Installed Cobra HP 2 into 1 Pipes - with question

[mhanbor]

So after waiting 2 months to get the pipes, I received last week and installed on Saturday.

Removing the stock exhaust was fairly straight forward but took a little longer than expected. And boy that stock exhaust is heavy.

For the new install: I attached the bracket that will eventually hold the muffler in place, then installed both the front and rear head pipes. No problems yet.

Now it is time to slide the muffler onto the front and rear head pipes. The front head pipe slid on and seated in the muffler OK, but the rear head pipe simply would not go in. I finally had to grind down the rear head pipe to even allow it to slide in to the muffler.

Finally it went in, and I gave the muffler a couple of whacks to get it tight. It looked like the rear head pipe could go in further so i was going to remove the muffler and grind the pipe a little more, but i couldn't remove the muffler, it was on good and tight.

So i tightened the clamps that hold the muffler to the head pipes and fired up the bike (before installing heat shields)....it sounded nice. A real deep throaty rumble.....just what i wanted.

At this point i held my hand by all of the joints to make sure there was no air escaping. OK where the headpipes meet the engine, but i did notice a very slight amount of air escaping where the muffler joins the front & rear head pipes. Is this a problem? Do I need to take apart and try and get the head pipes to slide in more (I will have to grind more to make this happen)?

I did get out for about 30 miles after the install, and performance wise the pipes were great.

Thanks all.

Mike

[Hacker]

It was a tight fit when I installed my Speedster Longs, too. The mechanic held the front portion while I applied the hammer to the rear portion via a chunk of 2x4. Problem solved.

[cruznut6]

Originally Posted by mhanbor

So after waiting 2 months to get the pipes, I received last week and installed on Saturday.

Removing the stock exhaust was fairly straight forward but took a little longer than expected. And boy that stock exhaust is heavy.

For the new install: I attached the bracket that will eventually hold the muffler in place, then installed both the front and rear head pipes. No problems yet.

Now it is time to slide the muffler onto the front and rear head pipes. The front head pipe slid on and seated in the muffler OK, but the rear head pipe simply would not go in. I finally had to grind down the rear head pipe to even allow it to slide in to the muffler.

Finally it went in, and I gave the muffler a couple of whacks to get it tight. It looked like the rear head pipe could go in further so i was going to remove the muffler and grind the pipe a little more, but i couldn't remove the muffler, it was on good and tight.

So i tightened the clamps that hold the muffler to the head pipes and fired up the bike (before installing heat shields)....it sounded nice. A real deep throaty rumble.....just what i wanted.

At this point i held my hand by all of the joints to make sure there was no air escaping. OK where the headpipes meet the engine, but i did notice a very slight amount of air escaping where the muffler joins the front & rear head pipes. Is this a problem? Do I need to take apart and try and get the head pipes to slide in more (I will have to grind more to make this happen)?

I did get out for about 30 miles after the install, and performance wise the pipes were great.

Thanks all.

Mike

I don't know if the installation is different for a 1600 versus a 2000, but I didn't have any problem with mine. I left all the mounting hardware loose until everything fit, then started tightening, starting at the headers. If you followed the instructions, I'd give Cobra a shout and talk it over with them . They're customer service is pretty good; I'm sure they'll help you or replace the it if it's defective.

[powershotent]

after about 30 minutes of riding take your bike back into the garage and retighten the clamps that hold the muffler to the header pipe. wife complained about heat coming up even thru the heat sheilds at stop signs..was dinkin' with her bike and the clamp was loose. After initial install and ride the pipes heat up and expand..cool...expand... Ie: loose header to muffler joint. Should not have had to grind..cobra did a bo boo somewhere.

[powershotent]

also retighten bolts where it attaches to cyllinder

[mhanbor]

Originally Posted by powershotent

after about 30 minutes of riding take your bike back into the garage and retighten the clamps that hold the muffler to the header pipe. wife complained about heat coming up even thru the heat sheilds at stop signs..was dinkin' with her bike and the clamp was loose. After initial install and ride the pipes heat up and expand..cool...expand... Ie: loose header to muffler joint. Should not have had to grind..cobra did a bo boo somewhere.

Good suggestion.

I talked to a Cobra tech today and he suggested i get some high temperature silicone gasket sealer. Put some of that in the grooves on the muffler (where the headpipe meets the muffler - there are narrow grooves or slits), let it set-up, and re-tighten the clamps. This should prevent any air from coming out of those grooves.