Yet another Vance and Hines victim

[dragon57]

I have read countless reports on this, and other forums about V&H Bagger Duals having a problem with rear cyclinder headpipe cracking, just behind the first bend. On my way home from trip South Dakota, I started hearing the noise, tracked it down, and, sure enough, the pipe is cracked about half way around! I have around 7,000 miles on these pipes, they still look, sound good, and don't have $500.00 or so, for a new set from Cobra. I am looking into a muffler shop to weld it up, and weld a "patch"around the whole pipe. Any other suggestions??
thanks in advance

[beezer]

My friend has V&H Bigshots on his 1600 Classic and they're cracked too.

[Idaho]

Is this a fairly common problem with V&H pipes? Do they use too thin exhaust pipe tube?

[dragon57]

Idaho;
Yes, it is a very common thing with Vance and Hines pipes; as far as your question about the thickness of the pipe, I can't answer that. I do know, that, in manufacturing pipe products, sometimes there will be a small discrepency in the dies they use, so, there could be a thin area near this bend, or something as simple (I think) as the fact that there are no mounting points from the head, all the way to the muffler brackets under the bags. That's a long, curvy bunch of pipe, with no support!

[dogdoc]

How do we know all will crack?? How do we know Cobra won't crack.? Sorry to hear that Dragon.

[Idaho]

Doc asks a good question, any problem with Cobras? What about people who have removed the goat bag and welded pipe in its place? Are there problems with those welds breaking loose?

[jayc]

I started hearing the noise
What kind of noise?

[jmorrow]

I have an 2004 Nomad with 40,000 mile on it. I put Cobra's with Billet tip's on it at 27,000 mile. The head pipe hasn't cracked, yet. I haven,t heard of anyone around my neck of the woods having a problem with V&H. Do you live in or ride in high elevation a lot? I don't know that would cause it but, possibly could.

[dragon57]

Dooley;
I live in north georgia, but ride everywhere from here to Wyoming... so far. I first heard of this on Kawasaki Vulcan forum on Delphi forums. I have heard it from all parts of the world, not just any specific area. So far, I haven't heard of any Cobra's cracking, so, maybe they have something a little different; do they use any kind of mounting bracket between headbolts, and muffler? I really think this is the culprit! The motor vibrates some, and the headpipe is mounted solid to it; the only other mouinting point is where the muffler is bolted (solid) to the saddlebag brackets. which is part of the bike frame..so, the pipe itself is left to "soak up" the vibration.

[jmorrow]

The Cobra's mount the same as the V & H.

[dogdoc]

And HD pipes mount all the same(2 points of bolt down) and they vibrate 10X more than Nomads???

[Scoot]

Hmmmm, not sure about this one. I got over 36,000 miles on my V&H baggers with no problems. And WHY only the back cylinder? The front mounts the same no support except at the back. Only difference is two extra bends. I would or will buy V&H baggers again.

[dragon57]

Doc
that's true; I have had many Harley's, and they do mostly mount the same way; so, I'm at a loss, as to what causes this.

[dragon57]

UPDATE !!
Just heard back from V&H; they say, there has not been an issue with these pipes cracking! Do you believe that? All over the Vulcan forums, and this one, yet they say there is no issue. In the same response, the guy says, " we have extended the warranty on that particular system, and, if it falls within 1 year period from installation, we will gladly ship you a free replacement headpipe"
Sounds like they know full well there is an issue!

[bobzinger]

Is it just the 1500 Nomads that tend to crack or do the 1600's been known to crack too?