From your photo that appears to be a weld, not a flaw in the chrome. I think you're good to go. Don't worry about it.

 

Not sure whether to contact Phatperformanceparts or V&H. They didn't send a packing slip or a receipt or anything.

 

Nope it's definitley a flaw. It's right in the bend of the front pipe. Can't really tell in the pic but the chrome is real thick and rough around the bad spot. It looks solid on there though.

 

Since they are on allready V&H probably won't do anything for you but if you can't see it with the sheilds on it shouldn't be a problem

 

I just got done reinstalling Big Shots and it was very hard to get the pipes to line up with the motor. I had to really strong arm them to get the pipes to line up the way they should. Every time I got one to fit right the other would be off about 1/8". Finely what I had to do was line up the front pipe and lightly tighten it down and then force the rear pipe in to place and do the same. Not something I would want to do to often. First time I reinstalled I used the SE gaskets and they had a terrible leak, But maybe I didn't have them lined up right. So I got new stock gaskets and installed like I said and they don't leak now. As for your defect in the pipes, if it looks solid and is covered by the shield I would just ride... that's just my opinion...Do what you feel is best.

 

That's the same problem I had with the OEM gaskets and by the time I got them lined up they were damaged. I found that if you aim the pipes in from above at a high angle they went in much easier though.
Do you know what you torqued your flange nuts to on the SE gaskets?
Hell I think I will just ride unless that stuff sarts peeling reel quik. I'll probably be looking at another set of pipes soon enough.

 

I couldn't line my pipes on a high angle because the mids get in the way. When I got my bike new from the Dealer they had the flange nuts at 135 in lbs, That's a bit high. I got them at 125 in-lbs and that's still 5 in-lbs over what the Manual says. I think if I had been more careful the fist time, then my SE gaskets wouldn't had leaked so bad. You will know for sure if the are leaking because the bike will backfire like hell when you let up on the throttle.

 

Yikes!!! I'd send those back for an exchange before you fire them up. That looks nasty!