header pipe stress?

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Mar 5, 2006 | 09:50 PM

bgano

Thread Starter

6th Gear

Joined: Mar 2006

Posts: 14

Likes: 0

header pipe stress?

Hello all, new member here, looks like a great forum.
Have a 2005 road king classic and have a question about the pipes.
Installed new mufflers the other day and noticed when installing the right side slip on muffler, I had to push DOWN on the end of the muffler about an inch to get it to line up with the rear hanger attachment, seems to me this puts a bit of stress on the pipes (see pic)
anyone else experiance this problem??

[IMG]local://upfiles/9068/76B24E2BA2EE400E9D178264A49E4F38.jpg[/IMG]

Mar 5, 2006 | 11:56 PM

pilot1996

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Dec 2004

Posts: 8,978

Likes: 34

From: Cedar Point, NC

RE: header pipe stress?

Doesn't sound right. I would recommend loosening everything but the header bolts, and tighten them all together, each a little at a time. You can see that there is not a straight line from the muffler to the header, and it looks a bit strange...

Mac

Mar 6, 2006 | 10:33 AM

DragonNester

Tourer

Joined: Oct 2005

Posts: 445

Likes: 1

From: East Tennessee

RE: header pipe stress?

Howdy and welcome to the forum. I looked at your photo and decided to take a look at my bike -- mine's OK. But it got me thinking, the measurement from the center of the muffler to the top of the hanger bracket on both the stcok or any after market mufflers should be the same to fit the same. Is the left one also in a bind? The neck of your after market muffler maybe pointed upward. If you swap sides does the problem go with the swap also?

Mar 6, 2006 | 12:13 PM

Bill918

Road Captain

Joined: Jul 2005

Posts: 610

Likes: 1

From: New Jersey

RE: header pipe stress?

I would double check to to see if you have the rubber mounts under your bags assembled right, also.

Mar 6, 2006 | 12:40 PM

bgano

Thread Starter

6th Gear

Joined: Mar 2006

Posts: 14

Likes: 0

RE: header pipe stress?

left one is fine, hve to lift the left side up 1/4 inch or so to bolt up, that seems right to me. Did not try to swap pipes from one side to the other to see if problem goes away, I'll give that a try, good suggestion.
Thanks.

Mar 6, 2006 | 12:41 PM

bgano

Thread Starter

6th Gear

Joined: Mar 2006

Posts: 14

Likes: 0

RE: header pipe stress?

Thanks, I'll check that as well, they look to be the same, but I will look closer.

Mar 6, 2006 | 01:27 PM

Gunkholes

Road Captain

Joined: Nov 2005

Posts: 680

Likes: 1

From: Seattle area

RE: header pipe stress?

This is a good issue to be concerned about. One of my riding buds had the rear header pipe on his RK Classic crack right at the Y where it attaches to the head. We believe that this was due to stress.