Gripes from my Hot Springs trip

How do you stop the built in %^%&&, %$#$#, exhaust leak at the header junction on the Jardine exhaust?! I LOVE the Jardines.. they sound awsome, but that slip-on junction is TERRIBLE. I've tried high-temp copper/silicone, and I've tried that exhaust repair kit crap.. The Jardines were a HUGE hit at the bike rally though, everyone loved the sound of the Rocket..

Second.. I have a pair of 12.5" Progressive 412s (not H/D). Those &$&#, @$#@, shocks bottomed out all the way back home. I would have rather had the stock shocks at that point! I don't know if that trip just wore the springs out or what. I was riding solo with a pretty light load as well..

I also have an idle issue cropping up, but it's not like the TPS issue, well.. maybe it is. Most of the time I just hit the kill switch while I'm still rolling, then turn it back on, and start the bike and most of the time that fixes it.. It is annoying though..

Praise.. Avon tires are simply awesome!!!! No problems in all the rain I hit.. They are still holding up very well. After 1250+ miles this past weekend they are still in nice shape. They have about 14,500 miles on them now.. My front tire is down to the wear bar, which itself is pretty deep, and the rear tires still is not to the wear bar. I even left a 30 yard or so black mark down the street in front of our hotel..

You probably need to double up on the copper gaskets. They also need to be retorqued a couple of times after heat up and cool down cycles.

My 412's have been great so far with lots of two up, loaded down travel....you put on some weight lately?

TxRIIIRider said:

How do you stop the built in %^%&&, %$#$#, exhaust leak at the header junction on the Jardine exhaust?! I LOVE the Jardines.. they sound awsome, but that slip-on junction is TERRIBLE. I've tried high-temp copper/silicone, and I've tried that exhaust repair kit crap.. The Jardines were a HUGE hit at the bike rally though, everyone loved the sound of the Rocket..

Second.. I have a pair of 12.5" Progressive 412s (not H/D). Those &$&#, @$#@, shocks bottomed out all the way back home. I would have rather had the stock shocks at that point! I don't know if that trip just wore the springs out or what. I was riding solo with a pretty light load as well..

I also have an idle issue cropping up, but it's not like the TPS issue, well.. maybe it is. Most of the time I just hit the kill switch while I'm still rolling, then turn it back on, and start the bike and most of the time that fixes it.. It is annoying though..

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Tex,
I have the same problem, and I'm getting my welded up...underneath as well. The liquid gasket crap that they tell you to use doesn't work regardless of how much of it you use.

I have a set of 440's that I'll trade you. I've lost weight and they're too stiff.

I had the idle problem before I had the upgrade kit put in. They dropped another tune in. It pops like an SOB, but I haven't put the old tune back in. I'm suspecting that I fiddled with the tuneboy too much at closed throttle. Are you using Tuneboy? If so, check the #1 map at 0 throttle and 800 rpms. You may have adjusted it too much. It could be the primary tps as well if it's out of adjustment.

Pig9r,
The copper gaskets are working great.. it's the connection where the header collecter slides into the muffler assembly that is the problem... It just slides on.. there's no mechanical seal, just a pipe sliding over another pipe.. It's supposed to seal with high temp silicone or equivalent, but that has not worked.. now my silver motor is all sooted up in that area.. I think most of that will clean up though..

Pig9r said:

You probably need to double up on the copper gaskets. They also need to be retorqued a couple of times after heat up and cool down cycles.

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Snuff,
I think I may have actually lost weight.. I weigh about 185 lbs.. so that's not it. I have the shocks on the 4th pre-load setting, with one more to go..

snuffcityrider said:

My 412's have been great so far with lots of two up, loaded down travel....you put on some weight lately?

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Sorry, I misunderstood your post. I used a hi-temp silicon that is infused with copper. I let it dry for 2 days before firing it up. It has held up good.

Permatex High-Temp Ultra Copper RTV Silicone Gasket Maker (3 oz.) - PER81878

TxRIIIRider said:

Snuff,
I think I may have actually lost weight.. I weigh about 185 lbs.. so that's not it. I have the shocks on the 4th pre-load setting, with one more to go..

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You must have gotten a pair of lemons. I'm only on the second, sometimes third setting.

I will try the RTV silicone again this weekend and let it sit for two days.. I didn't let it sit that long last time. If that fails, the welder may be coming out..

Snuff, I don't know what springs I got, but they are too soft for this bike.. I only weigh 185 lbs.. and was toting my Leatherlykes with 4 changes of clothes, a rain suit, and my mesh jacket. Now, to be fair, they were bottoming out when I was speeding ( 90+ MPH ). Riding back and forth to work, they do work fine..

I still have the 412 HDs that Greg brought me.. Where is Greg anyways??? Anyway, I may try swapping springs..

Ratboy, I might be interested in trading for your 440s, but these shocks may be too light for you. I have a PC-III, not Tuneboy.. I'll tackle the idle issue after I get the Jardines sealed up..

Black and/or red RTV didn't work for me, it just blew out the exhaust.