Exhaust alignment

[TravisZack]

Don't think this is really a Workshop topic, but my exhausts are annoying me...
The vertical alignment isn't quite as bad as the pic makes out, but the right hand can does stick out a lot further than the left.



Thought they'd be easy to fix but that was before noticing the foot peg bolts... anyway, loosened it all up and had a wiggle but I think I made it worse, as you can see in the pic! Gonna take them off completely and start again I think. Any tips for getting good alignment assuming everything is the right shape?

The bikes not been dropped/crashed as far as I'm aware, but I've no idea what link pipes or cans they are, guy at the MoT place said they look like Scorpions.

[8541Hawk]

Have you tried mounting them with the strap on the inside of the rear peg mount instead of on the outside?

[TravisZack]

I haven't, but thats something to experiment with, thanks.

[bsabloke]

got viper ovals secondhand. straps on the inside of the hangers. footrest brackets on the cans were cut off. if they had still been there, they wouldn't have fitted. been on for 18 months & no problems.

[magnum]

Have you tried mounting them with the strap on the inside of the rear peg mount instead of on the outside?

I had same trouble on the inside much easier

[VTRDark]

Try loosening all the clamps and repositioning things. It will be the left one that's giving you grief. If you loosen the clamp between the rear downpipe and link pipe by the swingarm. Pull it down a touch, it will lift the left can upwards, don't pull the link pipe right off though, as you may have trouble getting it back on and over the graphite gasket.

(:-})

[TravisZack]

Well they can't be mounted on the inside of the rear footpegs without being pushed up against the hugger/swingarm, so not sure how you're managing that one.

Think I'm gonna take the opportunity to refresh the whole system with new gaskets and clips as they're mostly corroded and a bit of a mess. I'll line it all up as I go and hopefully get some better positioning.

EDIT: Anyone know where to get the graphite gaskets cheaper than David Silver's? Seems expensive for what they are.

[agentpineapple]

you can get kits of graphite exhaust gaskets off of ebay mate, also work out the diameters of the clamps and search for mikalor 47mm/51mm and 43mm/47mm, but double check those diameters, also the mikalor clamps, go for the marine grade, I can't remember if its W2 or W4.....doh!!!!

[TravisZack]

yeah I found the Mikalor clips

Do you have a link to the gasket kits? Cheapest I've seen is £8.45 each.

[agentpineapple]

the lot
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HONDA-VTR-100 ... 3cc345edbf
or just gaskets
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HONDA-VTR-100 ... 3cc3463aea
i'll search for cheaper gaskets, unfortunately they ain't that cheap

[agentpineapple]

cheaper gaskets
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HONDA-VTR1000 ... 58abf55af7
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VTR-1000-F-Fi ... 1e82082df2
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Honda-VTR1000 ... 2a3223f5f3
just remember its 2x headers to linkpipes
1x rear header connection
theres also smaller gaskets from the head to the headers
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Genuine-Honda ... 2ecd852ecf

[bazza696]

you can get kits of graphite exhaust gaskets off of ebay mate, also work out the diameters of the clamps and search for mikalor 47mm/51mm and 43mm/47mm, but double check those diameters, also the mikalor clamps, go for the marine grade, I can't remember if its W2 or W4.....doh!!!!

I am to believe that the W2 is SS clamp and non stainless bolt, W4 is all stainless. I have replaced all my clamps with Mikalor and I bought W4 so warning when doing them up tight, put copper slip on the thread cause all the parts are stainless as you torque up the bolt will bind with the stainless nut.

[VTRDark]

Gaskets and clamps are not cheap considering what they are. Don't forget the copper O ring gaskets that sit between the cylinder outlet and downpipes. You may also want to consider some heat resistant (exhaust) silicone, as exhaust assembly pastes like Gun Gum or equivalent don't last, dry and break up.

Word of warning though! You may be opening a can of worms taking the complete system off depending on the condition of the exhaust studs/nuts. You don't want any of them snapping which is quite common if severely rusted/seized in place. Start soaking them in WD now, everyday up until you attempt to remove them.

When re-assembling the system don't tighten all the bolts up fully until you have everything connected and lined up. Then finally nip up everything up, probably best starting at the cans.

+1 one on the clamps Bazza. One lot is stainless except the bolt and the other is completely stainless.

(:-})

[TravisZack]

Cheers for all the links and tips guys.

Already owing you lot some beers...