Author Topic: Fitting Motad Exhaust to 550F (Read 3083 times)

Wollongongwolf · « **on:** March 30, 2014, 05:07:51 PM »

Well my new exhaust arrived today and with pretty poor instructions. Finally worked out the mounting bracket fits onto the rear foot peg. I am only doing a mock up to see if it all fits and for the life of me, can't get No 1 pipe in position. Placed it into the muffler as far as it will go and is still three quarters of an inch away from the head.
The only thing that I can see is to maybe cut the pipe, not keen on that yet. I also noticed that there is some weld inside the exhaust, if it were not there maybe able to get that extra bit inside.
Anyone had trouble getting these things on and how did you solve the problem.
Seems nothing is easy!
Thanks

LesterPiglet · « **Reply #1 on:** March 30, 2014, 05:28:17 PM »

You put the headers on first as a loose fit, the silencer after. All the headers are marked 1-4 at the silencer end, make sure they are in the correct order.

Wollongongwolf · « **Reply #2 on:** March 30, 2014, 05:58:19 PM »

Yep tried that. Maybe will not do a mock up, just put the bastards on, but looks like there is gunna be a bit of pipe bending happening! Still sure pipe No 1 is to long. I got to wait till the fork seals arrive to do it as not going to Jack the bike up with those pipes running under the bike.
I can feel a headache coming on.
Anyone else had to wrestle with these bastard things!

martin99 · « **Reply #3 on:** March 31, 2014, 11:12:06 AM »

The last Motad I got had poorly fitting headers. They're made tight to be almost an interference fit in the collector. I had to dremel a couple of the collector sockets to get the header pipe to seat all the way down. Measure the depth of the socket, the headers should all slide in an equal amount. If one doesn't, you'll have to get the dremel or emery out. Don't cut the header, it's a bodge.

Wollongongwolf · « **Reply #4 on:** March 31, 2014, 01:50:08 PM »

Thanks Nuts, the headers seem to go into the the collector the correct depth. As I said before, was just seeing how it all sat and No 1 header seemed to sit away from head of the engine by nearly an inch. I did not bolt headers on, was only seeing how it all sat and goes together.
Also seems to be a problem with the exhaust bracket.
I have to do the fork seals, waiting for parts, then I will put the pipes on proper and see if they fit, guess I won't know until I do the job.
I will do what you suggest, will put each header in separate and measure, that's a good place to start before assembly.
Were you happy with the pipes in the end?

LesterPiglet · « **Reply #5 on:** March 31, 2014, 01:53:52 PM »

The bracket didn't fit to my F either, I made another.

Wollongongwolf · « **Reply #6 on:** March 31, 2014, 02:53:20 PM »

As I said, I only mocked it up, but appears that only one bolt will hold the exhaust on. Maybe they sent me one for a "K" model?
All will be revealed in the next few days I guess.
But you would think if your making hundreds of pipes for the same bike, you would have it right by now.

martin99 · « **Reply #7 on:** March 31, 2014, 03:24:04 PM »

Quote from: Wollongongwolf on March 31, 2014, 01:50:08 PM

Thanks Nuts, the headers seem to go into the the collector the correct depth. As I said before, was just seeing how it all sat and No 1 header seemed to sit away from head of the engine by nearly an inch. I did not bolt headers on, was only seeing how it all sat and goes together.
Also seems to be a problem with the exhaust bracket.
I have to do the fork seals, waiting for parts, then I will put the pipes on proper and see if they fit, guess I won't know until I do the job.
I will do what you suggest, will put each header in separate and measure, that's a good place to start before assembly.
Were you happy with the pipes in the end?

It's a good system for the price but never been a great fan of them to be honest. The last one I got for my 750 was out of necessity because I wanted something quick. The quality of the silencer seems good enough, but too quiet for my liking. Also the headers usually develop a gold tinge to them after a few miles, which some find endearing but it annoys the hell out of me. I'd be surprised if yours doesn't fit when you come to do it, it's often about playing around with the angles. Try putting the headers on first (as Les says, they're numbered) to see if you can get all the ends lined up with each other under the frame.

Wollongongwolf · « **Reply #8 on:** March 31, 2014, 04:30:38 PM »

That makes sense, just put them on the head, but don't tighten right up and crunch the exhaust gaskets, bunch the ends up see how they look.
Sometimes it helps to have a brains trust. My pipes are mild steel, I heard the stainless go gold? Needed and wanted to get her on the road and noise laws are tough here, so to get it through the first time has to be quiet. Once registered and in the future, I can put a different set on and that should be no problem.
She has not been registed for 4 years. The chrome on these is not to flash, but as I said 2 or 3 years I will be happy.
Again , thanks all for your suggestions.

Wollongongwolf · « **Reply #9 on:** April 01, 2014, 06:18:36 PM »

Hi all, decided to give the new pipes a dry run to see if the headr pipes are a different size and here are some pics. It would seem I have 4 pipes and 3 different lengths. Don't want to cut anything , after all are two too long or 3 too short etc.
Take a look at the pics and you be the judge. All the pipes are numbered, 1 starts on the gear leaver side and 4 is on the brake side. So is it me or the pipes. Guess I will have to ring Motad tonight and sort it!

Wollongongwolf · « **Reply #10 on:** April 01, 2014, 06:19:22 PM »

Another pic

Wollongongwolf · « **Reply #11 on:** April 01, 2014, 08:17:48 PM »

Another pic. I fitted only no1 and3 headers as instructions. I put on the muffler and bracket and did it up tight as if was finished. I then marked the pipes with a marker and took muffler off. You can now see the difference in the depth of the headers. The short one is only just in at 15mm or 5/8" and the other 50 mm or 2". So have come to the conclusion that the pipe is cut to short.
I have contacted Motad, so will let you know how I go with them. It is early morning UK time, so I hope to get a reply tonight.
Life wasn't meant to be easy I guess.

Wollongongwolf · « **Reply #12 on:** April 01, 2014, 08:18:41 PM »

Oops here is the pic

LesterPiglet · « **Reply #13 on:** April 02, 2014, 01:58:39 AM »

That's definitetly wrong. All pipes should be the same length and parallel. Maybe the pipes are numbered wrong.

Wollongongwolf · « **Reply #14 on:** April 02, 2014, 02:30:53 AM »

Yes, was contacted by motad and they asked for the numbers. So now waiting for a reply. It would seem the numbers are all matching set, but is it the wrong set. Just hope I don't have hassles with them, tough when your on the other side of the world. Fingers crossed.

Wollongongwolf · « **Reply #15 on:** May 02, 2014, 02:42:28 AM »

Hi all, been a month since I posted with my Motad problems with the new Motad exhaust. If not aware of the story, go through my posts and see my dramas with them.
Well new headers arrived yesterday after lots of emails, international calls and a lot of worrying. So was happy that at last they arrived as it had put me behind a month to get the bike on the road.
Well put them on straight after delivery and fitted pretty well, pipes were different lengths, but this time only 15 mm or so. The pipes this time also didn't touch the oil filter holder or the oil pan like the last set.
The only problem is the bracket that holds the muffler on by only one bolt not two as it appears it should so I hope the bolt holds ok. The same bracket only just holds the centre stand off the chain. I told Motad that I thought the bracket was not correct for the F model, never got an answer if this is the case, may start a seprate post to find if the rear foot pegs are in the same or different position on the F and K model as this is where the bracket is connected.
Pipes look good and are stainless steel , and got them for 150 pounds plus 85 pound delivery, so around $420 Aussie dollars, so price was pretty good.
Biggest headache was dealing with Ian Howel, in the end got the headers, but he had a lot of confusing excuses that seemed to jump about the place, all I wanted were updates that were fair dinkum, the type with information, I started getting pissed off in the end, was not sure if I was ever going to get the pipes.
In the end after a month you do start to get concerned you have done your $420 as you are 18,000kilometres away and not much you can do about it.
All in all pleased I got them, but Motad just need to be a little more understanding when it comes to information when it comes to problems with their international customers. Also the bracket is not 100 % correct, a bit of a pain if I have to make another, but see how it goes when on the road.
As I received the the exhust in the end, seems good quality, I would give them another chance I guess if I need new pipes, but if you do have trouble with anything you buy from them, you will need to be a squeaky wheel to get the oil.
Here is a few pics to show you how they look fitted. The last pic shows the exhaust bracket and the hole that has no bolt, may have to drill another hole to get the second bolt in place.

LesterPiglet · « **Reply #16 on:** May 02, 2014, 02:51:42 AM »

Glad you got sorted at last.
I don't know how you got that bracket on at all, I had to make a new one.

Wollongongwolf · « **Reply #17 on:** May 02, 2014, 03:16:25 AM »

Only just got it on Lester, but you would think after making so many pipes for the model, they would have it right by now. As I said, see how it goes and may drill another hole just to be sure. Do you have an F or a K model ?

LesterPiglet · « **Reply #18 on:** May 02, 2014, 03:39:52 AM »

I have an F.

Wollongongwolf · « **Reply #19 on:** May 02, 2014, 03:45:55 AM »

Bracket looks good, do you still have the centre stand on, if so does the bracket stop the stand hitting the chain? Do you know if the rear pegs are in the same position on both models? Maybe that is the reason the brackets don't fit so well?

LesterPiglet · « **Reply #20 on:** May 02, 2014, 07:18:50 AM »

I know the footrest mounts on both types of K frames look different from the F. As for position, I've no idea.
I've never had a centre stand.

martin99 · « **Reply #21 on:** May 02, 2014, 11:48:51 AM »

Good to see you got there at last. I had a 'one bolt' bracket on mine before I changed to the Marshall that's currently on there, didn't seem to cause any problems but I did worry that a knock or pothole might cause it to pivot and slide off the headers. Never did though, maybe just me being paranoid.

The bracket I have on now is one I made myself. I used a rubber doorstop, round rubber type about an inch in diameter, on the bottom of the bracket for the centrestand to rest on when in the 'up' position. You can use some washers behind it to adjust it's height and keep the stand away from the chain.

Wollongongwolf · « **Reply #22 on:** May 02, 2014, 09:55:52 PM »

If the bracket had sat in the correct position, the stopper on the bracket would hold the centre stand perfect, but as the bracket is on an angle to make it fit, only just holds it. Once on the road, will see how it goes. But what I could do is bolt a small piece of metal at the back of the bracket and that should hold it. Just looking at it 20 to 25 mm should do it. I guess it will be a wait and see, fix it if it needs it type of thing.

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Author Topic: Fitting Motad Exhaust to 550F (Read 3083 times)