Post by Pete on Aug 11, 2012 20:16:49 GMT 10
Hi all
I've just completed my Vance & Hines shorties install with the black exhaust tape wrap on my 2010 VT400
I had to extend the top O2 sensor as it was too short to reach the O2 hole I had welded onto the shorties.
As mentioned I decided to keep my O2 sensor rather than use eliminators as my research lead me to feel O2's do a better job although, I hear eliminators work well. Just a personal thing really.
Ok.. here I go
Pre-installation
a/ Soak the exhaust wrap in water for 5mins to make it more flexible so it wraps evenly and squeeze out the excess water.
b/NOTE: Use Stainless steel rip-ties or clamps to secure the tape to the exhaust.
c/ Tightly wrap the exhaust starting from top to bottom with a 50/50 cover wrap (wrapping 50% of the previous turn). There will be some water run off so do this somewhere the water can run off. Secure the exhaust wrap with the stainless steel zip-ties or clamps.
d/ Let it dry overnight
e/ OPTIONAL: This stage helps the wrap really stay wound and keeps it nicely together and stops it from fraying. Spray paint with flame proof - Exhaust Clear coat paint (704°C - 1093°C), I used VHT- header paint $15 from Autobarn.
f/ Allow the flame proof paint to dry (1hr touch dry - 3hrs can be handled - 24hrs cured)
Installing the Vance & Hines shorties
1/ Removed the stock exhaust and exhaust bracket and brake foot rest as per the Honda workshop manual, an easy job and quite capable with one person. Two people is always better but just 1 was ok.
1a/ Install the optional V&H quiet baffles, if you got them as these pipes a crazy loud without them. The quiet baffles also produce a 'lower rumble' sound rather than the 'snarl' sound without quiet baffles, but hey each to their own as both sounds are a dam sight better than stock.
CLEAN: Use this opportunity to clean hard to get at areas of your bike
2/ Install the V&H exhaust holder bracket - using the supplied bolts/nuts
Here is the V&H bracket installed
Here is the old stock bracket next to the Installed V&H bracket
2a/ re-install the stock O2 sensors to the V&H shorties (NOTE: O2's not needed if using eliminators)
3 / if using eliminators stage 3a below is not required, simply use the eliminator to 'cap' the O2 sensor wires.
3a/ If O2 sensor holes are done/supplied - Extend the Top exhaust pipe O2 sensor cable to reach the O2 sensor hole (The white O2 sensor connector is the top exhaust & the black O2 sensor connector is the botton exhaust but both are the same connectors just coloured differently). I had the holes welded and had the O2 hole placed in the gap between the swing arm mount & engine so I needed to extend the O2 sensor by 11cm.
The top exhaust with the "extended' O2 sensor cable. I soldered some 15cm extension cables (X4) and the heat shrunk them each with some Electrical Connector Dielectric Grease inside the heat shrink to help keep moisture out.
4/ Install the bottom V&H exhaust shortie first to the front exhaust outlet on the engine and use 1 or 2 nuts to just hold it and connect the O2 sensor connector to the Black O2 sensor connection.
4a/ Install the rear of the V&H exhaust shortie to the BOTTOM of the V&H bracket using the 'dogbone' nut holder and the supplied bolts but don't tighten yet.
5/ Install the top V&H exhaust shortie to the rear exhaust outlet on the engine and use 1 or 2 nuts to just hold it and connect the O2 sensor to the white O2 sensor connector (I had to extend it by 11cm but I went 15cm to be safe).
5a/ Install the rear of the top V&H exhaust shortie to the top of the V&H bracket using the 'dogbone' nut holder and the supplied bolts but don't tighten yet.
6/ Once you happy everything is connected and lined up, tighten the exhaust bolts (X4) and tighten the rear bracket bolts (X4 - 2 top & 2 bottom)
7/ re-install the brake pedal foot rest.
8/ IMPORTANT NOTE: CLEAN CLEAN CLEAN the exhaust pipes before you even think about starting as ANY marks, finger prints or oil will permanently stain the chrome when the pipes warm up/ get hot!
9/ Check everything is tight
10/ Check that anything positioned close to the exhaust will not overheat/melt get burnt!
11/ ENJOY your new exhaust pipes.
Here are some pic of the finished result ;D
AFTER with carbon fibre side pods
With extra info re location of TOP O2 sensor. It's a pretty tight squeeze so only a small margin of error in placing the O2 sensor on the top pipe. It's best to just leave the bike with the bike mechanic so the location of the TOP O2 sensor is easier (That's if you trust your bike mechanic and they have insurance... )
The stock bracket removed
The V&H bracket installed
This is step 2 of my bikes transformation to a shadow bobber but a usable daily rider shadow bobber that I can ride for hundreds of km's without getting uncomfortable. I'm yet to decided on much/little I do. I know we all have our own likes & dislikes and that's what makes the world the amazing place it is. This is MY bike transformation so it's only done to suit me. I'm just sharing the and my bike's journey with you all. I love chrome but I also don't like too much chrome so it's a matter of finding the balance that suits me.
There is a bit of a gap between the end of the shorties and the rear brake plus, the rear valance fender looks a little 'humped' and doesn't really suit the rear look.
However, once I put my bobber style rear fender on I think the rear of the bike will balance out. Pete
I've just completed my Vance & Hines shorties install with the black exhaust tape wrap on my 2010 VT400
I had to extend the top O2 sensor as it was too short to reach the O2 hole I had welded onto the shorties.
As mentioned I decided to keep my O2 sensor rather than use eliminators as my research lead me to feel O2's do a better job although, I hear eliminators work well. Just a personal thing really.
Ok.. here I go
Pre-installation
a/ Soak the exhaust wrap in water for 5mins to make it more flexible so it wraps evenly and squeeze out the excess water.
b/NOTE: Use Stainless steel rip-ties or clamps to secure the tape to the exhaust.
c/ Tightly wrap the exhaust starting from top to bottom with a 50/50 cover wrap (wrapping 50% of the previous turn). There will be some water run off so do this somewhere the water can run off. Secure the exhaust wrap with the stainless steel zip-ties or clamps.
d/ Let it dry overnight
e/ OPTIONAL: This stage helps the wrap really stay wound and keeps it nicely together and stops it from fraying. Spray paint with flame proof - Exhaust Clear coat paint (704°C - 1093°C), I used VHT- header paint $15 from Autobarn.
f/ Allow the flame proof paint to dry (1hr touch dry - 3hrs can be handled - 24hrs cured)
Installing the Vance & Hines shorties
1/ Removed the stock exhaust and exhaust bracket and brake foot rest as per the Honda workshop manual, an easy job and quite capable with one person. Two people is always better but just 1 was ok.
1a/ Install the optional V&H quiet baffles, if you got them as these pipes a crazy loud without them. The quiet baffles also produce a 'lower rumble' sound rather than the 'snarl' sound without quiet baffles, but hey each to their own as both sounds are a dam sight better than stock.
CLEAN: Use this opportunity to clean hard to get at areas of your bike
2/ Install the V&H exhaust holder bracket - using the supplied bolts/nuts
Here is the V&H bracket installed
Here is the old stock bracket next to the Installed V&H bracket
2a/ re-install the stock O2 sensors to the V&H shorties (NOTE: O2's not needed if using eliminators)
3 / if using eliminators stage 3a below is not required, simply use the eliminator to 'cap' the O2 sensor wires.
3a/ If O2 sensor holes are done/supplied - Extend the Top exhaust pipe O2 sensor cable to reach the O2 sensor hole (The white O2 sensor connector is the top exhaust & the black O2 sensor connector is the botton exhaust but both are the same connectors just coloured differently). I had the holes welded and had the O2 hole placed in the gap between the swing arm mount & engine so I needed to extend the O2 sensor by 11cm.
The top exhaust with the "extended' O2 sensor cable. I soldered some 15cm extension cables (X4) and the heat shrunk them each with some Electrical Connector Dielectric Grease inside the heat shrink to help keep moisture out.
4/ Install the bottom V&H exhaust shortie first to the front exhaust outlet on the engine and use 1 or 2 nuts to just hold it and connect the O2 sensor connector to the Black O2 sensor connection.
4a/ Install the rear of the V&H exhaust shortie to the BOTTOM of the V&H bracket using the 'dogbone' nut holder and the supplied bolts but don't tighten yet.
5/ Install the top V&H exhaust shortie to the rear exhaust outlet on the engine and use 1 or 2 nuts to just hold it and connect the O2 sensor to the white O2 sensor connector (I had to extend it by 11cm but I went 15cm to be safe).
5a/ Install the rear of the top V&H exhaust shortie to the top of the V&H bracket using the 'dogbone' nut holder and the supplied bolts but don't tighten yet.
6/ Once you happy everything is connected and lined up, tighten the exhaust bolts (X4) and tighten the rear bracket bolts (X4 - 2 top & 2 bottom)
7/ re-install the brake pedal foot rest.
8/ IMPORTANT NOTE: CLEAN CLEAN CLEAN the exhaust pipes before you even think about starting as ANY marks, finger prints or oil will permanently stain the chrome when the pipes warm up/ get hot!
9/ Check everything is tight
10/ Check that anything positioned close to the exhaust will not overheat/melt get burnt!
11/ ENJOY your new exhaust pipes.
Here are some pic of the finished result ;D
AFTER with carbon fibre side pods
With extra info re location of TOP O2 sensor. It's a pretty tight squeeze so only a small margin of error in placing the O2 sensor on the top pipe. It's best to just leave the bike with the bike mechanic so the location of the TOP O2 sensor is easier (That's if you trust your bike mechanic and they have insurance... )
The stock bracket removed
The V&H bracket installed
This is step 2 of my bikes transformation to a shadow bobber but a usable daily rider shadow bobber that I can ride for hundreds of km's without getting uncomfortable. I'm yet to decided on much/little I do. I know we all have our own likes & dislikes and that's what makes the world the amazing place it is. This is MY bike transformation so it's only done to suit me. I'm just sharing the and my bike's journey with you all. I love chrome but I also don't like too much chrome so it's a matter of finding the balance that suits me.
There is a bit of a gap between the end of the shorties and the rear brake plus, the rear valance fender looks a little 'humped' and doesn't really suit the rear look.
However, once I put my bobber style rear fender on I think the rear of the bike will balance out. Pete