V&H muffler removal

[phred]

I've got the V&H baggers on my nomad, and I need to remove the left muffler to get the drain bolt out of the final drive. Is removing the muffler as simple and removing the two mounting bolts and pulling it out of the pipe? I figured my best be was to ask before I forced anything, and broke it (not that I've ever done that before ::) )

[ringadingh]

Usually if you remove the two bolts under the saddlebag with a 1/2" wrench there is enough movement in the exhaust to be able to get at the filler plug in the final drive. I use a piece of plastic tubing on a squeeze bottle when I add the oil to the final drive.
You shouldn't have to remove the muffler from the header pipe, just move it away enough to get at the plug.

[phred]

Thanks, I'll try that tomorrow. Like I said, I didn't want to force the muffler and break something...I know me.

[dougster]

Or, you can put some weight on the passenger seat, and it lower it enough to get at the bolt. Mac has his wife come out an sit on it. (That is NOT a "fat wife" joke, either! So don't even start, or Mac will get you!)

[AlabamaNomadRider]

Good one Doug.

And I thought I had problems getting to it with stock exhaust system. Whew!

[MAS Tequila]

After you remove the two bolts remove the muffler clamp and try removing the muffler, or remove the two acorn nuts and drop the whole assembly.

By pushing the muffler down you ARE stressing the head pipe.

The rear head pipe is prone to cracking at the bend.

V & H gets $74.54 for a new one, and has a two to three week delivery time.

I'll try to post pics of my cracked one later.

MT

[phred]

Originally Posted by dougster

Or, you can put some weight on the passenger seat, and it lower it enough to get at the bolt. Mac has his wife come out an sit on it. (That is NOT a "fat wife" joke, either! So don't even start, or Mac will get you!)

I saw Mac's post on that. On mine, however, I can almost get the bolt out over the top of the muffler with no weight on the bike, with my wife sitting on it, the bolt is squarely behind the muffler.

[macmac]

If you can get that muffler off, antiseize it. If it was never antiseized it might be hell getting it off.

What happens if you lift the bike? Then will the plug pass below the muffler?

Is there air in your shocks? If there is 0 psi and your wife might do it.......

When I had the 01 Nomad I ground about 1/2 the cap off the bolt, and antisized it, which I do on the 06 as well to include a dob of antiseize on the screen plug, the final drive drain, both filler caps. On the screen plug I only pull that once a season, and other wize drain it thru the slots. I wipe what threads are exposed and antiseize them too when the bolt isn't removed all the way.

back to the muffler, you might try loosening the 2 5/6" 1/2" caps just enough to be able to slide the muffler over a smidgen.

My V&H baggers were used and the muffler was shipped on the head pipe for the left side (as seated) and I have never been able to get that muffler off the pipe.

There is no question that I can't get it off, but if I did I would ruin the chrome for sure.

Another trick is to pull the shock on that side. A bit of a pain, but sort of worth it, since then on a 1500 you can rubber lube or silicon spray the mounts. That should be done frequently anyway. And in the case of a 1600 grease the top mount needle bearings and rubber lube or silicon spray the bottom.

Of course then you would want the same on the other shock.

I know this bike in the topic is a 1500.

[phred]

I just finshed up. I don't think that left muffler is coming off. Not without tearing something up in the process. I pulled the two mouning bolts and it gave me just enough wiggle room to get the drain bolt out.

While I had the saddle bag off, I put some glue on the saddle bag grommets.

Thanks for all of the info.

[AlabamaNomadRider]

Glad the mission was accomplished Phred. Sounds like something I don't want to have to go through. It is hard enough with the stock exhaust.