit - although I don't imagine it'll be cheap. All I really need is the bushing and don't see the logic in replacing the mount on the bike when it's the tab on the exhaust pipe that's broken. What is the re-designed front mount supposed to do differently? Anyone know why certain VIN's wouldn't be able to get the upgrade at HD's expense? Has anyone w/ this similar problem been able to work out a viable fix? | ||
| Sloppy |
V&H has a very bad reputation for this exact failure (at least in my area). I've had two go out and in the dealership there were plenty of other broken ones in the back. The fix is to replace it with another brand. The re-designed front bracket mount (a whishbone shape) will not make a difference (at least it didn't for me). | ||
| Cyclonemduece |
i just inspected mine the other night before this was posted and i noticed that mine is starting to get a little cracked, i think that i am going to look into the new bracket and to re-inforce the V&H pipe that i have with a little welding. | ||
| Sportyeric |
I don't see how the brand of the muffler has any bearing on a failure at the header, which I think is what is being described. I got my bracket replaced no charge a while ago on the S2 and I now have a crack in the pipe going from the bracket up the pipe for an inch or so. Its just been welded up. So I can't say I'm that impressed with the up-grade. Is the bushing something that could be manufactured on a home lathe? I don't remember what the original looked like. | ||
| Devdawg |
Al at American Sport Bike used to sell replacement bushings for the old style exhaust hanger, he also carries the new hanger kit. I had the exact thing happen to my '99 M2. You should get the new hanger (Y-mount)...I haven't had the same problem since I swapped it out for the Y-mount. There are entire strings on this subject in the KV. | ||
| Al_lighton |
The urethane bushing that we sold has been discontinued. Just as well, the bikes REALLY need the inverted Y upgrade. There just isn't enough lateral support in the L-bracket design. See http://www.americansportbike.com/shoponline/ccp0-prodshow/17036.html (Message edited by al_lighton on April 19, 2007) | ||
| Djkaplan |
Just as a point of reference, I have 30,000 miles on my V&H with the stock exhaust hanger and no problems. The Y-bracket is a sore subject with me... my local dealer wouldn't upgrade mine when the bike was still under warranty. | ||
| Schwiiing |
Sportyeric The broken tab in question is not on the header. It's a camel-hump shaped tab on top of the pipe between the muffler and the header pipe. It's part of the V&H assembly. ----------- Al Reducing lateral movement makes sense given the cracking that has occurred. Hope the new bracket actually makes a difference. Thanks for the link to the part. Is this the only place it's available? The parts guys at the local dealership can't seem to locate a part number through HD. | ||
| Ratbuell |
I haven't had an issue yet with the V&H on my S1W. However, I kept cracking the mounts on a 99 M2 I used to own. The main difference I noted was the muffler I had on the M2 had a bolt-on bracket at the top rear of the muffler; the one on my S1W has no bracket on the can itself, but a tube-shaped carrier clamp that bolts to the bike and allows the muffler to slide back and forth (front to back) as required. Since the header mounts to the engine, and the rear of the muffler to the frame, I think this fore/aft movement is pretty necessary. Although I do need to check the style of my front mount.... |
