Got my mufflers installed but...
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Tourer
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 333
Likes: 1
From: Texas
Got my mufflers installed but...
There's little wisps of smoke coming out of the front of the rear muffler where the pipe slides in and the bracket goes. They're Rush 2 inchers. When I put Rush on my sporty this didn't happen so that's why I'm asking. I noticed it after the first jaunt around the block after getting them on. I ran the nut on the bracket a little bit further down to tighten the muffler then went out for a longer ride so I could crack the throttle open without bothering too many people. I came back and 10 seconds or so after turning the bike off wisps of smoke come out of the front of the muffler again. You can also smell a little bit of burning too when you come to a stop.
I have no torque wrench to check the nuts on the brackets but I should be damn close to the 50 or so ft. lbs. I'm supposed to have them at. That and the front is working fine and it sounds like all the sound is going out the back of the muffler. I put some *** behind em but if you all think it needs to be tighter I'll put some more twist on it.
Until I hear different I'm going to chalk it up to the new packing getting broken in. They sound amazing though. Those along with the XiED, it's a different bike.
I have no torque wrench to check the nuts on the brackets but I should be damn close to the 50 or so ft. lbs. I'm supposed to have them at. That and the front is working fine and it sounds like all the sound is going out the back of the muffler. I put some *** behind em but if you all think it needs to be tighter I'll put some more twist on it.
Until I hear different I'm going to chalk it up to the new packing getting broken in. They sound amazing though. Those along with the XiED, it's a different bike.
Last edited by Kski; May 8, 2009 at 08:54 PM.
Road Captain
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 603
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From:
I always put a thin coat of hi-temp silicon between the joints to seal any exhaust leaks. Also, those muffler clamps are a real PIA if they have been installed a while. HD recommends new ones anytime you change mufflers. I re-used the old ones on my Rineharts, but soaked the old ones for a while in carb cleaner and then re-oiled with WD-40 before installing. If they are crapped up with rust or crud, it is hard to get a good tight fit..i.e. the 50 ft-lbs torque may not be tightening them to what they should be.
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
From: Missouri
I agree, problably just some oil or grease residue burning off. If you think you have them tight enough don't go crazy on them. An old mechanic once told me "tights tight, too tights broke". I'd use it as an excuse to go out for a nice long ride and see whether that fixes it.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 6,975
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From: NJ
The smell is likely packing oil and masking tape burning. They wrap the matting with it to get them in the pipes. It'll go away in a few miles.
If your brackets are leaking you should be able to feel the pressure pulse with the palm of your hand as the bike is idling. I had a leak in one of mine after it was "professionally" installed by a dealer. I pulled it and applied some copper RTV and then retorqued the clamps to 70lbs. Too tight? I don't know but they didn't break and pipes don't leak now.
I'm told that the clamps should be located just a tad ahead of the clamp groove/kerf so the clamps can squeeze the pipe better. But mine were leaking out the area of the groove not covered by the clamp.
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If your brackets are leaking you should be able to feel the pressure pulse with the palm of your hand as the bike is idling. I had a leak in one of mine after it was "professionally" installed by a dealer. I pulled it and applied some copper RTV and then retorqued the clamps to 70lbs. Too tight? I don't know but they didn't break and pipes don't leak now.
I'm told that the clamps should be located just a tad ahead of the clamp groove/kerf so the clamps can squeeze the pipe better. But mine were leaking out the area of the groove not covered by the clamp.
_______________________________
2008 Heritage Deluxe: His
2008 Deluxe: Hers
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Tourer
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 333
Likes: 1
From: Texas
I couldn't put the clamp in the same position that it was in with the stock muffler and clamp. The clamp end of the rush muffler isn't as long and the saddlebag bracket gets in the way so it had to go about a 1/8 inch or less further forward so there is very little little overhang sticking out of the forward end of the clamp. There's some but not as much as the stockies had.
Either way as soon as the weather clears again I'll burn em out.
Either way as soon as the weather clears again I'll burn em out.
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