The Wrench Monkey's Lounge

[Smokymtnvulcan]

I was wondering, would it hurt my bike to pull the mufflers and just stick a couple of chrome extensions on my pipes. I know it would be loud, maybe even loud enough to keep deer and bear off the roadway! Would it hurt the engine at all?

[Saleenguy]

Did you grab a voltage/amp meter and do some basic checking yourself first, or just take it to a shop.
Its not really hard to check it yourself, it just takes some time.
If you have a meter, and want advice PM me and let me know.
I can send you my number, and a good time to call.
I can walk you thru a lot of it on the phone, step by step.

[RichLockyer]

Originally Posted by Smokymtnvulcan

I was wondering, would it hurt my bike to pull the mufflers and just stick a couple of chrome extensions on my pipes. I know it would be loud, maybe even loud enough to keep deer and bear off the roadway! Would it hurt the engine at all?

Yes and no.
As long as you keep the exhaust temperature up with the chrome extensions, you're not going to warp your exhaust valves like you would if you just ran the engine with the ports open... so no, you aren't going to damage anything other than your hearing.

You WILL lose a lot of bottom end power. You need a certain degree of backpressure for anything below 3-4k (on a V-Twin).

[Smokymtnvulcan]

Originally Posted by RichLockyer

Yes and no.
As long as you keep the exhaust temperature up with the chrome extensions, you're not going to warp your exhaust valves like you would if you just ran the engine with the ports open... so no, you aren't going to damage anything other than your hearing.

You WILL lose a lot of bottom end power. You need a certain degree of backpressure for anything below 3-4k (on a V-Twin).

If I go that route, II'll probably go the baffle route with a restrictor on the end to create a measure of back pressure. In the old days, we use to stick VW baffles in the pipes of the old SL350's and braze a big washer on the end of the pipes for back pressure. Thanks Rich!

[airforce1]

Originally Posted by Smokymtnvulcan

Just checked with the shop that has my Vulcan and they say it will be another two weeks before they can get to my charging problem. #$%^$# it's already been there three weeks. Isn't this a bit long for a repair? I'm going nuts here. I finally broke down and ordered a pair of chaps. I've avoided them because I didn't want to look like one of the Village People but when I thought about skidding on my patutee on asphault, I decided to get a pair. Bike week is coming to the mountains on the 2 of October and I hope my bike gets fixed by then! Bands, food, and vendors in Graham County (Robinsville, NC) on the week of the 2nd of October.......Ya'll come!!!

Hey, I'm trying to do the math here.
4 weeks minimum and those guys aren't looking at your bike?
You are a LUCKY dawg! They don't want to fix it.
U-Haul motorcycle trailer - 1 day - about $25.00
Fuel for 100 miles - about $40.00
Look on the dealer's face when the other shop fixes it in 3 days - PRICELESS!
Don't know if I would tell him. This guy, for whatever reason, is NOT your friend. You may be lucky he did not start on it!
IMHO, run, don't walk to another shop.
about 2 hours including fooling around lashing down the bike.

[Smokymtnvulcan]

Originally Posted by airforce1

PRICELESS!
Don't know if I would tell him.

I didn't tell the new shop manager about waiting five weeks! The new shop runs like they KNOW bikes. I was talking about the crappy little petcock on the Vulcan and the owner chuckled. He said, rather than rebuild the one you've got, I can take one from a Yamaha or Honda and put it on and you will never have another problem with it. He also explained about taking the emissions stuff off (I asked him about it). I can do that when I get it back. As far as fixing up the exhaust, he said the best way is to put extensions on what is there, after loosening it all up and lining it back up properly. That would be better than the redneck straight pipe I was thinking of. He was talking about the charging system and told me that it takes about thirty minutes to replace the stator and about fifteen to replace the regulator. Says he has sources that carry a one year warranty and won't break the bank like the OEM stuff. I don't know for sure, but this guy seems better. It will be worth the getting the trailer, pulling the bike from shop A, lashing it down, hauling it 86 miles to Cleveland GA, and unloading it. I'll get back to ya'll if this dream turns into reality and pass the word about the name of the shop. The owner and his wife are riders and sell a good looking custom seat at their business plus chrome this and chrome that.

Reminds me, I was watzing around Walmart and noticed they had Bell Helmets, Zephyr model for $79 and a Bell bike clock (LED/digital) for $9. Sure beats the $91 I had to pay for a tire on my Cage/bike hauling truck!

[airforce1]

SmokyMtnVulcan,

YOU GO, MAN!
I am SO glad you are getting some good encouragement, you are a monument to patience!

We are waiting to hear the success story, I am OPTIMISTIC!

You:
Scot-Irish-Cherokee, very confused?
I can't imagine why, that is one heck of a heritage!
(You seem pretty patient for an Irishman, and the shop owner is lucky he didn't bring out the Cherokee in you!) (Just funnin')

[Saleenguy]

Hey Tina, did a big yellow envelope arive for you?

[A2rider]

Originally Posted by Saleenguy

Hey Tina, did a big yellow envelope arive for you?

Mail doesn't get here till 4pm. Will have Darrell check when he gets home.

Is it porn?

[Saleenguy]

Originally Posted by A2rider

Mail doesn't get here till 4pm. Will have Darrell check when he gets home.

Is it porn?

bike porn, yup

[A2rider]

OK, as long as it isn't food porn, I'm on a diet, ya know.

[Smokymtnvulcan]

Originally Posted by airforce1

SmokyMtnVulcan,

YOU GO, MAN!
)

The shop tells me the alternator is fine, seems the used regulator I put on it is not! They are having to order a petcock for it, but have replaced the regulator and when the petcock gets changed out, she should be ready to go, I know I am!

The shop mgr also said the NAPA battery I put in her was too small, even though it fit the battery box. I don't have an owner's manual, how many amp.hr battery should I use? If I have to change out the battery again, I want to go with the no maintenance one like someone on here suggested. Anyway, it sounds like Wednesday is the day for the ride home. I wasn't this excited about the birth of my kids, welllllll, maybe I was, but this is up there. This will be seven weeks without a ride. The good thing, the weather hasn't been good for an old geezer to be out riding anyway. Those poor folks in TX, my heart goes out to them.

No all I have to worry about is paying the bill for the repairs. I may end up broke as a little church mouse, but I'll be extatic

[RichLockyer]

Check the dimensions on your battery box. More AH is always better than less.
The YTX20CH-BS is roughly the same size as the YTX16-BS, but it is a 16ah battery instead of a 14ah battery.

The YTX16-BS was spec for the carb's VN1500 Classics and Nomads, but the YTX20CH-BS is spec'd for the EFI models.

I don't know if the same battery is spec'd for the older 1500s and 750/800s though.

Note that the "CH" is important... the YTX20-BS is a standard Harley battery, and is too big for our battery boxes. The YTX20CH-BS is a smaller case.

[Smokymtnvulcan]

[quote=RichLockyer;1308264]Check the dimensions on your battery box. More AH is always better than less.
The YTX20CH-BS is roughly the same size as the YTX16-BS, but it is a 16ah battery instead of a 14ah battery.

QUOTE]

Thanks Rich.........shop mgr was telling me the electric system on the older Vulcans and to some extent, the newer ones are very limited and everything has to be just right or one weak component can domino into several.

You are always helpful, appreciate it, Man!

[Saleenguy]

[quote=Smokymtnvulcan;1308282]

Originally Posted by RichLockyer

Check the dimensions on your battery box. More AH is always better than less.
The YTX20CH-BS is roughly the same size as the YTX16-BS, but it is a 16ah battery instead of a 14ah battery.

QUOTE]

Thanks Rich.........shop mgr was telling me the electric system on the older Vulcans and to some extent, the newer ones are very limited and everything has to be just right or one weak component can domino into several.

You are always helpful, appreciate it, Man!

Rich aint helpful.

Rumor has it he is wet behind the ears......or is that just soaking wet all over with pool water.

Man that was a funny thread....and yes Rich, like usual your a wealth of knowledge....just had to hassle ya.

[RichLockyer]

[A2rider]

[quote=Saleenguy;1308307]

Originally Posted by Smokymtnvulcan

Rich aint helpful.

Rumor has it he is wet behind the ears......or is that just soaking wet all over with pool water.

Man that was a funny thread....and yes Rich, like usual your a wealth of knowledge....just had to hassle ya.

He ain't smart, he's just stayed at too many Holiday Inn Express'

[RichLockyer]

Ya know... the last time I stayed at one of those s*holes somebody broke into my truck and cleaned out the bed.
$2,000 worth of tools gone, as well as $5,000 worth of product... but the product was discontinued and it was my dealer demo so I didn't have to replace it.

So now I ONLY stay at little dives where I can park right in front of my door and leave the window open.
I just sleep on top of the covers and keep my pants on. I sleep VERY lightly when I'm on the road... slightest noise outside and I can be out the door in 5 seconds.

[A2rider]

I don't blame you. At least they don't steal from your truck when it's parked 2 feet from your front door.

[A2rider]

Originally Posted by Saleenguy

Hey Tina, did a big yellow envelope arive for you?

Nope, no package today. Will bird dog the mailbox Saturday and Monday.