an idiot on the loose

[rman]

Hello,
Riding bike into work this morning, heard a strange sound and then all of sudden I am running open pipes!!!

My muffler fell off. Spent an hour and a half looking like an idiot walking up and down the highway searching for the lost muffler. So if you saw an idiot this morning black leather coat carrying a motorcycle helmet walking up and down the highway then that was probably me. Never could find the muffler.
I am so freaking frustrated that I am contemplating the idea of just getting rid of the dam thing and getting something that will work for a week straight.

I am very frustrated right now and am in need of an inexpensive set of mufflers.
Any ideas would be nice. These were a free set of Harley pipes that were given to me. I still cant believe it. I had the durn things tightened down till I was blue in the face..

AAAAAaaaaaggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhh

…..whimper…..
….sigh……..

[81xsproject]

That was just your bike refusing to be that close to anything made by/for HD . Its like the kooties to your bike, or the lifetime channel for men.

[mitch]

Muffs

Any aftermaket motorcycle shop can order slip on muffs from 30 to 70 bucks.
Doug

[DiverRay]

Rman,
They were HD mufflers, and you need to check the bolts before EVERY RIDE. They are BUILT to rattle loose! You can use them, just need to keep up with the bolts.
Almost any cheap slid on muffler should work, so just try and get another pair free from the garbage can of your local HD shop.

[Crazcnuk]

How about lockwashers and locktite?

Since they are HD use RED!

The other thing(s) you can try: If the mount allows it, get longer bolts for the hanger mount, so that they can stick out 1/4" or more on the back, and either doublenut them, or drill a hole through the bolts near the end and put a zip clip or cotter key through the hole.

They may loosen and rattle, but they won't fall off...

[randy]

Ray, does this mean Saturday is off? Give a call to Schoch's Harley, just over in Bartonsville, see if they have any take-off muffler sets.

[oldnortonrider]

Foolproof way to keep 'em on~~after, one pipe is clamped onto the other~~drill a small hole thru both pieces. A bit smaller than the "sheet metal screw" that's fixin' to go into the hole. Sometimes I use 2 screws~2 different holes around the pipe(s). It's worked for me, on cars, too, when it wasn't handy to be able to weld together. Make the screws and the holes, a good hard, snug fit. I usually do about a 1/8 inch size hole.

[rman]

wishin I was ridin

Randy,
Yeah I don’t see much sense in getting together this Saturday. I was hoping you could check out the front and rear wheels to be sure I have them mounted correctly and also do your voodoo magic carburetor thing. If I remember correctly from last year it involves hanging a chicken from the handle bars and poking the carbs with a stick. LOL

I have contacted both Blocker and Schoch’s neither have anything, however a bike mechanic from Schoch’s who goes by “Troll” has some. He will try to meet up with me late on Saturday.

Oldnortonrider
I think you hit the nail on the head with your suggestion. The bolts were tightened less then 25 miles before they fell off. I would tend to think they slid off.

Thanks all for your ideas, jesting and support. I hope that my next grafting of Harley parts onto a Yamaha will not result in the Yamaha rejecting the part again.

[randy]

rman,

Just as well we don't do it this weekend, my carb sticks are on long island! I'll bring them home next week and we can do everything next weekend? Good luck with "Troll" (yikes!)

[Flatlander]

Here is one from me.

Got a problem with the carbs and intakes possibly (all this is on another post, so I won't go into ot here).

This took place yesterday.
So I'm draining my tank that was setting backwards on the bike to use it for the time being to balance the carbs. Then comes the time to drain the tank into a gas can still while on the bike, backwards. But setting pretty nicely. I was doing something at the back of the garage and herd a pretty loud noise. Turned around to see my tank had fallen off the bike and scratched the top and put a dent in the in the top front corner! May I add that this tank was setting on a bench, two months ago, while the head was getting rebuilt, and a jack stand fell from a above shelf and landed on top of the tank and put a large dent in it. The paint wasn't even cured from that repair and now this!

So if you saw someone out in their back yard walking in circles, cussing, and stomping worms, it was me!

Hope this makes you feel better, rman.

[Hammerhead1st]

U used VMAX cans on my MAC pipes. Put about 10 hours into welding/grinding/painting but the end result is a nice sound and pipes/cans that wont go anywhere. No rattles, no loosening, etc...

Some creative welding had to be done after I mauled the head holes a bit, and still she sounds good and looks not too awful.

[rman]

running out of time

Well, “Troll” came through this weekend and I now have another nice set of mufflers on the bike. The price just can’t be beat (FREE).

Got the pipes on and cranked the #ell out of the clamps. Also made sure the hangers are solid with no play. Was wondering if I should screw them on like oldnortonrider suggests and if so then should I drill through the clamp? Suggestions? Anyone? Anyone?

Started the bike up and sounds……wait……something not right here. Number three cylinder not firing. Oh that just figures. I walked away in disgust. I will try to get it working today. I know the drill, spark + fuel = combustion.

I am leaving for Alaska again next week. I hope I have enough time to get this thing working right before the XSEAST rally. I may be the first to arrive at a rally by foot!!


Flatlander, Yeah for some of us it never rains it pours.

[Flatlander]

Oldnortonrider may have a good idea there......get stainless screws though.....It may work too well and you forget about it for awhile and.....and you can allways weld over the holes later for a finer finish. As a matter of fact you can slightly turn the exhaust, and later for a welded fix, turn them back perfectly straight and weld the little hole over.

Alot like how I opperate.....a little now and alot later!

[81xsproject]

rman. If you haven't trimmed you spark plug wires yet, I suggest you try that first.

[rman]

its alive

New mikes XS coils and wires. First thing I did last year.

I pulled the plug already and it looked fouled, some carb cleaner and bike fired up on all cylinders. it is running now in the Garage. I will change all the plugs and do an oil change tomorrow. Hopefully this act of kindness to the bike will placate the XS gods and they will grant me a running bike for the summer.

mumble......light.candles.....chant......light incense.......pray.......