New to the board & need help

[DixieRider]

Hi everybody. My name is Greg and I live in Cumming. I just bought a new 2006 VTX-1300R and have spent everyday for the past 10 days putting on accessories to get it just the way I want it. This is my 7th bike (all Hondas except one Harley) so I'm not new to bikes or installing accessories. However, I'm having alot of trouble getting my Vance and Hines Big Shots to seal up tight. I installed a set of these on the Harley Low Rider I had and I installed a set of V&H Cruzers on my old Shadow Spirit 750 with no problems at all. After much aggrevation and after putting a small dent in the pipes, I gave up and put the stock pipes back on. The stock pipes sealed up just fine. I would appreciate any suggestions, but what I'd really like to find is someone with some experience installing these pipes on this bike to take a look at what I'm doing in person. If I were to find such a person, I would be forever in their debt. I wouldn't even mind paying someone to do it for me if thats what it takes, but I don't want to take it to a stealer. Anyone interested in a challenge?

Thanks!

[Michael]

Get the old exhaust gaskets out?
If yes, then I will bet the acorn nuts are bottoming out before they seal the new gaskets.
I would try posting this on the tech board. There are LOTs of guys with shots and I have read other posts about similar issues.
Mike


BTW welcome to the board. :D

[Bardo]

Dixie, Ist of all welcome to the board, glad to have you here. As far as V&H pipes go, I'm not sure about the 1300 but the 1800 was a bear. The instructions say it is a 2 person job. They did not go straight on, you had to lift the back of the pipes up around the passenger seat, bolt the front then lower the rear into place. I'm not sure if it's like that on the 1300. Your best bet if nobody else chimes in here would be to take it to the 1300 board. Again, welcome to the Ga. board.

[POGOGOLF]

Dixie, Ist of all welcome to the board, glad to have you here. As far as V&H pipes go, I'm not sure about the 1300 but the 1800 was a bear. The instructions say it is a 2 person job. They did not go straight on, you had to lift the back of the pipes up around the passenger seat, bolt the front then lower the rear into place. I'm not sure if it's like that on the 1300. Your best bet if nobody else chimes in here would be to take it to the 1300 board. Again, welcome to the Ga. board.

Dixie, following up on Bardo's post, check this trick out, it's in the third post (I believe) in the attached thread link... http://www.vtxoa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=147284&highlight=bigshots

[DanDxer]

ya need to put a washer behind the acorn nut to get a good seal. and welcome to the X world .

[DixieRider]

Thanks for the suggestions. The washers sound like a good thing to try. I need to hurry and get these pipes installed because the sounds this engine makes (which I understand are "normal") are not what I would consider soothing by any means!

Thanks for the help and I look forward to meeting some of you soon.

[DixieRider]

Just an update - I tried the washer idea and it worked like a charm. Pipes are on and working well. As an added bonus, I can't hear all that knocking going on in the engine room any more. Now I need to ride it. Who wants to go?

[Motorcycle Mike]

Want to join us? http://www.vtxoa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=149698 Welcome to the board.