Exhaust Broke? Can I Limp Home
Exhaust Broke? Can I Limp Home
This sux. Out for a ride and this happens. "Y" exhaust tube coming off the rear broke.
Immediate question is I can run it 30 miles or so home, or do i need a trailer?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 6,184
Likes: 2,132
From: W. Texas
Trailer is better but 30mi aint much. It's gonna be loud. Mine kinda split not as bad as yours but I made it home from 20mi out.
It's been sorta a common thing on our bikes.
"Well honey it's just better to replace it with a new pipe."
Can I say 2-1 D@D fatcat
WP
ya still got my # call if ya want
It's been sorta a common thing on our bikes.
"Well honey it's just better to replace it with a new pipe."
Can I say 2-1 D@D fatcat
WP
ya still got my # call if ya want
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 408
Likes: 125
From: Iowa
That does suck, but better it happened this weekend than next weekend halfway to Texas with your daughter on board...
Edit: Dang it, I guess I can't figure out how to use a damn calendar.
The Texas trip is two weekends from now, not next weekend.
Edit: Dang it, I guess I can't figure out how to use a damn calendar.
The Texas trip is two weekends from now, not next weekend.
Last edited by yellowstone kelly; May 7, 2017 at 06:28 PM. Reason: Correction
Almost did!
That's my fear...
Damn straight!
Well, the deed is done.
This happened about 10 miles north of Missouri Valley, Iowa. Rode it into town and stopped at McDonalds. That's when I saw what the problem was.
Kind of satisfying, actually. As we were limping into Missouri Valley, I was trying to think of what it could be, and that was my best guess. So hurrah for good guesses.
Anyway, sat there and noodled on it. Called a buddy with a trailer (big time stock car guy back in the day). He wasn't home, but we talked through it and he figured it was either fine to run, or that the damage was already done so nothing left to lose.
So we ran it home. Slowly. Thought about pulling the wire off the rear plug, but somehow that seemed like the sort of idea that was too clever for it's own good, and would only cause more troubles.
Anyway, it ran surprisingly fine. Decel pops were out of this world. You learn quickly to completely avoid engine braking.
BTW, in hind sight, I should have seen this coming a few weeks ago. I started getting decel pops once in a while. Never had those before. Looking back, that's probably when the trouble started.
I'll pull the header off tonight after it cools. I figure I should also run a compression test to see what's what. We'll know more about the state of things by then, I hope.
So....................
Now what?
Assuming the motor isn't munged, I still need to sort out this exhaust, and fast. I've read guys say they get cracks at that location welded, but what about a complete break like that? I just got done spending all my money on home improvements. Really don't want to drop a bunch more money I don't have into the bike.
Think that's weldable?
Well, the deed is done.
This happened about 10 miles north of Missouri Valley, Iowa. Rode it into town and stopped at McDonalds. That's when I saw what the problem was.
Kind of satisfying, actually. As we were limping into Missouri Valley, I was trying to think of what it could be, and that was my best guess. So hurrah for good guesses.
Anyway, sat there and noodled on it. Called a buddy with a trailer (big time stock car guy back in the day). He wasn't home, but we talked through it and he figured it was either fine to run, or that the damage was already done so nothing left to lose.
So we ran it home. Slowly. Thought about pulling the wire off the rear plug, but somehow that seemed like the sort of idea that was too clever for it's own good, and would only cause more troubles.
Anyway, it ran surprisingly fine. Decel pops were out of this world. You learn quickly to completely avoid engine braking.
BTW, in hind sight, I should have seen this coming a few weeks ago. I started getting decel pops once in a while. Never had those before. Looking back, that's probably when the trouble started.
I'll pull the header off tonight after it cools. I figure I should also run a compression test to see what's what. We'll know more about the state of things by then, I hope.
So....................
Now what?
Assuming the motor isn't munged, I still need to sort out this exhaust, and fast. I've read guys say they get cracks at that location welded, but what about a complete break like that? I just got done spending all my money on home improvements. Really don't want to drop a bunch more money I don't have into the bike.
Think that's weldable?
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,583
Likes: 115
From: Boston, MA
I would guess a welder may charge more than a stock set of take-offs would cost. They're had to be some on Craigslist. Im sure somebody has some in their stash.
Time is not on your side now with your trip next week.
Time is not on your side now with your trip next week.
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