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I mounted up my 14" Legends last night and ran into a clearance issue with the swingarm and the rear Thunderheader bracket. You can't tell from the pic, but the bracket is in full contact with the swingarm.
I'm sure I can cut it down and get it to fit right but for you guys who might have had the same issue how did you solve it?
I am not running 14 inch shocks, but I am running 13 and a little bit longer ohlins. It was very tight but did not contact. I would loosen up your bracket and exhaust.
Put the bike down off the lift and the weight will compress them. If it still doesn't fit, you'll need to change one of the two....shocks or exhaust.
I’ve had to space out several exhaust brackets over the years. Pick up some 1/4” or 3/8” aluminum spacers of the diameter of the bolts, get longer bolts to match the spacer add, and away you go. You may have to unbolt the shocks to raise or lower the swingarm to get at the muffler bolts, but that’s nbd.
I am not running 14 inch shocks, but I am running 13 and a little bit longer ohlins. It was very tight but did not contact. I would loosen up your bracket and exhaust.
Put the bike down off the lift and the weight will compress them. If it still doesn't fit, you'll need to change one of the two....shocks or exhaust.
In the picture, the bike isn't supported, that is its full weight on the rear.
I’ve had to space out several exhaust brackets over the years. Pick up some 1/4” or 3/8” aluminum spacers of the diameter of the bolts, get longer bolts to match the spacer add, and away you go. You may have to unbolt the shocks to raise or lower the swingarm to get at the muffler bolts, but that’s nbd.
Hey @Mchad where are you spacing? Between the transmission case and the bracket? Or are you suggesting spacing the pipe from the bracket at the rear?
The contact point is actually the bracket. If it weren't tubular steel it would clear the swingarm. I'm thinking of cutting the tube and replacing it with flat stock steel or easier yet, just cut off the last bolt point in the rear. I wouldn't think that losing one fastening point would be a huge deal...I'm not doing wheelies or anything.
Hey @Mchad where are you spacing? Between the transmission case and the bracket? Or are you suggesting spacing the pipe from the bracket at the rear?
The contact point is actually the bracket. If it weren't tubular steel it would clear the swingarm. I'm thinking of cutting the tube and replacing it with flat stock steel or easier yet, just cut off the last bolt point in the rear. I wouldn't think that losing one fastening point would be a huge deal...I'm not doing wheelies or anything.
I put the spacers between the bracket and the transmission. See the red circle. Ignore all the other spacers on the outboard side of the bracket - needed them because I didn't have one last bolt long enough, so I had to use one too long and didn't want it to bottom, but wanted to make sure I had enough thread engagement. The spacers were ordered from "aluminiumspacers.com" though two or three extra thick grade 8 washers from Ace hardware would work just as well...
I put the spacers between the bracket and the transmission. See the red circle. Ignore all the other spacers on the outboard side of the bracket - needed them because I didn't have one last bolt long enough, so I had to use one too long and didn't want it to bottom, but wanted to make sure I had enough thread engagement. The spacers were ordered from "aluminiumspacers.com" though two or three extra thick grade 8 washers from Ace hardware would work just as well...
Thanks for the pic. I'm guessing you were still able to get a good seal at the header pipe and the exhaust port? I would guess that adding that space changed the contact angle?
Thanks for the pic. I'm guessing you were still able to get a good seal at the header pipe and the exhaust port? I would guess that adding that space changed the contact angle?
No, its a tiny angle at that distance. No issues at all. I am using Cometic C9247 Exhaust Gaskets - which are basically like SE gaskets, but twice as thick. So they conform nicely. But again, at that distance its probably a percent of a degree so no worries there.
No, its a tiny angle at that distance. No issues at all. I am using Cometic C9247 Exhaust Gaskets - which are basically like SE gaskets, but twice as thick. So they conform nicely. But again, at that distance its probably a percent of a degree so no worries there.
Cool thanks, man. I need to scope out some spacer and bolt sizes and I'll give it a shot.
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