Barn of Parts Heat Shield for Mid Pipe

[hibshman25]

The OEM heat shield on mid pipe is starting to become a more frequent failure as they age. For what it is the OEM one is a bit pricey at around $220 list and they don't seem to hold up very long even when new. Been working on a better quality one in the offseason. Finally got my cardboard templates converted to aluminum last week. Will certainly take a few revisions til I get it where I want it but its getting there. Below is a sneak peak.

 

[Rtbo]

I needed 2 replacements on my 17 with 11,000miles

 

[Upstater57]

The OEM heat shield on mid pipe is starting to become a more frequent failure as they age. For what it is the OEM one is a bit pricey at around $220 list and they don't seem to hold up very long even when new. Been working on a better quality one in the offseason. Finally got my cardboard templates converted to aluminum last week. Will certainly take a few revisions til I get it where I want it but its getting there. Below is a sneak peak.



View attachment 173514

Nice work! This will make a nice upgrade when you get these to market. It will be on my shopping list.

 

[jaydaniels]

Just wondering how this is coming along.

 

[hibshman25]

Just wanted to let you know this product is still alive. I plan to have them finalized for upcoming season.

 

[twyztid]

Just wanted to let you know this product is still alive. I plan to have them finalized for upcoming season.

Will they be easily hand-bendable? I can see that there would likely need to be more room for the O2 sensor in my 3" TD Super Quiet muffler. I had to bend in part of the stock heat shield a bit toward the pipe as well to give more clearance.

 

[hibshman25]

Picked up production samples today and the fit up was spot on!

 

[twyztid]

Is that going to have enough clearance for those that are running an O2 sensor in an aftermarket muffler such as a TD 3" Super Quiet? I had to bend in my factory heat shield to give clearance for the wires coming out of the O2 sensor.

 

[hibshman25]

I have not given an consideration to that option yet. Just wanted to nail down stock set up to start.

 

[REDLINE 1]

Looks nice!

 

[KnappAttack]

It does look good, but IMO it needs to "float" like the stock one does to absorb vibration or it will crack prematurely. Notice how the stock shield has the floating washers on it with "cushions"?

One thing I found out is that when it can't "float and absorb the vibration", is they crack & break. They need to be dampened somehow from the vibrations of the pipe thats moving with the engine movement & vibration. Exactly why the flex pipes break is the vibrations and movements. The shield should not be mounted solid to the exhaust pipe and turbo. Just my experience with the shield dilemma issues.

 

[Simplespeed]

It does look good, but IMO it needs to "float" like the stock one does to absorb vibration or it will crack prematurely. Notice how the stock shield has the floating washers on it with "cushions"?

One thing I found out is that when it can't "float and absorb the vibration", is they crack & break. They need to be dampened somehow from the vibrations of the pipe thats moving with the engine movement & vibration. Exactly why the flex pipes break is the vibrations and movements. The shield should not be mounted solid to the exhaust pipe and turbo. Just my experience with the shield dilemma issues.

Real Good Point .. So are you thinking the factory hardware really needs to be used ???

 

[hibshman25]

It does look good, but IMO it needs to "float" like the stock one does to absorb vibration or it will crack prematurely. Notice how the stock shield has the floating washers on it with "cushions"?

One thing I found out is that when it can't "float and absorb the vibration", is they crack & break. They need to be dampened somehow from the vibrations of the pipe thats moving with the engine movement & vibration. Exactly why the flex pipes break is the vibrations and movements. The shield should not be mounted solid to the exhaust pipe and turbo. Just my experience with the shield dilemma issues.

I understand your concern and have been back and forth on it as well. All 4 mounts

It does look good, but IMO it needs to "float" like the stock one does to absorb vibration or it will crack prematurely. Notice how the stock shield has the floating washers on it with "cushions"?

One thing I found out is that when it can't "float and absorb the vibration", is they crack & break. They need to be dampened somehow from the vibrations of the pipe thats moving with the engine movement & vibration. Exactly why the flex pipes break is the vibrations and movements. The shield should not be mounted solid to the exhaust pipe and turbo. Just my experience with the shield dilemma issues.

I've been back and forth on the "float". All 4 mounts are on the pipe. For sure if 2 mounts were on pipe and 2 on the turbo then there would need to be some isolation mounts. Lots of heat shields on atv and cycles are fixed on headers with no float so I figured we try simple first. Time will tell.