Exhaust Extension on VL - Updated; Wrap & Shield Pics

[Mooseman]

Ah yes, good 'ol ice boogers. One of the first threads I read here. Gave me a heads up (or heads down?) to look for them. Yep, I'm new to the VL/MP and Yamahas so I read up a lot before the season started.

The post was by r1usn. He didn't mention which model he owned but since we were talking about the VL and what he was talking about sounded like it was:
"12 by 18 sheet of aluminum, bent up 3 sides and bolted it to the bottom of the tunnel protecters underneath the muffler"

This could be a summer project for me to try. After taking measurements, I would get a shop to bend one up for me. Or if this weather continues, I might be able to do it this weekend instead of riding

 

[BombaPolaYama]

I guess that will be good to use as a cheap experiment. If the tunnel icing decreases, then you can invest more on something stainless like the attached pic with stainless tubing.

Any luck with snow in your neck of the woods? We had a big melt with lots of rain so the little snow we had is almost all gone :"(

I have found these also available in 18" length at the following site:

https://www.mercersmarine.com/sagro/sto ... oduct=4365

That should be about the right length to fit between the muffler and the rear outlet as what I have there now is 18". So if my project works and the pipe doesn't stand the elements, this should be a more permanent option. And with the 18" length, there should be enough flex to be able to center the pipe exiting the rear.

I am nearing completion of an aluminum shield to cover the area from the front of the muffler to the rear of the tunnel and will post pictures when complete.
I am thinking about painting the outside of the shield (the part that will be exposed to the snow, etc) with black high temp (650C/1200F) paint to improve the look as I am using an old alum tunnel. Anyone see any issues with doing that? Also would that temp rated paint be okay to use on the muffler and rear pipe? It is a piant for use on wood stoves.

Thanks,

 

[Mooseman]

I'm not sure if paint would actually stick very well to stainless. Why would you want to paint the muffler? It won't rust, which is the usual reason for painting an exhaust. The flex pipe you have now I would understand though.

That marine flex pipe looks like it would fit the bill quite nicely.

 

[BombaPolaYama]

I'm not sure if paint would actually stick very well to stainless. Why would you want to paint the muffler? It won't rust, which is the usual reason for painting an exhaust. The flex pipe you have now I would understand though.

That marine flex pipe looks like it would fit the bill quite nicely.

Yeah maybe not good to paint it, but I have it all wrapped as well so hopefully it doesn't matter. I believe though these mufflers are low quality stainless as they are very magnetic and I'm told will rust over time if moisture is trapped there. Are you going to do any work on your exhaust? I'm hoping to be able to try mine soon, but man the weather here is so Spring like - the USA is getting all the snow this year!

 

[Mooseman]

Yeah, like we have to trailer to Texas! Unfortunately, I'm away from home and the sled until March so I might not be able to do anything. If there is any snow left by the time I get back, I'll just ride it as much as I can.

I was thinking this would be more a summer project for me, picking up ideas from you and others here. I do have a lot of mechanical experience, doing pretty much everything myself. I do read up a lot before undertaking anything though.

So far, everything I've read about the Yammi mufflers are that they do last. The only stainless I have seen that wasn't magnetic was medical grade, as in the rod and screws used in my leg I may be wrong though.

 

[BombaPolaYama]

Oh too bad you are not getting to do any riding. Actually, the SS exhaust tip that I bought is not magnetic at all, neither is the SS wire that I got for attaching the muffler wrap, or the hardware. But it is good to hear that those mufflers hold up; I sure wouldn't want to undo everything I have done anytime soon. (You are smart thoughh, learning from others before making the leap - ahha)

 

[BombaPolaYama]

Some pics of the exhaust wrap and shield. So far, I have put on over 600Km with this mod but the temps were not really cold enough to see if it is going to be the fix for ice build-up. The only issue is heat build-up on the rear deck so I had to make a rack to keep stuff off the deck. May put in some vents later on. I removed and checked the passenger seat and there is no plastic melting; then I put two thin washers underneath the seat where bolts to the deck to give a little space.
(the first pic should be towards the end but the others are pretty well in order)

 

[Mooseman]

Nice looking job there. I'm surprised that even with the wrap that the deck got that hot. I wonder if you added some ventilation towards the back to give some air circulation front to back would help.

And without some real cold, no way to confirm if this mod helped prevent ice boogers. I'm afraid that time has come and gone

 

[Bugbear]

Nice effort Bamba. That should work well . Yeah, the temp on top of the deck is a worry but my mod has no issues so far. Time will tell. Only have about 150 miles experience with it due to various reasons. Missed one 135 mile ride because a helmet snap broke and I had no replacement available. Keep us posted.

 

[BombaPolaYama]

Nice looking job there. I'm surprised that even with the wrap that the deck got that hot. I wonder if you added some ventilation towards the back to give some air circulation front to back would help.

And without some real cold, no way to confirm if this mod helped prevent ice boogers. I'm afraid that time has come and gone

Thanks, yeah I was surprised with the heat as well but it is consistent with the results of Bugbear's mod. The luggage deck gets too hot to hold your hand there if travelling at higher speeds so it would definitely melt vinyl carrying bags, etc. Yes, ventilation would be my next step - I'm thinking about adding some vents on each side towards the rear. I wanted to see if I'm keeping this in place first, before cutting holes - but I'm pretty sure this mod will help because there is not so many things for the snow/ice to stick to underneath and the bottom side of the shield stays cold from the snow.

 

[BombaPolaYama]

Nice effort Bamba. That should work well . Yeah, the temp on top of the deck is a worry but my mod has no issues so far. Time will tell. Only have about 150 miles experience with it due to various reasons. Missed one 135 mile ride because a helmet snap broke and I had no replacement available. Keep us posted.

Thanks, BTW did you have any problem with your track striking the shield? I think mine is rubbing at the very front at certain speeds so I may have to try and adjust the shield closer to the muffler. Can't check it out right now for evidence of wear because it is in the garage for another reverse fix. Either that or I'm getting noise from some flexing of the aluminum shield.

It was interesting that two guys observed what I had done last week and they both asked if it makes her any quieter as they thought that was the reason for doing the extension. I wouldn't say it is much quieter as it seems like most of the noise comes from the front anyway. My passenger is pleased and says there is less vibration felt - you would get a lot of annoying vibration from the track running through the ice.

 

[Bugbear]

Track does not rub on mine.

 

[Mooseman]

Thanks, yeah I was surprised with the heat as well but it is consistent with the results of Bugbear's mod. The luggage deck gets too hot to hold your hand there if travelling at higher speeds so it would definitely melt vinyl carrying bags, etc. Yes, ventilation would be my next step - I'm thinking about adding some vents on each side towards the rear. I wanted to see if I'm keeping this in place first, before cutting holes - but I'm pretty sure this mod will help because there is not so many things for the snow/ice to stick to underneath and the bottom side of the shield stays cold from the snow.

Yes, it is nerve wracking to start cutting here and there not knowing if the results will be what we expected. So I guess there was some rhyme and reason for Yamaha to leaving the exhaust open to the detriment of ice accumulation; it's either that or burn down the sled. But we're not engineers and we're doing their job.

What about cutting a couple of holes beside the exhaust tip?

 

[karl]

Great job Bomba!!! I will look forward to hearing how it works over time. I am still reasonably happy with my original mod, but have only been able to put on a few hundred km in fairly warm temps. I still carry a rubber hammer but am using it for the running boards now more than the tunnel.

 

[BombaPolaYama]

Great job Bomba!!! I will look forward to hearing how it works over time. I am still reasonably happy with my original mod, but have only been able to put on a few hundred km in fairly warm temps. I still carry a rubber hammer but am using it for the running boards now more than the tunnel.[/quote

Thanks. I will post some results when it's colder.