zzzzzxxxxxr12
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posted April 15, 2004 10:38 PM
 Edited By: zzzzzxxxxxr12 on 18 Apr 2004 23:08
First Exhaust installed
Well after 3 different pipes i finally got a set and started installing it tonight. I went with an Arrow Race tech Setup. I must say its not a very flashy system , but the specs look real good without a P.C.
Anyway got home from work about 6pm and hit the garage. Getting that radiator out was a chore and still and gave up on removing the fan from the bike, just moved it out of the way. Stock pipe came off easy, as a matter of fact the flange bolts seemed a bit loose to me. I decided to wrap the header pipes, much more difficult to get it right than one might think. I was shocked to realize as i started to put the headers on that the flange bolts dont hold the header pipes on, per se. They only hold the flange that squeezes the the copper gasket and donuts that the headers slide into. The whole system is held together by nothing but springs and the Ti can holder. What really shocked me was that after it was completey hung is that it is stiff as hell and doesnt move hardly at all. One other thing that i am nervous about is the header nuts with the knew donuts only make up about 3/4 nut before they are tight. Took me about 4 hours to strip and then wrap and hand the new pipes, hopefully my muzzy fan will be here tomorrow and it can put it back together and fire it up.
Now for all you lords of the 12r, are there any particular things i should look at or do while reinstalling the radiator and firing it up.
Is there a particular type of Anti freeze i should use, I have a new gal of prestone. How about water wetter.
Cant wait to see if i am going to see anything close to what is adverstised with this pipe.
  
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Hells Dark Lord
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living life, and loving it.
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posted April 16, 2004 01:43 AM
dont use watter wetter unless you are in a very warm climate, or you are going to the track. There is an anti freeze that is AMA track legal, but I cant remember what its called. For street riding I would say just use the recommended anti freeze mixed with water in the right proportion and you will be good to go....but that is just my opinion....
I had a bike freeze with watter wetter, adn it cost me a water pump and a few other things, thankfully the block didnt break on me....I was in southern GA ....
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When in doubt, lean farther and go faster....
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zzzzzxxxxxr12
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posted April 16, 2004 07:57 PM
Ok , i got finally got the bike put back together today, Man those fairing are a bitch , at least the first time out. Now i fire the thing up and , ----------- its sweet music. That Arrow exhaust sounds Grrrrrrrreat. It has the a sound that is somewhat between a Hindle and Muzzy. Now as i am warming this thing up all kinds of smoke starts coming from the header wrap and its starts to look as though its beginning to burn, turning from white to a burned brown. I panic and shut it down. I call the mechanic that gave me the roll( freebee) and ask him if i should cut it off. He said it was normal for it to cure. So i fire it back up and let it continue to smoke until it eventually quit. One thing i notice about the bike is that it is now surging at idle about 300 rpms. I have no PC yet. I decide to take it for a Test run, figuring it going to be a dog on the bottom end like alot of bikes with a new pipe. To my surprise it never stumbled once. And i immediately sence a difference in btm end grunt. Hell mid range is great , even pulled a power wheel stand in second unintentionally. Happy as hell right now and cant wait to get it on a dyno with a USB PC.
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BA
Pro
Posts: 1592
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posted April 16, 2004 08:24 PM
glad you clarified HDL.
Water Wetter is a great product. It's really very good stuff and works well for lots of us here, but, you ARE CORRECT, it's not made for preventing freeze-up!!
Sorry you had to experience that first hand man.
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RICKV
Parking Attendant
Posts: 7
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posted April 17, 2004 04:22 AM
I would use Honda lifetime coolant. Its great stuff, and its already mixed with distilled water. Honda had some complaints on Goldwing water pumps leaking, and their research found that all the pumps that were leaking were using after market coolant (Prestone, etc.) that was too abrasive, wearing out the waterpump seal and causing the pump to leak.
Good luck.
Rick V
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VincentHill
Needs a life
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posted April 18, 2004 09:28 AM
If you do "Not" have a thread showing on the studs, Ask Arrow if the flanges were to be used with or "Without" the copper Gasket? It does not say where you live? If in the states, I would use NO MORE THAN 30% antifreeze with Distilled water. SInce you wrapped the pipes, you should run cool enough. ALso wrapping the pipes "MAY cost a little power. They did on my Akra pipe. I would ask the manufacture about that also. Did you space out the radiator with a longer bolt and a few nuts? Last, you you use something like High Temp Copper silicone in all of your pipe joints? When hot, it becomes a powder than helps the pipes to seal and come back apart.
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Made History @ Daytona and still one fast old man!!
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k bryant
Needs a job
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posted April 18, 2004 09:59 AM
Wrapping the pipes can also void the warranty from the mfg.
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zzzzzxxxxxr12
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posted April 18, 2004 12:40 PM
Edited By: zzzzzxxxxxr12 on 18 Apr 2004 13:43
I will ask about those gaskets. I dont seem to have any leaks. i could not figure out how or where to install any spacers on the Radiator. Its a 2000. Is there a thread about how to do that? K.Bryant I talked with Gio Moto about wrapping and Greg said he didnt have a problem with it, they are SS.
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ZXLNT
Needs a job
Kawpuke Extraordinare
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posted April 18, 2004 02:01 PM
On the 2000 model one on side only there is a bracket that comes off the engine and holds the radiator out. I used one of the T inserts, the kind that you put in the middle of a grommet to keep it from collapsing. I just put it behind the bracket against the engine and then used a longer bolt, it spaces the radiator out just a little bit from the header but still fits under the bodywork..
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zzzzzxxxxxr12
Expert Class
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posted April 18, 2004 03:36 PM
zxlnt, thanks i realize now how to do it. Doh, sometimes i am such an airhead.
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ZXLNT
Needs a job
Kawpuke Extraordinare
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posted April 18, 2004 04:01 PM
Naw man, I read it someplace too before I did it.. 
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canadamaxxer
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posted April 18, 2004 04:06 PM
Maybe I should go into business selling these custom brackets.....any takers?
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zzzzzxxxxxr12
Expert Class
Posts: 214
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posted April 18, 2004 10:09 PM
Hell list it on Ebay, somebody will bid.
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canadamaxxer
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posted April 19, 2004 04:22 AM
That is a great idea!
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