Cracking head pipe
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Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 243
Likes: 0
From: South Austin, Texas
Cracking head pipe
Hello,
Don't post often but kinda looking for cause of my exhaust pipe breakage up near the front head, I can get the pipes to last 1 to 2 years before they crack and break. I have tried multiple brands and styles same issue. Not sure if it is my riding style or my PCIII is running the front cylinder to lean causing extra heat at the header port.
FXDBI 2007, 96" with PCIII
80000+ miles
Ride daily all weather
Ride hard and tend to drag the pipe, I try not to but it happens.
Just lost another pipe today Python Throw Back
Any knowledgeable help appreciated, if it's my riding stye may have to buy a sport bike also.
Don't post often but kinda looking for cause of my exhaust pipe breakage up near the front head, I can get the pipes to last 1 to 2 years before they crack and break. I have tried multiple brands and styles same issue. Not sure if it is my riding style or my PCIII is running the front cylinder to lean causing extra heat at the header port.
FXDBI 2007, 96" with PCIII
80000+ miles
Ride daily all weather
Ride hard and tend to drag the pipe, I try not to but it happens.
Just lost another pipe today Python Throw Back
Any knowledgeable help appreciated, if it's my riding stye may have to buy a sport bike also.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,971
Likes: 840
From: In front of the computer for now.
Sounds to me that the pipes don't have enough support. All that weight, the leverage and vibrations cause head pipes to crack. Do you have any mounting brackets at the rear of the pipes. I believe on a dyna of that year the two pipes are "tied" together with bracket that has two "T" bolts for each pipe and also a bracket near the end of the pipes that attaches to the pipes and the frame of the bike.
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 243
Likes: 0
From: South Austin, Texas
Yea it has the two pipe bracket that attaches at the transmission, and nothing farther forward. I probably am just beating it against the street to often
Guess I will try shorter and higher.
Guess I will try shorter and higher.
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 76
Likes: 6
From: Northern NJ
Yeah, it's not normal for the pipe to crack. I got 84K miles out of my stock front pipe on my Ultra and when I needed to remove it, I replaced with a new one because it was thinning. No cracks though. The rear cracked once at the Y pipe and was replaced under ESP at maybe 40K miles. I replaced this one too because of thinning. I figured let me get it now while they're still available. The stealership didn't want to use then on my new longblock.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 1,751
Likes: 263
From: Catalina AZ
I guess the first question would be who installed the pipes?
If it was you, were they under any preload at the time of installation?
If it was extreme heat you should have other issues as well...
So moving on to whats moving around and causing it (most likely)?
Mounts, motor, riding.
Unless you are putting allot of pressure on the exhaust when corning I would have to lean towards the mounting locations and what they attach to.
Like earlier stated how are your motor mounts front and rear?
If the exhaust mount to the frame is solid and the motor is moving around to much it will put constant strain on what ever is in the middle.
If it was you, were they under any preload at the time of installation?
If it was extreme heat you should have other issues as well...
So moving on to whats moving around and causing it (most likely)?
Mounts, motor, riding.
Unless you are putting allot of pressure on the exhaust when corning I would have to lean towards the mounting locations and what they attach to.
Like earlier stated how are your motor mounts front and rear?
If the exhaust mount to the frame is solid and the motor is moving around to much it will put constant strain on what ever is in the middle.
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 243
Likes: 0
From: South Austin, Texas
Didn't think about engine movement.....I will have to check the mounts and make sure they are good, although I haven't noticed any abnormal movement.
Thanks for the extra brain power...
Thanks for the extra brain power...
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Cruiser
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From: South Austin, Texas
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Club Member
Joined: Mar 2009
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From: Niles Canyon Ca.
Two things will cause the issues you are having, stressed or misaligned parts or vibration. Can be royal bitch chasing down and correcting pipe breaking issues. Twinkies loose motor mounting design isn't doing you any favors in the exhaust rigidity mounting arena.
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