Muffler Swap - Any hints or suggestions?
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 135
Likes: 0
From: Bristow, VA
Muffler Swap - Any hints or suggestions?
Hey All,
Getting ready to swap my mufflers out. OEM to SE slip-ons. 2014 FLHXS.
I've heard they are a beast to initially get off the bike. Any suggestions or hints to make the job easier? Any "gotcha's" that would hurt the bike?
Would you suggest putting some anti-seize on slip-ons to prevent problems in the future?
Thanks for the help!
Skippy
Getting ready to swap my mufflers out. OEM to SE slip-ons. 2014 FLHXS.
I've heard they are a beast to initially get off the bike. Any suggestions or hints to make the job easier? Any "gotcha's" that would hurt the bike?
Would you suggest putting some anti-seize on slip-ons to prevent problems in the future?
Thanks for the help!
Skippy
Road Master
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,107
Likes: 9
From: Goodyear, Az
I bought a new 2014 limited Saturday & put slip-on's on it Sunday. After you take the bolts out of the clamps you just have to wigggle them and twist them back and forth. My bike only had a little over 30 miles on it so maybe that helped with them coming off fairly easy.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 10,637
Likes: 1,246
From: Lake, Ms
2010 Limited with some stuff
Remove bags....Loosen the muffler clamps & slide out of the way, spray a little WD40 on the slots at the muffler end & wait a few minutes. Grab the mufflers at the rear, give them a few twists & pull towards the back. Should come right off.
Road Master
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 992
Likes: 2
From: TN
Lol...that's what a skinny foot does for a man! Once I put the antiseize on...it was a breeze...I was pleasantly surprised!
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 14,744
Likes: 402
From: Phoenix '53, '88, '09 Big Twins
2 pitfalls
banging and pulling on the muffler may transfer that force to the header ( and prime reason that the Y pipe on the 2008 and earlier headers cracked)
by levering and rotating the muffler, the header can be "egged" or malformed. a muffler shop will have a die that can be used to reshape the header, but that area will always be weak.
so slow and steady, not too much force
mike
banging and pulling on the muffler may transfer that force to the header ( and prime reason that the Y pipe on the 2008 and earlier headers cracked)
by levering and rotating the muffler, the header can be "egged" or malformed. a muffler shop will have a die that can be used to reshape the header, but that area will always be weak.
so slow and steady, not too much force
mike
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Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 135
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From: Bristow, VA
2 pitfalls
banging and pulling on the muffler may transfer that force to the header ( and prime reason that the Y pipe on the 2008 and earlier headers cracked)
by levering and rotating the muffler, the header can be "egged" or malformed. a muffler shop will have a die that can be used to reshape the header, but that area will always be weak.
so slow and steady, not too much force
mike
banging and pulling on the muffler may transfer that force to the header ( and prime reason that the Y pipe on the 2008 and earlier headers cracked)
by levering and rotating the muffler, the header can be "egged" or malformed. a muffler shop will have a die that can be used to reshape the header, but that area will always be weak.
so slow and steady, not too much force
mike
That's exactly what I was thinking. Yup, makes sense slow and steady, get some WD-40 in there, and take my time.
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Cruiser
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 172
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From: West Point, VA
Windex makes for a good lubricant when putting the new ones on. At least that's what the dudes at MGS told me to use when installing the muffler on the header. It did make it easier to twist 'em on.