coil upgrade and exhaust question.

[Shockman54]

well, i took the coils from my 81 and put them on my 79 (removed the ballast resistor too). the little white plugs from the 81 coils didnt fit, so i had to run to radioshack to get some bullet connectors. after crimping (don't want to start a solder/crimp debate here, easy guys) those on and hooking em up, i did a test start and she started up easier than she ever has before, ran better too. i would highly recommend this for anyone having starting problems. just thought i would post an update here for those having coil trouble that don't want to spend 100+ bucks on new coils.

my next issue is the exhaust. i got some never used mufflers off of a 98 sportster to replace the rotted out OEM mufflers. cut off the old mufflers, but it looks like im going to need an extension of some kind to get the tabs on the muffler back to the mounting bolt. i was curious what others have used and where they got it from. also, how they attached it and kept it from leaking. thanks in advance guys

[natemoen]

Going to have to weld extension on the back side of the collectors

[DGXSER]

Another option for some hotter but not so expensive coils is the Honda VF1000 coils. It is a mod listed on the UK site. I have a set ready to install once I get around to getting new plug caps, and decide what size wire I want to make the leads out of.

Nate, I think he is referring to the mount from the muffler to the foot peg bracket. My exhaust was really designed for a Standard and I have it on a Special so the bracket is low for mounting as well. I bought soem 1/8" plate steel and cut out extensions. I painted them a silver that is close to the chrome color.

Ignore the red line and arrow, you can see the bracket in this picture.

[natemoen]

I think he is referring to that mount as well, but he said he needs to get it BACK to the mount so I took it as he has a short muffler and if it was right on the collector it doesn't reach the mount. I am guessing it will need a little of both though.

[Poprock]

I'm running Sporty muffs on a Special. Had a guy make an adapter to fit the collector to the muffler. Then he welded a tab to the mounting point on the muffler angled 45 degrees backward up to the muffler mount on the bike. He put some Harley style muffler clamps on to join the muffler to the extension. Painted all the fabbed parts with high-heat aluminum and it's been on there for 6 years. Runs good, sounds good and looks ... a little strange, due to the shortness of the mufflers. The exit tip is just below the front edge of the side boxes. Fat Boy mufflers are a little longer and would look more balanced I think. Sound would be the same, deeper than stock but at about the same volume level.