is this bent flange a wtf issue?
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Cruiser
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
From: virginia
is this bent flange a wtf issue?
so a bunch of you have been giving me some tips on working through some exhaust issues since I bought my 13 king last year.
I cannot describe the frustration and 20+ hours I have probably put into trying to get the 2-1-2 fuel moto headers installed. (note; the fuel moto headers are awesome and so is fuel moto, not the topic here).
What I have now found has me a bit pissed off.
I was talking with a buddy today at work and he just switched out the headers on his brand new 14. He started saying he couldn't get his "X" pipe installed because the flanges just wouldnt line up on the bolts. Mind you, this is a brand new bike.
I told him I had the same issue the first time I installed my fuel moto pipes, but I spent days on end prying and pulling, giving up, and going back to it. It took some major pulling on my part to get mine lined up (again not fuel motos fault just fyi).
So he started thinking there might be something to it. He just called me and said his front flange was bent to all hell. All he ever did to it was TAKE IT OFF STOCK!
Sure enough I just pulled mine off (never really took a hard look at it) and mine was all bent to hell as well. I included a picture but mind you I just spent about 15 minutes hammering this thing in my vise to try and get it reshaped... and this is better but about as far as I can get it to get flat.
So is this a WTF moment or what?
I cannot describe the frustration and 20+ hours I have probably put into trying to get the 2-1-2 fuel moto headers installed. (note; the fuel moto headers are awesome and so is fuel moto, not the topic here).
What I have now found has me a bit pissed off.
I was talking with a buddy today at work and he just switched out the headers on his brand new 14. He started saying he couldn't get his "X" pipe installed because the flanges just wouldnt line up on the bolts. Mind you, this is a brand new bike.
I told him I had the same issue the first time I installed my fuel moto pipes, but I spent days on end prying and pulling, giving up, and going back to it. It took some major pulling on my part to get mine lined up (again not fuel motos fault just fyi).
So he started thinking there might be something to it. He just called me and said his front flange was bent to all hell. All he ever did to it was TAKE IT OFF STOCK!
Sure enough I just pulled mine off (never really took a hard look at it) and mine was all bent to hell as well. I included a picture but mind you I just spent about 15 minutes hammering this thing in my vise to try and get it reshaped... and this is better but about as far as I can get it to get flat.
So is this a WTF moment or what?
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
From: virginia
seriously, this is the reason I may have damaged my fuel moto pipes. Not to mention stripped out my mounting bolt, and now have a serious dent in my head pipe that I had to put J and B on to repair... so pissed. All because this flange kept my pipes from lining up properly.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 9,850
Likes: 220
From: Sacramento, CA.
Get new ones. Looks like you forced them on & over tightened them. Do you have a HD Service Manual? I don't have my manual here or I'd give you the specific way to install the flanges & torque specs. Good luck.
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,468
Likes: 4
From: South Carolina
Finally a good answer.
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Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 111
Likes: 0
From: virginia
You did however miss the part where I told you my buddy just took his off from a stock bike and the front was bent... so his was obviously over torqued at factory.
On a side note, I ordered my service manual when I got the pipes, but had to wait for the dealer to turn and order them (why dealers dont keep things like this in stock I will never understand). So basically I was impatient and wanted the pipes on, so I did it without torque values.
Should people not work on their own stuff? Maybe, but I spent 8 years building bombs for the USMC, I think I can handle a few nuts and bolts. A bent flange is nothing to get all "some folks might be better off not working on their stuff" ..ish.
I always thank people for their advice, and I will continue to learn and make mistakes. If you are afraid to fail you are afraid to get better.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: anacoco, la
On a side note, I ordered my service manual when I got the pipes, but had to wait for the dealer to turn and order them (why dealers dont keep things like this in stock I will never understand). So basically I was impatient and wanted the pipes on, so I did it without torque values.
the torque values are not that high. here is a snippet from my 2010 manual. i don't think the values have changed since, but you can verify after you get your manual.
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 111
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From: virginia
much appreciated sir.