hard to tell really as when I tighten them I can't see what is turning They are acorn nuts If I remove completey I believe the stud come out . I like the ideas if drilling and wiring them .
Steve

Savage_Greg wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:10:

My muffler has been backfiring since I purchased it. This hasn't changed even with the spacer mod and bigger pilot and jet. It still backfires when I shut the engine down.
That's why I started thinking it might be the muffler.
Also I looked underneath where the muffler and the pipe meet. It is extremely rusty there, so chances are that I might have some rust holes there. It's too hard to tell.
Got to think of a way to see if the are any holes. Wonder if putting a solution of dish soap all over the pipe will reveal anything.

SavageWahine wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:10:


You're gonna have a little rust under there unless you are really thorough in your cleaning and waxing.  It's one of those "out of sight, out of mind" things that usually get overlooked.  Check it with the bike running.  See if you feel any leaking.  Do you have any soot on the engine in that area?

Don't let those large round holes in the muffler heat shield fool you either, but you could have a loose clamp.

Savage_Rob wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:10:

Aloha, O god o' rust...

I forgot about the climate...maybe volcanic ash is the problem

SavageWahine wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:10:

That's funny too...I said, "see if you feel..."

Anyway...just put your hand down there when it is still cool and blip the throttle a few times to FEEL a leak.  Don't touch it anymore, after it gets hot.  All I can say

It is possible your muffler gasket is damaged if you have soot.

If you question either gasket, they are cheap.  Change 'em, torque 'em and forget 'em.

I hate to say it, but you are gonna have that drip from that upside down nut until you replace the head gasket.  Seems like they all do it.  Look at all the topics about it.  Even one topic about a broken stud which probably happened cause the nut was torqued too much along the way while trying to stop the leak.

After I get some time on my new head gasket, I'll know if I had any success in fixing the leak this time.

SavageWahine wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:10:

Well, just think of the Big Bang as the beginning of something good

I just got 3 from my local dealer for $12.75.  The retaining clamp was lots more, mine was warped from being tightened with the RAASK pipe on.  I was afraid it would break so I ordered a spare in case it did, -the riding days are getting numbered and I would hate to miss one waiting a week for that part- so far it has straightened nicely and seems to stay tight now, was needing to be re-tightened every couple days as it went back to flat. I could tell when it was allowing air in because of the decel backfire, specially when first starting from cold. Max

Savage_Greg wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:10:

Also CrotchRocket.com, who seems to have the best price a lot of the time.  Also be aware that BikeBandit.com offers a small discount to AMA members so, if you're a member, take that into account when comparing prices.  When it comes to OEM stuff I still find myself usually ordering from CrotchRocket.com or RonAyers.com.