Removing stuck on mufflers

[Steve on 3]

After having my riding mates complain about my Big Louies and the Big Decibel level, I decided to change the slip ons on my 14 TG Ultra. Got it up in the air and after much crying , wailing and gnashing of teeth, removed the left side as you look at the bike from the rear. Let me tell you, with the with the back bumper and the hitch system, it is a bear to take off. After only 4 hours got the left side done, Torca clamp off check, Two bolts at rear mount off check one hour passed. All I need to do now is separate the muffler and the exhaust pipe. Did I mention there is no real good way to get any force on this thing? Pull Pull Pull, Shake. Tap with rubber hammer while pulling. No movement. .one more hour passes.. Total of 6 hours and one muffler changed out. I quit. Packed up tools secured the trick. Live to fight another DAY.

Anybody have a quick and easy way to get this stuck muffler off the head pipe?

Steve

 

[rhino 2]

WD40 on the seam let it penetrate , And then a twisting motion like unscrewing..

 

[Rollin Thunder]

HI Steve. I did mine in about 40 mins. Mine also is a 14 with only 1400 miles on it. Plus a good ridin friend we had his off in about the same time. And he has over 5K on his. Did you try and oil filter wrench. Hardest part for us was getting a wrench up and over to get the bolts off. GOOD LUCK. Get a friend to help while your pulling he can tap it with a rubber hammer. That;s how we did it. ThumbUp

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WD40 on the seam let it penetrate , And then a twisting motion like unscrewing..

PLUS THIS !

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If you weren't so far away. I'd come over and help you.

 

[slick rick]

After having my riding mates complain about my Big Louies and the Big Decibel level, I decided to change the slip ons on my 14 TG Ultra. Got it up in the air and after much crying , wailing and gnashing of teeth, removed the left side as you look at the bike from the rear. Let me tell you, with the with the back bumper and the hitch system, it is a bear to take off. After only 4 hours got the left side done, Torca clamp off check, Two bolts at rear mount off check one hour passed. All I need to do now is separate the muffler and the exhaust pipe. Did I mention there is no real good way to get any force on this thing? Pull Pull Pull, Shake. Tap with rubber hammer while pulling. No movement. .one more hour passes.. Total of 6 hours and one muffler changed out. I quit. Packed up tools secured the trick. Live to fight another DAY.

Anybody have a quick and easy way to get this stuck muffler off the head pipe?

Steve

You got the first and the second is always easier good luck and great tips from above :Agree: never used a filter wrench ,,,interesting ideal may have too .ThumbUpThumbUp

 

[Phu Cat]

By an 'oil filter wrench' I'm guessing Thunder was talkin about a strap wrench. Get it as tight as possible, and while moving the muffler in a circle also pull it backward (I know that's askin a lot). It will eventually come off. I've changed a lot of mufflers and this has been the easiest way that I've found. BTW, you do have some Never-Seize to put on the inside of the muffler where it slides on to the header, don't you? A 1/4" socket set sure makes getting those early muffler bolts out and back in for those dealing with the bolts that are the end of the mufflers. Even getting 3/8" ratchets in there is very difficult. Or, yours may be like my buddy's 2015 where HD finally moved the bolts to the side of the mufflers where they're out in the open for a change.

Phu Cat

 

[jackthemachinist]

WD40 on the seam let it penetrate , And then a twisting motion like unscrewing..

That's the way I do mine.

 

[Steve on 3]

Many thanks to you gentlemen. I will be out tomorrow night with my wd40 and a strap wrench and rubber hammer, tap tap taping away. The 14's are still right up under the box, too close for a 3/8 ratchet which I had a about 12 of and probably perfect for the 1/4 ratchet that I can't find the 1/2 inch socket for. One good thing I did find was the little trike only transition pipe on the right side that offsets was loose. Could have been some of the popping on decal I was hearing, air leaking in. I should know soon. Big Louies were too loud.

Thanks again

Steve

 

[DK Custom Products]

I loosen the clamp (Torca in HD speak) the night before, then spray some PB Blaster in the seam all the way around the header/muffler joint. Give it overnight to work. Makes it much easier the next day.

I will also get a second set of hands to hold the header steady while I get on the exhaust side of the muffler and move it from right to left and left to right, then down and up (as much as possible). By doing this it bends the muff end out a bit, loosening it, and also giving a bit more room to shoot some more PB in if needed.

If you have a second set of hands, you can also drop the crossover bracket and give yourself some more room to work...but only if you have a second set of hands to hold the headers...because you lose what little stress relief off the headers when you remove the crossover bracket.

Kevin

 

[Steve on 3]

Thanks Kevin. I am soaking with WD 40 as we speak tomorrow night that thing is coming off.

Steve

 

[msocko3]

Thanks Kevin. I am soaking with WD 40 as we speak tomorrow night that thing is coming off.

Steve

You have to use a little caution if you start moving the muffler back and forth or up and down to bend the inlet. More than one person has snapped one of the exhaust studs off on the rear cylinder.

 

[Rollin Thunder]

Rick...Keep us posted on the Muffler saga . Good Luck. Hope its easier then you thought.

 

[cavie]

Just a question for my learning process. Is there something in the design that prevents applying heat to the muffler side of the connection?? :xzqxz:

 

[Texan]

Mix up 50% automatic tranny fluid with 50% acetone. 1000 times better than WD40. Soak it for about an hour and twist it off..

8~\o

Machinist's Workshop MagT recently published some information on various penetrating oils. The magazine reports they tested penetrates for break out torque on rusted nuts.They are below. They arranged a subjective test of all the popular penetrates with the control being the torque required to remove the nut from a "scientifically rusted" environment.



Penetrating oils ........... Average torque load to loosen

No Oil used ................... 516 pounds

WD-40 ..................... ... 238 pounds

PB Blaster .................... 214 pounds

Liquid Wrench ...............127 pounds

Kano Kroil .................... 106 pounds

ATF*-Acetone mix............53 pounds

The ATF-Acetone mix is a "home brew" mix of 50 - 50 automatic transmission fluid and acetone. Note this "home brew" released bolts better than any commercial product in this one particular test.

ATF-Acetone mix is best, but you can also use ATF and lacquer thinner in a 50-50 mix

 

[rhino 2]

Lot of over thinking on removing one pipe....:Shrug:

 

[dirtdobber]

Was there any rust on the header end or inside the muffler inlet?
if no rust was seen it is possible the clamp was over tightened. When they-clamp- was over tightened it can leave a indent on the header outlet and muffler inlet. This will lock the muffler so it won't move. Most of the time it is caused when using a used clamp.
i have ran into this more than once. Sometimes the muffler inlet will not be smooth and have a small roughness which can be difficult. It can be known if the muffler did not just slide on easilly.

 

[Steve on 3]

Rhino


Not if it's your pipe ....lol......Hopefully it will slip right on off there tonight. I think it's just that unlike a two wheeler, there is not much room to maneuver around. Thanks to all for the suggestions and the "Home Brew" That looks interesting.

 

[rhino 2]

Rhino


Not if it's your pipe ....lol......Hopefully it will slip right on off there tonight. I think it's just that unlike a two wheeler, there is not much room to maneuver around. Thanks to all for the suggestions and the "Home Brew" That looks interesting.

What I meant by over thinking, Is most people won't ride in the winter because of salt getting on their trike.. So mixing Acetone and ATF on the underside is overthinking..
How does the saying go; It's ''home brew'' So what could possibly go wrong...
:Shrug:

 

[Texan]

......How does the saying go; It's ''home brew'' So what could possibly go wrong...
:Shrug:

What could go wrong? with a squeeze of lime and a couple shots of tequila, nothing!!

8~\o

 

[Trent]

Never mind.

 

[Steve on 3]

In 40 years of riding I have never had a muffler stick like this one has. Of Course, I haven't been as old and tired and short of patience and aggravated as with this one either. I have just about decided it might be easier to just order smaller baffles, repack them and go about my business. Of course, there are two screws holding the baffles in. Anybody know how to get two stuck screws out? Seriously, This thing made me quit the other night , go in and draw me a nice southern comfort and seven up to go with a hot bath. It's still February so I have some time to go before real riding time. What...me worry ????

 

[Steve on 3]

I know you are sick of the stuck muffler thread but I went out today after soaking for two days in WD40 and slid the muffler right off. Getting the back bolts back in was challenging but doable and now I have a much quieter trike. Thanks for all your help and sugestions. Just hope I don't have to change them again soon .

Steve

 

[rhino 2]

I know you are sick of the stuck muffler thread but I went out today after soaking for two days in WD40 and slid the muffler right off. Getting the back bolts back in was challenging but doable and now I have a much quieter trike. Thanks for all your help and sugestions. Just hope I don't have to change them again soon .

Steve

Good you got it off.....ThumbUpThumbUp

 

[Rollin Thunder]

Steve: Glad to hear everything is OK now. We did a muffler exchange on my friends 14 HD Trike the other day. He made up some small wood ramps to get the bike about 3 inches off the ground. Worked great and the mufflers we off and New one's back on in Mins ThumbUp

 

[Steve on 3]

Excellent idea Fuzzie but after wrestling with these, it may be a long time before I chamge again