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From: Raleigh, N. Carolina (Via Brighton, England)
Muffler bracket removal
Hi all,
Well, this will probably sound like the stupid question of the week, but here goes!
I recently fitted some V & H Big Radius pipes. There was a flat bracket holding the standard pipes and SE slip ons that is not needed for the V&Hs. This bracket is fitted with 3 Torx bolts that bolt directly under the crank case. I removed on bolt ok.
I want to remove this bracket and plug the bolt holes with some hex bolts. But, I cannot fit a torx socket to them since the frame member runs right under the other 2 torx bolts. Is there some tool I'm unaware of? Or are you V & H owners just leaving the bracket on?
I just had lots of parts powder coated (beautiful work: thanks powdercoater), and I've been kicking myself for not also doing the ugly front lower exhaust bracket. Well, I had to take my exhaust off to get at the swingarm bolt anyway, so I figured it was time to do something about the finish on that bracket.
Anyway, the frame is directly underneath one of the bolts (and interferes with another), so the only way I could figure out how to get it off was to use a bare T27 bit and an adjustable wrench to break it loose. Then, I used an open-end wrench on the bit. Then, finally, I used channel locks on the round bolt head until I could unthread it with my fingers.
It looks nice and clean without the bracket. -Makes me want a simpler exhaust system. If I put the bracket back on (after powder coating), I'll use vanilla grade five hex head bolts. . . .
Last edited by WS6 Formula; Nov 26, 2010 at 10:58 AM.
A "special tool" is mentioned in the thread, but nobody listed a part number. Anybody have one that can pop the p/n in this thread?
Mine is still on too, didn't feel like spending the time to figure out how to get it off with the tools I already have. But will buy the tool and make it available to everyonehere*...after using it to take mine off.
Edit: *Korea
Last edited by Cowpokey; Nov 24, 2010 at 08:52 PM.
I tried every tool in my arsenal and could only get two of them out. I tapped the bracket out as far as I could with a hammer and zapped it off as close as possible to the frame with my plasma torch (battery disconnected), tapped the remaining stub back into place, reinstalled one of the removed screws and called it good. It doesn't show and allowed my new exhaust to fit.
I wish I had known about that problem before the swap, that tool would have come in handy.
From: Raleigh, N. Carolina (Via Brighton, England)
Originally Posted by HemiOrange
I tried every tool in my arsenal and could only get two of them out. I tapped the bracket out as far as I could with a hammer and zapped it off as close as possible to the frame with my plasma torch (battery disconnected), tapped the remaining stub back into place, reinstalled one of the removed screws and called it good. It doesn't show and allowed my new exhaust to fit.
I wish I had known about that problem before the swap, that tool would have come in handy.
Good to know there are some like-minded people out there!
Cannot for the life of me understand why HD would use Torx bolts for that bracket. If they used hex bolts it would be easy to grind of a 50c hex key and use that. If they used a regular bolt no special tool would be needed at all. Those guys in the HD design dept. are probably getting a big laugh out of this
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