Mechanical help needed!

[Fatjohn]

Hi,

I've been trying to fit a staintune pipe to my 'alp and boy oh boy....

anyway, the basic problem seems to be that there's a bit too much pipe coming out of the collector box. This means that the holes won't line up properly,so....

I'm tempted to cut a bit of the pipe from the cat off, but am a bit wary of doing anything so drastic without getting some advice from you guys, especially those of you who who've put a staintune on your alp.

Anyway, in the mean time, I'm going to strain a cup of tea through a mouth full of chocolate hob-nobs and contemplate how an exhaust mounting bolt can get quite so lost so quickly....

Oh, my absence has been due to moving house and waiting for NTL to hook me up if anyone cares :)

[YEN_POWELL]

Too much pipe or is it that you can't slide the new silencer as far as you want. I'd ring up the manufacturer on Monday before sawing off something you can't put back if it's wrong. Also on my replacement silencer the mounting bolt was in a different place to the original. If I'd tried to use the original position then my downpipe would've been a bit too long.

[Fatjohn]

Well,

I suppose it's that I can't slide it down as far as I want - but I think it's too much pipe causing the problem. The end of the silencer has cuts in it allow it to be widened as necessary to fit and then clamped. I can get it on that far and that far only, beyond that I just can't seem to make it budge at all. I agree though, I don't fancy sawing off anything I don't have to!

[YEN_POWELL]

You need to get the pipe a little further than the slots or it'll leak. I usually end up using grease to lubricate the joints when assembling, this might get you a little further. I warn you though if you do this you'll think your bike is on fire for a few days after as the stuff burns off.

[YEN_POWELL]

Oh and twisting helps as well whilst you're pushing. I always feel like I'm gonna hernia myself.

[JAK]

Would agree with yen after fitting a Leo Vince I needed to get it slightly past the grooves to seal properly. Bit brutish with it. Thought of grease and then thought of all my neighbours saying that nutter has set his bike on fire.
regards JAK

[jackafrica]

John,
Sent you a pm as requested. There's a small flange end on the colostomy bag ( subchamber ), how close is the end of the Staintune pipe to that end, it should be a s close as possible.
You do not need grease, the Honda has a graphite impregnated sleeve which works as a gasket of sorts on the stock pipe.
Lining the pipe up against the bike, without fixing should give you a reasonably accurate idea of whether the mounting holes are in the correct place ( and I suspect they will be ), as well as where the end of the Staintune will sit in relation to the flange described above.
Staintunes usually have a pretty tight fit, not much room for error, other than the slightly elongated mounting holes.
If I can get to speak with you in the next few hours, or tomorrow late afternoon evening your time, we will try and sort this out. We have ways.........( sans violence )

[Fatjohn]

Talk about if it ain't broke - fix it 'til it is! Grease, twisting, swearing and still no joy. :(

Maybe have another look later, but right now I feel like a man who bought his wife some plastic surgery and she won't come round from the anesthetic.

The feckin sun's shining today as well!! Anyway, thanks for all your replies. :hello1:

[Recycler]

John,
It takes a bit of wrestling but it goes on.
As others have pointed out smear some grease on the subchamber pipe, then offer up the staintune twisting it as you go.
When you've pushed it on as far as possible twist it out a little (clockwise from the rear) and smack the lower mounting bracket with a mallet. It can't be done by hand.
As it goes on more keep stopping and twisting it back until the mounting holes line up - it takes a while.
Even when it's fully on there is still approx half inch between the end of the staintune and the subchamber flange, but it's on beyond the end of the slots and wont leak.

Half way through fitting mine I was a bit concerned but when you fire it up with the baffle out it'll all make sense.

[Fatjohn]

Hi all,

Just a final post to put this one to bed: after being in contact with Woody's (the importers) I've learnt that the Staintune is for 2004 models only. Apparently there's a difference in the frame between 2k-2003 models and 2004 models. It was news to me...

Anyway, at least I know it's not my ham fisted mechanic-ing now and I'd like to take the chance to thank all who responded to this thread, but mostly to Jackafrica who was willing to go that extra mile and phone (from Tazmania!) to try and get this sorted. Thanks Richo!

Also, it wouldn't be fair not to mention Woody's importarium who supplied the exhaust: they are absolutely first class. I can't reccomend them highly enough, my experience of buying on the net has been that your o.k. until something goes wrong(your fault or otherwise. Well, not these guys! Absolutely first class. The exhaust looked bloody lovely as well, so to say I'm gutted it won't fit is an understatement...

Anyway, with that, I'll put this one to bed. Time to look at a new lid then I think :)

[Recycler]

Hi all,

Just a final post to put this one to bed: after being in contact with Woody's (the importers) I've learnt that the Staintune is for 2004 models only. Apparently there's a difference in the frame between 2k-2003 models and 2004 models. It was news to me...


News to me also.
Mines an '01 model and it's working fine but that would explain the tough fitting....... :scratch:

[jackafrica]

Bugger, a difference in the frames........
maybe that explains why someone else here in Oz had trouble with a set of Hepco Becker pannier frames not quite fitting.
Certainly would'nt have picked that.
Perhaps a small mod of the pipe would've made it fit, bloody shame John you weren't able to make it work.
So, recycler, how'd you make yours work ? Has me intrigued.

[Recycler]

Like I said - smacked the lower mount with a mallet!