Frickin heat shield hose clamps - AAAaagh.

Installing a V&H Power Duals headpipe and CFR slip ons.The V&H design is very well done and user friendly - the install is easy and the brackets are drilled precisely and the nut plates actually fit the pre-drilled holes. However; the directions advise to install the crossover heat shield after the headpipe is installed - and that's when the trouble began. Anyone who has installed heatshields knows that hose clamps are used to secure them to the pipe. But to accomplish this you must first "start" the end of the clamp into the screw channel and doing this between the frame rail and headpipe should NOT take an hour for one clamp. Just venting, I'll post pictures when I get that bugger fastened.

 

Been there, done that and have the t-shirt. Very frustrating.

 

I was also impressed with the fitment until I got to the heat shields. The crossover and rear heat shield don't fit together. The mount that the clamp goes through at the rear of the crossover hits the rear heat shield causing about a 1/2 inch gap. No matter where I position the shields I still have a gap. Not impressed.

 

I feel your pain.That was a major PITA but did get it done.After getting clamp into the slots I had to use a very short screw driver to tighten them up & even at that it was in such a shitty position that I'm sure it's not as tight as it should be but haven't had any problems in 9 months .

 

Went and bought MUCH longer hose clamps and then it was a ten minute job. The excess metal band just curled under the shield. I couldn't buy the black head pipes for an 09 so I bought chrome and had my local guy ceramic powder coat the heat shields. The finish isn't a perfect match for the CFR's but in normal (not flash) light it's pretty close.

 

that bike is snazzy. nice job

 

I have never gone exactly "by-the-book" on manufacturer instructions in my LIFE. If I did, I would've been SOL on a lot of projects. I've always just looked at them as their "suggested" method and as "one way" to do it. I almost lost a damn pushrod trying to install 'em exactly as Fuel Moto suggests in their instructions. Find the way that works best for you and go with your gut...

 

Everything went well until the end when it was time to install the X-over shield. What a PITA that was. I put a big scratch on the pipe trying to clamp that sucker on. If I were the patient type I would have gone down to the local NAPA and got a longer clamp, but noooooo, not me. I had to struggle with the friggen thing until I got it secured. Glad to see It wasn't just me.

 

He Heee Watchguy! Sounds very familiar, right down to the scratch.