Do any of you have problems with you muffler(s) getting loose? I put slip ons on, with brand new clamps, but a couple weeks after getting it back from a service at H-D I noticed one of them had gotten real loose. Maybe they didn't tighten it down good. So I tightened it up real tight, but you could still turn it a little. Not like it's going to come off or anything, and I guess it doesn't really hurt, but it's annoying. Do the clamps just get bad real easy? Hate to but new ones again already. Should I worry if they get just a little loose like this? Going on a 5000+ mile road trip in 4 days.

 

If the clamp is loose you might not have a good seal on your slip ons which would cause decreased performance. I put Ultra copper around my pipes where they slip together(a liberal amount) and use blue loctite on the the muffler clamp bolts.

 

Good idea, thanks!

 

No problem, that is why the forums are here. In fact, I learned that here as well.

 

Hey, will my H-D mechanic be pissed if I use the Ultra Cooper, i.e., will it make it so difficult for them to get the pipes off that they'll be cursin' and swearin'?

 

Check the problem clamp and make sure it hasn't split. I recently had a brand new one split while installing, but didn't break in two, and was apparently a defective part. Right at the bolt, check to make sure the clamp portion isn't cracked or split.

It's possible your dealer over-torqued (spec is 60#) and broke it, as if your service was at 1K that would including tightening critical fasteners. If it is split, take it back to the dealer and tell them it wasn't loose before the service and convince them to replace the clamp. If they won't do it, buy a new clamp and do it yourself.

 

The ultra copper will not make it any more difficult to get the pipes off.

 

Good advice above and I will add that you should check the location of your clamp relative to the forward edge of the muffler. If the clamp is too far rearward, it won't fully engage the slotted portion of the muffler which will reduce the clamp's effectiveness-- it will be on the unslotted portion of the front of the muffler and cannot tighten the muffler to the head pipe.

 

Welcome to the world of Motorcycles especially Harley's.Loctite is good,and you may want to keep some on hand and learn to use it.As far as clamps coming loose and I have read some post lately about things falling off of bikes,one more reason to do your own preventative maintenance on your bike.I get a kick when I read that some one lost a saddlebag or a part broke and fell right off the bike and they yell about the Dealer not doing their job.Learn to spend some time to do a little looking around at your bike and it may not cost you so much in the end. Or you can let the Dealer give it to you in the end.

 

I was going over my bike last night in preparation for a short trip this weekend and noticed one or two clamps that were loose. I had the slip-ons installed this season. Anyway, I tightened them without getting ridiculous and noticed some of my deceleration sounds have lessened.