Dealer: Can't touch that

[Shmick]

Took my 93 GW trike to a Honda dealer for new exhaust, from headers back. Was told he couldn't do job because it was a customized bike. The outfit that did the conversion has long since folded. Called some muffler shops without success. Custom bike shop said if pipes are less than 1 3/4", he couldn't do it. Pipes are 1 1/2". So, ye olde wise trikers, any suggestions of where to turn next? Please advise. (Betcha I have the loudest wing east of the Mississippi; you may have heard it.)
Gracias

 

[trike lady]

If the header pipes are in good shape you can reuse them, the premuffler chamber can be replaced with a unit called an X-factor and then a replacement length of pipe to the mufflers. Torq Master Pipes makes the X-factor. These parts are used on the GL1500 Goldwing.

 

[Shmick]

Gracias

Thanks trike lady!

 

[Mick]

You'll also find that some of the exhaust places that you've called ,that if you show up and show them what you want they will make it for you. Around here in that respect the phone becomes useless. Some shops wont commit to anything sight unseen. And some shops will do it sometimes just because of the "cool" effect of what you ride.

 

[Shmick]

Stunned

Found a dealer 2 1/2 hours away who gave me an estimate of $3000 to repair exhaust and some other stuff. Flabbergasted, might have to sell my trike to pay for repairs! Does this amount sound high to y'all experienced Honda folks? Still in shock...

 

[Baldy_54]

To me, $3,000 dollars is too loud for noise. How much to give up the noise and go back to original?

Hey, 1800 06 Champion Trike can you hear Shmick's Trike? Since you are both in Wisconsin. Is it really that loud?

 

[1800 06 Champion Trike]

Wisconsin is a big state, where are you at Shmick??

 

[CrystalPistol]

Found a dealer 2 1/2 hours away who gave me an estimate of $3000 to repair exhaust and some other stuff. ... etc ...

That dealer doesn't want your business.

Why not just ride the trike to a local custom muffler / exhaust shop? Let them see how simple the system is on a GL1500 trike. Just be sure they understand to NOT weld the system together, that it needs slip joints where it can be removed for other services. There are adapters on the net that'll get you up to 1.75 or even 2.0 inches from the header pipe outlets, a couple bends to rear, a couple mufflers .... maybe try OEM Harley mufflers .... and some tips or extensions out the back.

Likely you'll be OK with aluminized steel but you could go stainless for big $$$.

 

[Shmick]

Wisconsin is a big state, where are you at Shmick??

North of Beaver Darn.

- - - Updated - - -

That dealer doesn't want your business.
Yup. I'm getting that vibe. Called him Friday, said he'd check and call back... He's had it a week. Funny, he called the resonator box "a god part". Mother Honda.

 

[CrystalPistol]

Funny, he called the resonator box "a god part". Mother Honda.

I opened one up ..... it's just a big "room" .... that lets exhaust from both sides to "co-mingle" ..... breaks up pulses, let's each side share the spaces between pulses as exhaust goes out mufflers.

Many guys have had short pipes with just one slight angle made and one end swelled to same size as the Honda middle chamber's inlet to use oem style gakets .... to replace the "middle chamber" and simply picked up new take off mufflers from a Harley dealer and used them ..... with no cross over, no middle chamber. I have even seen the short pipes sold in pairs for that on Ebay.

If you Google ">> harley davidson mufflers adapted to gl1500 goldwing <<" you'll find some good info fast.

 

[Marc H]

On mine the resonator has been removed.Looks like they welded the pipe over the nipples on the head pipes and went to the mufflers.I'll take a few picks and post later.Shouldn't be a problem for a decent muffler shop.

 

[Marc H]

 

[FRR]

Call the company that manufactured your conversion kit

 

[clint44]

Found a dealer 2 1/2 hours away who gave me an estimate of $3000 to repair exhaust and some other stuff.

How much of that price is exhaust work and how much of it is "some other stuff"? A good custom exhaust shop should be able to knock out what you need in just a few hours. Any of these places close to you?
https://www.google.com/?ion=1&espv=2#q=Wisconsin+custom+exhaust+system+builders

 

[Shmick]

Thanks

To all the reasoned, well-intentioned and generous "help" from ye olde wise trikers: I'm very grateful for your input and suggestions. Turns out the dealer was swamped during his busiest time of year. Talked with him yesterday and was told my trike was next in line. (Felt I was getting stonewalled and the run-around blah blahs, but wasn't. Just wanted a sit rep.) Hopefully job will be done next week, and I'm not just naive. Again, THANKS FORUM!

 

[Ed Hobgood]

Glad to hear you found someone to put your exhaust on for you. Ride safe and have fun!ThumbUp

 

[Shmick]

Dateline: Wapun

Wisconsin is a big state, where are you at Shmick??

1800: I noticed you're from Kiel ...not too far from me! Wondering where you take your trike to get service? The reason I ask is because I'm totally unsatisfied with where I've taken mine. It's in Richland Center, quite far away. They've had my trike for over a month and they called yesterday to tell me their $3000 estimate was too low. Long story short, now they're telling me it could easily be over twice that! I'm heartbroken, pissed and perplexed. So I'm reaching out to you as a "local" to find a shop that actually wants my business. Any help you could offer would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

[CrystalPistol]

They've had my trike for over a month and they called yesterday to tell me their $3000 estimate was too low. Long story short, now they're telling me it could easily be over twice that! I'm heartbroken, pissed and perplexed. ... etc ...

Wow!

What is the other work I saw mention of? :cxtv:

 

[Shmick]

New rear tires, some tail lights (I have a lot) & cig lighter/power port repair was the other stuff. But he also found I needed u-joints, pinion gear seal, front yolk and shocks. Does that add up? The trike is un-rideable & un-sellable as is. If estimates are accurate, it's half the value of the trike. What would you do, Pistol? I'm torn up.

 

[Gold Rush]

New rear tires, some tail lights (I have a lot) & cig lighter/power port repair was the other stuff. But he also found I needed u-joints, pinion gear seal, front yolk and shocks. Does that add up? The trike is un-rideable & un-sellable as is. If estimates are accurate, it's half the value of the trike. What would you do, Pistol? I'm torn up.

Mick, I think this dealer is a shark and he tastes blood in the water. I see a couple grand tops parts and labor for everything you mentioned and I have my doubts about some of those things actually needing replaced. I'd get another quote for sure. Even if you had to travel across the state it would be worth while and I can't believe there are not more dealers close by.

I was born and raised up in Ladysmith but have lost all the contacts I once had but maybe one of our members will be able to help still.

Good luck Mick!!! :xszpv::xszpv:

 

[Shmick]

Spook: Yeah that's the general consensus of this forum. I have contacted the 3-4 closest Honda dealers and got the same line: custom bike, sorry. I thought I was on to something when this farther away dealer agreed to fix it. But holy cow! I'm not much of a "wrench", so I sort of have to trust him. (Trust, but verify?) A second opinion is always advisable but I'm over a barrel. Waiting for some other leads while our short riding season gets shorter. Being an ex-cheesehead I'm sure you can relate.

Thanks for the input...everyone.

 

[CrystalPistol]

New rear tires, some tail lights (I have a lot) & cig lighter/power port repair was the other stuff. But he also found I needed u-joints, pinion gear seal, front yolk and shocks. Does that add up? The trike is un-rideable & un-sellable as is. If estimates are accurate, it's half the value of the trike. What would you do, Pistol? I'm torn up.

If I had no other choices, I'd crap a cow.

Below is on a solid axle Lehman GTL .... and I'd fix mine.

Rear tires, maybe $200 ..... with new air.

Tail lights / power port repair .... I'd fix myself, maybe $20 depending on problem.
Not sure what the problem is .... but just to get working lights ... not hard. Likely as not it's a issue with corroded squeeze on connectors some people use because they are fast. I removed a bunch from mine and spliced and soldered and insulated them.

Pinion seal costs maybe $10-15, add in $15 for lube ..... and is a pretty simple job really, most important is marking the shaft, yoke, nut for exact relationship before taking apart so that all three can be put back exactly (not just close, but EXACTLY) the same. Messy part is drain / refill axle lube. Figure an hour and a half if sipping coffee and including jacking time .... I'd stretch it to two.

U-joints .... ain't but two and likely that rear one will costs all of $10-15 and the front is likely a Honda U-joint with yokes already attached. On my Lehman, I can R&R both in under an hour.

Progressive rear air shocks, their series 416s ..... maybe $500 now, but a simple R&R ..... assuming they are really needed.