Hitchcocks Forum

Apologies to Victor Meldrew but I've spent a frustrating couple of days with my EFI Bullet's exhaust. Removing the heat shield from the silencer revealed the same mess that exists on the downpipe. Namely, they seem to chrome plate and then do the welding, covering the mess with silver paint. The welds themselves look like something that I would do, and that ain't pretty.So, I ordered a shiny new downpipe from Mr H. (If their deliveries get any quicker they will arrive before I order them). After sitting and admiring and fondling the nice new pipe I tried fitting it but ran into exactly the same problem that I had refitting the old one after the exhaust seal blew.This time however I threw caution to the wind and lay on the floor to get a good look at what was going on. I reckoned that there would always be someone along to help a poor old feller get back up if needs be.I could see that there are two studs in the head that the exhaust flange bolts to and they have a central un-threaded shank with threaded portions at each side of it. The bottom stud had the shank proud of the head while the top one's shank was completely recessed into the head. As a consequence the flange was hitting the bottom shank but there was nothing behind the top stud to support it, the result being that the flange was twisting as it was tightened.I double nutted each stud and extracted then to discover that they were not identical, the un-threaded portion on one was longer than the other. I think some muppet has put the top stud in the bottom position and vice versa and, instead of correcting the mistake, has rived the nuts up tight to pull the pipe into place.I've swapped them over but am now too knackered to continue(I have an infection from an extracted tooth that's driving me nuts). So, beer o'clock and we'll see what the morrow brings when I try again.One thing about these Boolits, they do make life interesting but I do miss not having anywhere to work.

Not too far away from my original thoughts! Glad you are getting it sorted though. If you ever renew the silencer, order 90180 from our hosts. Sounds amazing and is waaaaaayyyyyy better than the tube of doom thats on there to begin with

Thanks Michael, I'll bear that in mind. For now, however, cess has been succ-ed as it were, despite the best efforts of the British weather. The flange nipped up quite nicely and the 02 sensor fitted and the bike fired up with no signs of any leakage.

Michael I think you have that part number wrong:-

90180 SPACER, TUFNEL, 22mm, 3mm THICK

Hey, Michael, I'm interested in what you say about the sound from that silencer you recommend. I'm worried it might be too loud - could you describe what it sounds like? I'm looking for something that doesn't have too much "crack" to it, as I find the high frequency elements quite tiring on a run (as well as annoying the neighbours). But a louder, bassy "boom"-type noise would be very welcome. What does yours sound like? Blatty/cracky? Or bassy/thumpy/boomy?

Whoops! 91080 is more like it!!!

Cheers, Michael. So what does it sound like, then?

Thack, I am surprised you havent heard it???!!! It sounds very different with and without the baffle. With the baffle it is a muted thump I reckon, and without the baffle it is an airier blat. I like it. The MOT tester's only remark about my bike apart from the leaky petrol cap was that it sounded great.

Thanks for that, Michael. What about the performance - did you notice a significant difference?

I reckon so. Certainly breathes easier, and you can hear that difference too. The engine is just a bit happier not having the restrictive silencer of doom.