To those who changed out their mufflers, how did you get to the bolts - what wrench?

2013 Softail Slim. I bought the 3" Rush slip-on's with 2" baffles.

I see how to change the stock ones out, but the clearance between the pipes and the wheel is so small, I cant get a wrench back in there and no way a socket and socket wrench.

I would just take off the entire bracket assembly, but it has two regular bolts and a big honking Torx bolt that I don't currently have a driver for.

What am I missing. It must be relatively easy, but this simple task escapes me!

Here are the bolts I need to get to:



There is just no clearance - what wrench to use?

 

Looks like you could get a ratchet wrench up in there.

 

Aw man, those things are a ****.
If I recall they're only a 1/4-20 x 3/8" bolt, with a 3/8" bolt head.

I ended up using a 1/4" drive swivel-head ratchet to break 'em loose and also a small offset ratchet boxwrench.
The top ones were a little easier, but even they required a 1/4" ratchet, a short extension and a swivel joint on the socket.
Nothing else would fit in there.

You think taking them out is a beitch? ..wait till you try to put 'em back in...
Just make sure there are no small children within earshot when you do.
I still haven't found the socket I lost when I threw the wrench across the garage...

 

I used a flex head ratchet and wobble extensions. And a flex head ratchet box end wrench.

 

Fortunately, when I swapped out my exhaust, I went for a complete system. At first, I attempted to take these bolts off, but then just got pissed off to the point of veins sticking out of my forehead. Left the fuggin' things there, and pulled the bracket instead - and the whole exhaust as a unit.

Looks like the other guys have some good advice for you. Best of luck, man! I feel your pain.

 

I used an open end wrench. Pretty simple

 

I looked at doing exactly this, but the bracket has this huge honking Torx bolt in it that I also don't have a wrench for.

 

Fortunately, I had a set of them. I find that, over time, I run into one of those moments, and my toolbox slowly fills up with "that one tool that I needed that one time".


If you don't have the other tools that the guys suggested above, maybe a set of these is the ticket? The set I picked up is a 9-piece set, T10 - T50, for about $20 or $25 (a couple of years ago) at Home Depot/Lowes/Menards. I just checked the box-o'-chit take-off bits and the bolt I *think* is the one in question is a T50.

There was a metric butt-load of loctite on mine, but was able to break it free with just the L-shaped wrench.

However you do manage to get this done, I'm looking forward to seeing the results of your project!

 

+1. Same as on the fatboy. I used my Craftsmen racketing and adjustable combo wrench.

 

Got to have the right tools for the job. A good torx and hex set are pretty much mandatory if your going to wrench on your bike.