Muffler clamps get loose
Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 157
Likes: 0
From: Joelton, TN
Welcome to the world of Motorcycles especially Harley's.Loctite is good,and you may want to keep some on hand and learn to use it.As far as clamps coming loose and I have read some post lately about things falling off of bikes,one more reason to do your own preventative maintenance on your bike.I get a kick when I read that some one lost a saddlebag or a part broke and fell right off the bike and they yell about the Dealer not doing their job.Learn to spend some time to do a little looking around at your bike and it may not cost you so much in the end. Or you can let the Dealer give it to you in the end.
I haven't posted in a while been busy with work, wife, etc. My bike has been sitting in the garage for almost 2 months due to me falling off a boat onto the dock backwards and breaking my tailbone and first vertebrae. So I finally get to feeling better and me and the wife decide last weekend to ride to the Harley Drags in Bowling Green KY and we get off the exit and my bike dies. Battery completely shot. So a very nice guy helps me get it over to the Harley dealer in Bowling Green and they were locking the doors to close when I pulled up. Told the guy I was dead in the water and he took me in and got me a new battery. I paid him and told him thanks and he said "Let me grab my tools I will put it in for you" I like to have fell over. They were the nicest people in the world and will get my business for now own. Then on the way home from the harley drags (what a party) my speedometer broke. Got that fixed and the next day my throttle cable broke. I was thinking its time to get a new bike or this is going to get bad. Got that fixed then on the way home from work my muffler clamp on my brand new Vance and Hines pipes broke and the pipe drug the ground and just about dumped me in the road. I limped it home and got that fixed and rode to work today with no issues. I guess I am good for a while I went over and DOUBLE CHECKED every nut and bolt on the bike last night. Sorry for the long thread just wanted to vent to the guys who know how I feel instead of the wife who always sais everything will be ok just fix it and go on. Be safe.
HaHa I think you were talking about me:
I haven't posted in a while been busy with work, wife, etc. My bike has been sitting in the garage for almost 2 months due to me falling off a boat onto the dock backwards and breaking my tailbone and first vertebrae. So I finally get to feeling better and me and the wife decide last weekend to ride to the Harley Drags in Bowling Green KY and we get off the exit and my bike dies. Battery completely shot. So a very nice guy helps me get it over to the Harley dealer in Bowling Green and they were locking the doors to close when I pulled up. Told the guy I was dead in the water and he took me in and got me a new battery. I paid him and told him thanks and he said "Let me grab my tools I will put it in for you" I like to have fell over. They were the nicest people in the world and will get my business for now own. Then on the way home from the harley drags (what a party) my speedometer broke. Got that fixed and the next day my throttle cable broke. I was thinking its time to get a new bike or this is going to get bad. Got that fixed then on the way home from work my muffler clamp on my brand new Vance and Hines pipes broke and the pipe drug the ground and just about dumped me in the road. I limped it home and got that fixed and rode to work today with no issues. I guess I am good for a while I went over and DOUBLE CHECKED every nut and bolt on the bike last night. Sorry for the long thread just wanted to vent to the guys who know how I feel instead of the wife who always sais everything will be ok just fix it and go on. Be safe.
I haven't posted in a while been busy with work, wife, etc. My bike has been sitting in the garage for almost 2 months due to me falling off a boat onto the dock backwards and breaking my tailbone and first vertebrae. So I finally get to feeling better and me and the wife decide last weekend to ride to the Harley Drags in Bowling Green KY and we get off the exit and my bike dies. Battery completely shot. So a very nice guy helps me get it over to the Harley dealer in Bowling Green and they were locking the doors to close when I pulled up. Told the guy I was dead in the water and he took me in and got me a new battery. I paid him and told him thanks and he said "Let me grab my tools I will put it in for you" I like to have fell over. They were the nicest people in the world and will get my business for now own. Then on the way home from the harley drags (what a party) my speedometer broke. Got that fixed and the next day my throttle cable broke. I was thinking its time to get a new bike or this is going to get bad. Got that fixed then on the way home from work my muffler clamp on my brand new Vance and Hines pipes broke and the pipe drug the ground and just about dumped me in the road. I limped it home and got that fixed and rode to work today with no issues. I guess I am good for a while I went over and DOUBLE CHECKED every nut and bolt on the bike last night. Sorry for the long thread just wanted to vent to the guys who know how I feel instead of the wife who always sais everything will be ok just fix it and go on. Be safe.
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 156
Likes: 1
From: Frederick MD
Used the Locktite Blue
Thanks for all the advice, I tightened 'em up real good with the Locktite Blue last night. Decided not to do the Ultra Copper Sealant although that sounds interesting (but may be messy when removing the pipes for maintenance?).
Good advice to check them and retighten over the next week or two, but question: wouldn't that break the Locktite seal? So I guess maybe it's either (1) go with the Locktite and hope it doesn't loosen somehow, or (2) not go with the Locktite so that you can keep tightening after "settling". I guess if it still loosens it may not be the bolt, since it's got the Locktite, it may be the steel strap and/or pipes "settling".
Good advice to check them and retighten over the next week or two, but question: wouldn't that break the Locktite seal? So I guess maybe it's either (1) go with the Locktite and hope it doesn't loosen somehow, or (2) not go with the Locktite so that you can keep tightening after "settling". I guess if it still loosens it may not be the bolt, since it's got the Locktite, it may be the steel strap and/or pipes "settling".
Let us know how it goes. I am curious on this as I have a "b" motor that does not have this kind of issue commonly caused by the shaking of the motor. I am always interested in learning more about our bikes.
Banned
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,551
Likes: 6
My experience with those clamps is often they are installed wrong.
Start with new clamps. Spray them with some sort of lube so they can slip against itself as it tightens. Make certain to fully install the slip on at least 1 1/4-1 1/2 inche over the head pipe, then locate the clamp to line up exactly with the front of the slip on....tighten till your elbow clicks.....also good idea to fully remove nut from clamp and coat threads with anti-seize.
Start with new clamps. Spray them with some sort of lube so they can slip against itself as it tightens. Make certain to fully install the slip on at least 1 1/4-1 1/2 inche over the head pipe, then locate the clamp to line up exactly with the front of the slip on....tighten till your elbow clicks.....also good idea to fully remove nut from clamp and coat threads with anti-seize.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
