Modify message

Welcome to Vulcan Drifter Riders. Please log in or sign up.

Main Menu

Vulcan Drifter Riders
► DISCUSSIONS
► Drifter 1500 only
► Modify message ( Re: Hot spot cover )

Modify message

The message has the following error or errors that must be corrected before continuing:: Warning: this topic has not been posted in for at least 180 days.
Unless you're sure you want to reply, please consider starting a new topic.

Subject
Message icon
Reason for editing

The cover is a Harley part...been around for ever. they use it to cover up the mufflers on SofTails, and a lot of stuff with staggered duals.  I used a sharpie to outline the area to cut out, and using a die grinder with a 1/4" mill bit cut the area to general size, then put a rotary sanding drum in a drill with a carbide sleeve, and worked slowly, letting the pipe cool a little to prevent blueing at the area I was working. It sure does fit tightly, and that's the whole point.. There is a lip on the front end that would normally cover the attaching hardware on a SofTail, and it fits under the Cobra front pipe heat shield...Bonus! I wasn't sure that part would work, and I was going to mill it off, but it fits like it was made for it. The mag particle test is actually pretty simple. I bought some stuff from a travelling machinist (he would go to shops doing various odd jobs like helicoiling, or magnifluxing) who was retiring from the business about 30 years ago, and one of the kits I bought had a big rare earth magnet and a couple of bottles of magnetic powder. You can reuse the powder if you're careful, and not waste it. It's white, and I'm not sure what  it's made from. I suppose iron filings or powered iron would work the same way...the hard part is getting the magnet back off the part you are checking...geez, it's strong!

Attachments: (Clear attachments)

Restrictions: 6 per post (6 remaining), maximum total size 64.00 MB, maximum individual size 29.30 MB

Uncheck the attachments you no longer want attached

Click or drag files here to attach them.

Insert width (px):

Insert height (px):

(Clear attachments)

Other options

Lock this topic
Return to this topic
Don't use smileys
Move this topic

Shortcuts: ALT+S post or ALT+P preview

Topic summary

Posted by greenbarn

- April 14, 2012, 07:08:35 AM

The covers look real good, by the way. Looks like it was made for that pipe!!! Actually, it looks like it's a second skin glued on there. I'll have to admit I thought they still looked blued in the pic until I looked real close and I see the "blue" mark is holding a camera! Must be your reflection... wearing a blue shirt!!

I have a couple questions, now after looking closer.

1) How is the cover attached? do the ss hose clamps I see somehow attach the cover to the pipe from behind the cover where we can't see it? Man that cover looks like it's so close to the pipe there isn't any room for any hardware between them! looks great.

2) how did you cut/grind/shape the cover without damaging the chrome more around the edges where you cut/ground? I don't even see any evidence of chipped chrome.

3) I'm curious on your mag particle tester? Do you have a commercial unit, or have you figured out a way to make one, or perform a particle test with a lincoln welder and iron filings or something ?? I'd love to find a way to do this on the cheap.

Posted by greenbarn

- April 13, 2012, 20:44:52 PM

Quote from: Troll on April 09, 2012, 14:08:39 PM
that were so loud it was embarrassing to ride, and every time I took it on base, the white rats would watch me...

You sure it's the loud pipes?? maybe they thought you look suspicious...

Posted by 49Reo

- April 09, 2012, 21:11:11 PM

I had to weld an extra mount tab to the rear heat shield cover; it would rattle and drive me nuts. I made a small mount that mimicked the upper mount; it left to small spots on the heat shield that hardly show; at re-chroming prices up here, a touch-up brush and some silver paint get the nod... as to the rattling, it is totally gone, heat shield hasn't moved since.

Regards and such,
49Reo

Posted by chief

- April 09, 2012, 15:43:27 PM

Yep, most of those would crack at that spot because they used the oem drifter peg mount - which was a hard mount. Using the classic foot peg mount and a fabbed drifter bracket or classic pipes resolves that issue and prevents the stresses that caused the cracking.

Posted by Troll

- April 09, 2012, 14:08:39 PM

I have the Cobra 2 into 1 pipe on my 1500. When I bought the bike, it had Vance and Hines Longshots, that were so loud it was embarrassing to ride, and every time I took it on base, the white rats would watch me...I have had the pipe for 23,000 miles now, and it's beginning to get blue at the junction of the front and rear cylinder pipes. Since I made mods to my air intake system, the exhaust has gotten hotter, since it's not running fat and lazy any more, and that has accelerated the process. Some of you have posted that you thought that these pipes crack at this point, so I did a magnetic particle inspection...no cracks. I soft mounted the pipe about 20,000 miles ago with parts from a W-650. Today, I added a hot spot cover ti make the chrome all silver again. I started with an H-D SofTail muffler heat shield that I bought on eBay for $5. A little careful measuring and work with my best pal, the high speed die grinder, and the results are in the picture. Personally, I think it looks pretty good, and it sure covers the blue spot. There is a stainless clamp on the bottom of the Cobra pipe cover, since it only came with one attachment point (?) and I almost lost it coming back from Wyoming, last year...I'm going to keep an eye on all this stuff, and may have to weld a second attachment loop inside that pipe cover...and then get the whole mess rechromed....

SMF spam blocked by CleanTalk