Vance and Hines install advice??

[1948man]

I got my stock exhaust off and got the headers on with the bolts hand tight per the minimal V and H instructions. I unpacked the megaphone and noticed there was no clamp or anything so I figured the single pipe from the 4 headers just inserts into the megaphone. It's OD seems just slightly less than the ID of the megaphone. It's so tight I can't make much head way. There seems to be potential to insert the header into the megaphone about 1 and 3/4". Do I need it that far in? I can't really start smacking it with a mallet for fear of damaging the connection up at the jugs. I'm thinking maybe sand something down a little or use a lubricant. Has anyone had this problem and found a solution? Maybe if I heated up the megaphone with a heat gun it might expand a little? The pipes are 12001 vance and hines and the bike is a 1983 GS 1100GL.

[gearhead13]

Its a tight fit. You only need to push it in as far as the rear mount lines up.
They can be more of a bugger to pull back off. I put neversieze on it, makes it easier to put on and will help taking it off. Make sure to use the neversieze on the header bolts as well.

[1948man]

Good idea on the Neverseize. I put it on the header bolts but didn't think about the megaphone. This model is not specifically for my bike, (the V12000G is discontinued) so there isn't a hole to match up exactly on the bracket. I will have to adapt a little. I'll just try to get it in there as far as possible.

[1948man]

This thing is really stubborn. Any more ideas?

[gearhead13]

I was able to get mine on dry, took a LOT of muscle. Yours must be a tighter fit. Maybe a light pass with a file on the inner and outer ends to remove any little lip that might be there.

[1948man]

Yeah Gearhead I've already done that. I'm thinking about holding the megaphone to the header and marking both so I know how the megaphone needs to be oriented. Then I'll take the headers back off and try to force the megaphone on. I figure I can get a little more aggressive if I'm not worried about messing up connections up at the jugs. Maybe I'm worrying more than I need to about that. Thanks for the suggestions.

[pntrdave]

My mounting tab broke off and I lost my pipe and ran over it. Smashed the end of the pipe pretty good. I took it to the local Midas muffler shop and they stuck a tool in the end of the pipe and made it nice and round again. You may be able to take your pipe in and have them open the pipe up a bit for you. Oh they did it for free.

[1948man]

I'm off work Tuesday and will definitely try that if I don't get it on tomorrow. Thanks

[errorcauser]

This might be completely foolish on my part, but maybe stick the megaphone part in a deep freeze for awhile ? I can't remember if it would expand from freezing it or heating it. If heating would make it expand, maybe stick the end you need expanded into an oven.

Just an ideal. I've never done it nor mounted one of those pipes, so it may be a silly ideal.

EDIT: i see you already thought of this...sorry i missed it when i read it.

"Maybe if I heated up the megaphone with a heat gun it might expand a little?"

[1948man]

Yeah Tim, I also put a little gel ice pack on the male end but didn't try real hard at that. I may try again. Boy that bike of yours looks like new.

[errorcauser]

Yeah Tim, I also put a little gel ice pack on the male end but didn't try real hard at that. I may try again. Boy that bike of yours looks like new.

I remember seeing this discussed a few days back with the Vance and Hines pipe, but never paid enough attention to the thread to recall what the final outcome was. CafeKid I think it was, was giving someone pointers on how to get the pipe together. They must be a bear to fit together.

I'm sure you'll get it.

Thanks, my bike looks better in the pictures than it does in person. You can see the rusty parts then.

[1948man]

Well, I ended taking the headers off the bike and padding them and clamping them in my workmate. Using a block of wood and a hammer I tapped the megaphone in place. Was able to put the whole unit back on the bike and everything fits and sounds great. Even though I used some anti-seize, I don't think that megaphone is ever coming off the headers.

[gearhead13]

Yes, I thought I would never be able to get mine apart either, until I had to, major bugger. So when it went back together, I put the neversieze on.
When I put mine on originally, I tightened some or all the header bolts then, after it was on an inch or so, I crammed it in.
They do sound pretty sweet, eh, I love mine.

[cyclefvr2]

I got my stock exhaust off and got the headers on with the bolts hand tight per the minimal V and H instructions. I unpacked the megaphone and noticed there was no clamp or anything so I figured the single pipe from the 4 headers just inserts into the megaphone. It's OD seems just slightly less than the ID of the megaphone. It's so tight I can't make much head way. There seems to be potential to insert the header into the megaphone about 1 and 3/4". Do I need it that far in? I can't really start smacking it with a mallet for fear of damaging the connection up at the jugs. I'm thinking maybe sand something down a little or use a lubricant. Has anyone had this problem and found a solution? Maybe if I heated up the megaphone with a heat gun it might expand a little? The pipes are 12001 vance and hines and the bike is a 1983 GS 1100GL.

do you have a pic of it?? where did you get it ??
is it re packable??

[posplayr]

I'm picking up some of these tommorow to do some mid pipe work; Comes in 3 diff sizes

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=37354