Okie Bob
06-01-2008, 01:45 PM
I‘ve been in the process of doing a mod on a set of mufflers off of a VTX 1800 “F” model; they belong to Carl (CJ on our board). I introduced him to a lot of you down at the Xtreme Revolution Open House and BBQ.
Carl was telling me how he liked the look of his stock pipes but just wasn’t satisfied with the sound, it just wasn’t loud enough. He had 1200cc sportster with drag pipes before the VTX.
Anyway I told him I would look around and see if I could find a mod that could be done to the “F” mufflers and if so I would be happy to take a shot at it for him.
I did find a mod that could be done to his mufflers but I wasn’t satisfied with the look on completion and the fact if it was to loud he would have to buy new mufflers.
Two things I found wrong. #1. The first mod left the stock tailpipe tube in place and it is small, not much more than a 1” O.D. and it’s hard to get a low sounding note out of such a small pipe.
http://www.californiavtxriders.com/phpBB3/gallery/image28198.jpg
#2. I did find a Modified modification where the gentleman machined out the end cap and its cover, but I really didn’t like the finished look and if it was to loud there was no way to baffle it down.
http://www.californiavtxriders.com/phpBB3/gallery/image28185.jpg
So I did a little research and found there were a lot of after market baffles out there for 2” O.D pipes at a very reasonable price. So with that in mind I decided to make my own mod to the mod of the original modification. http://www.californiavtxriders.com/phpBB3/images/smilies/icon_lol.gif
I’m not going into a lot of detail on the main mod you can find those instruction here.
http://www.vtxoa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=59390&highlight=neo+muffler+mod (http://www.vtxoa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=59390&highlight=neo+muffler+mod)
After removing the mufflers from the bike remove the chrome end caps and follow their instruction for the removal of the chrome muffler covers.
Then its time to cut the end of the muffler off, once again refer to their instructions.
http://www.californiavtxriders.com/phpBB3/gallery/image28197.jpg
Now your going to chisel out the baffles. With that done you will have this.
Just for giggles I added a red arrowed line on the bafflers to show the flow. No wonder these Hondas are so quiet,
http://www.californiavtxriders.com/phpBB3/gallery/image28196.jpg
And there is still one more baffle at the front of the muffler with the Cad Converter. I left that to help out with a little backpressure.
http://www.californiavtxriders.com/phpBB3/gallery/image28195.jpg
Now its time to machine out the old exhaust tube and make room for a 2” OD stainless steel one. Looking at the photo you can see where I drew a reference line. I don’t have any fancy machine here at the house so I had to use a drill press and a rotor file. I ran the file at 3300 RPM. It takes a little while but it can be done. Have a pair of leather gloves near by cause this sucker gets hot. You can also see where my reference line runs off the edge of the bracket that holds the chrome end cap in place, not to worry. Once you insert the 2” tube, you just weld the bracket to the tube so there is no loss of strength.
You’re also going to weld the tube completely on the inside of the muffler cap.
Once the machining is done insert the new tube. 2” 304 stainless 1 ½ inches long.
Set the tube to protrude .570 above the bracket. But it comes down to personal preference.
http://www.californiavtxriders.com/phpBB3/gallery/image28194.jpg
With that done here is a photo of a stock and modified one side by side.
http://www.californiavtxriders.com/phpBB3/gallery/image28193.jpg
You can buff the stainless tube after welding or paint it black.
http://www.californiavtxriders.com/phpBB3/gallery/image28192.jpg
Now its time to machine out the chrome end cap.
Once again you need to draw a reference line see red line, and be sure to use painters tape to protect the chrome. I had three layers on these when I was working on them.
I open these up to 2.030 “, I was afraid that it might cause a rattle if it was touching the exhaust tube.
http://www.californiavtxriders.com/phpBB3/gallery/image28191.jpg
You will notice a little red tray under the end cap, I held the end cap stationary on that and slid the tray around to cut out the hole. Less chance of wearing through the tape and damaging the chrome.
http://www.californiavtxriders.com/phpBB3/gallery/image28190.jpg
Here is a before and after shot.
http://www.californiavtxriders.com/phpBB3/gallery/image28189.jpg
With the chrome end cap done and the tube welded in place and buffed this is what you have.
http://www.californiavtxriders.com/phpBB3/gallery/image28188.jpg
The difference between theirs and mine.
http://www.californiavtxriders.com/phpBB3/gallery/image28187.jpg
With the chrome heat shields reinstalled this is what it looks like.
http://www.californiavtxriders.com/phpBB3/gallery/image28186.jpg
Hopefully will have a Sound sample in the next couple of weeks. http://www.californiavtxriders.com/phpBB3/images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif http://www.californiavtxriders.com/phpBB3/images/smilies/icon_wink.gif
Carl was telling me how he liked the look of his stock pipes but just wasn’t satisfied with the sound, it just wasn’t loud enough. He had 1200cc sportster with drag pipes before the VTX.
Anyway I told him I would look around and see if I could find a mod that could be done to the “F” mufflers and if so I would be happy to take a shot at it for him.
I did find a mod that could be done to his mufflers but I wasn’t satisfied with the look on completion and the fact if it was to loud he would have to buy new mufflers.
Two things I found wrong. #1. The first mod left the stock tailpipe tube in place and it is small, not much more than a 1” O.D. and it’s hard to get a low sounding note out of such a small pipe.
http://www.californiavtxriders.com/phpBB3/gallery/image28198.jpg
#2. I did find a Modified modification where the gentleman machined out the end cap and its cover, but I really didn’t like the finished look and if it was to loud there was no way to baffle it down.
http://www.californiavtxriders.com/phpBB3/gallery/image28185.jpg
So I did a little research and found there were a lot of after market baffles out there for 2” O.D pipes at a very reasonable price. So with that in mind I decided to make my own mod to the mod of the original modification. http://www.californiavtxriders.com/phpBB3/images/smilies/icon_lol.gif
I’m not going into a lot of detail on the main mod you can find those instruction here.
http://www.vtxoa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=59390&highlight=neo+muffler+mod (http://www.vtxoa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=59390&highlight=neo+muffler+mod)
After removing the mufflers from the bike remove the chrome end caps and follow their instruction for the removal of the chrome muffler covers.
Then its time to cut the end of the muffler off, once again refer to their instructions.
http://www.californiavtxriders.com/phpBB3/gallery/image28197.jpg
Now your going to chisel out the baffles. With that done you will have this.
Just for giggles I added a red arrowed line on the bafflers to show the flow. No wonder these Hondas are so quiet,
http://www.californiavtxriders.com/phpBB3/gallery/image28196.jpg
And there is still one more baffle at the front of the muffler with the Cad Converter. I left that to help out with a little backpressure.
http://www.californiavtxriders.com/phpBB3/gallery/image28195.jpg
Now its time to machine out the old exhaust tube and make room for a 2” OD stainless steel one. Looking at the photo you can see where I drew a reference line. I don’t have any fancy machine here at the house so I had to use a drill press and a rotor file. I ran the file at 3300 RPM. It takes a little while but it can be done. Have a pair of leather gloves near by cause this sucker gets hot. You can also see where my reference line runs off the edge of the bracket that holds the chrome end cap in place, not to worry. Once you insert the 2” tube, you just weld the bracket to the tube so there is no loss of strength.
You’re also going to weld the tube completely on the inside of the muffler cap.
Once the machining is done insert the new tube. 2” 304 stainless 1 ½ inches long.
Set the tube to protrude .570 above the bracket. But it comes down to personal preference.
http://www.californiavtxriders.com/phpBB3/gallery/image28194.jpg
With that done here is a photo of a stock and modified one side by side.
http://www.californiavtxriders.com/phpBB3/gallery/image28193.jpg
You can buff the stainless tube after welding or paint it black.
http://www.californiavtxriders.com/phpBB3/gallery/image28192.jpg
Now its time to machine out the chrome end cap.
Once again you need to draw a reference line see red line, and be sure to use painters tape to protect the chrome. I had three layers on these when I was working on them.
I open these up to 2.030 “, I was afraid that it might cause a rattle if it was touching the exhaust tube.
http://www.californiavtxriders.com/phpBB3/gallery/image28191.jpg
You will notice a little red tray under the end cap, I held the end cap stationary on that and slid the tray around to cut out the hole. Less chance of wearing through the tape and damaging the chrome.
http://www.californiavtxriders.com/phpBB3/gallery/image28190.jpg
Here is a before and after shot.
http://www.californiavtxriders.com/phpBB3/gallery/image28189.jpg
With the chrome end cap done and the tube welded in place and buffed this is what you have.
http://www.californiavtxriders.com/phpBB3/gallery/image28188.jpg
The difference between theirs and mine.
http://www.californiavtxriders.com/phpBB3/gallery/image28187.jpg
With the chrome heat shields reinstalled this is what it looks like.
http://www.californiavtxriders.com/phpBB3/gallery/image28186.jpg
Hopefully will have a Sound sample in the next couple of weeks. http://www.californiavtxriders.com/phpBB3/images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif http://www.californiavtxriders.com/phpBB3/images/smilies/icon_wink.gif