My '73 850 rebuild..

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The header pipes don't fit? How far off are they? Any chance of posting pics with them in place? Commando Specialties usually gets high praise. Are they the 1-3/8 or 1-1/2 inch pipes?

Russ
 
rvich said:
The header pipes don't fit? How far off are they? Any chance of posting pics with them in place? Commando Specialties usually gets high praise. Are they the 1-3/8 or 1-1/2 inch pipes?

Russ
Click to expand...

In order for the brake-side muffler to fit on at all, the flange had to be very crooked inside the head. The entire setup was then very tight and the kickstarter STILL hit the pipes. They're the 1-3/8 pipes. The clutch side seems closer, though not perfect either. Idk..
 
My '73 850 rebuild..

My '73 850 rebuild..

My '73 850 rebuild..

My '73 850 rebuild..

My '73 850 rebuild..

My '73 850 rebuild..

My '73 850 rebuild..

My '73 850 rebuild..


Took those pics to send to Duane to see if he had any advice....idk..

-Jordan
 
Jordan,

Believe me when I say, the kick starter hitting the muffler is not the mufflers fault.

You will need to bend the kick starter, I had a lot of trouble with my brand new kick starter and exhaust.

What distance do you have between the kick starter and the RH top Z bolt ?.

I put the kick starter into the tow hitch of my ute ( pick up ), and bent it with a peice of pipe. Try to bend it straight, so the kick starter arm is 90 degrees to the kick start shaft.
My '73 850 rebuild..

I think you'll need about 6-7cm clearance here:
My '73 850 rebuild..
 
GIve Jamie a call at Commando Specialities, they will make it right. Got my pipes from him and they fit perfectly.
 
steveyacht said:
GIve Jamie a call at Commando Specialities, they will make it right. Got my pipes from him and they fit perfectly.
Click to expand...

I sent Duane an email. I've never had any problems in the past so hopefully that continues. The header pipes need rebent but without damaging the chrome that seems impossible.

Josh, I'll hold off on any bending of the kickstarter until the exhaust situation is ironed out.

-Jordan
 
If you are using the stock kickstarter it comes very close even when our bikes were new. I switched to later type which gives much more clearance. I love that method of bending Josh. Wish I had done that instead of beating on mine when I was young and more hot-headed. Like Archimedes said (approximately) "Give me a place to stand and I will move the world."
 
Jordan,

That looks like the pipe I got from them originally. I called and was told they had a batch of bad bends, and another properly bent pipe was sent out ASAP.
 
cyclegeezer said:
Jordan,

That looks like the pipe I got from them originally. I called and was told they had a batch of bad bends, and another properly bent pipe was sent out ASAP.
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I'm glad to hear that. I really don't feel like wasting money on re-chroming my stock pipes!

-Jordan
 
Pipes from Commando Specialities have been inconsistant. I got a set of 1 1/2" and right side pipe was way out of wack. I made attempt to right it but put a dent in it. They replaced it without having to return.
I think that after market pipes in general are not reliable and cheap. But the price is right and they will work when sorted.
 
Good to know I'm not alone. I'm sure they'll make it right.

The clutch side is probably close enough to work. The brake side, however......worthless.
 
KSUWildcatFan said:
Good to know I'm not alone. I'm sure they'll make it right.

The clutch side is probably close enough to work. The brake side, however......worthless.
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Wait a minute here, isn't the clutch and the brake pedal on the same side or are you talking handle bar levers?
 
nortriubuell said:
Ummm ... well not straight up ... but the pipes and $750 would do it, cheers !
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LOL. Hey, I had to take a shot.

I hadn't really considered selling the head pipes. They're prime candidates for chroming, but is it really worth it when you can buy brand new ones for ~$150? Then again, we've already established that new pipes are hit or miss..... :\
 
A replacement shifter-side header pipe is on the way! Good news, too, because the chrome shop wanted $200 to rechrome my stock pipes (fair price, but YIKES nonetheless). I left my bronze exhaust nuts and my fender stay to be chromed.. I'll have to wait 4-5 weeks to get them back. Yuck. In the interim, I guess I'll grab another stay from home, sandblast it, and paint it black for the time being. I think we have a spare pair of exhaust nuts laying around, too, although I'm sure they're not the most beautiful set in the world. Oh well.

So, for now, I'm in the queue for paint at Vintage Vendor, waiting on my custom "Corbin-like" Interstate seat to be finished, waiting for a new header pipe to arrive, and waiting 4-5 weeks for my exhaust nuts and fender stay to be chromed. I should be able to wrap up the rest of the bike soon, assuming I can get the signals sorted. I think maybe the flasher unit got toasted (maybe too much voltage from trying to run dual-element lights?)..Going to try a universal car/truck flasher to see if it's any better.

Looks like I'm running out of time to get much (if any) riding in this year.. I guess that's how it goes, huh? :(

-Jordan
 
KSUWildcatFan said:
I think maybe the flasher unit got toasted (maybe too much voltage from trying to run dual-element lights?)..Going to try a universal car/truck flasher to see if it's any better.

-Jordan
Click to expand...

Get the electronic ones. $5-8 from your local auto place.
 
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