If you bought any of the HM300’s or HM341’s from Honda you may have
experienced the poor fit of the right side pipes. The rear cross overs don’t
even come close to lining up. (see PIC1)
Most people had to grind the rear mounts to get them closer together and even
then they never lined up completely. I ground the mounts on mine, but I was
never happy with the way they looked. The rubber crossover connector was
cock eyed and I got tired of the exhaust leak that left soot on my lower pipe.
Recently I had vibration that turned out to be caused by the right 2 pipes
loosening up at the engine and also the rear mount. I decided to remove them
and try once more to get them to fit better. After lots of trial and error here
is the solution I came up with.
I connected the crossovers at the rear with a small pipe. (PIC2)
PIC3, 4 and 5 show the piece I made to connect the top and bottom pipe.
I made the connector piece from a 1 inch diameter aluminum pipe I had. I cut a
piece off 1 and 3/4 inches long. I then cut it length wise and folded it in on itself
so it can be compressed but it will spring back into position. I made small cut
outs on the bottom creating 4 little stands that seat against the inner pipe, but
allow exhaust to still flow thru easily. They are 1/4 inch high. PIC 6 shows it
installed in the lower pipe.
The other mod I made was to use a ½” bolt in place of the original to give a little
extra wiggle room at the rear foot peg mount. I used a stainless bolt, so it should
be just as strong as the original.
After installing the connector pipe I made in the lower pipe, I took the screw out
of the original clamp, removed the clamp from the rubber piece and set it aside
I then put the rubber piece on the lower pipe. Then I clamped both pipes loosely
at the engine. Then pushed the upper pipe on to the connector. Because the
connector pipe flexes you can move it enough to get them to go together. (I had
to squeeze it a little with a pliers to get it started in the upper pipe) I put the new
smaller diameter foot rest bolt in and just hand tightened. Then finish tightening
the clamps on the engine end. The foot peg bolt got tightened last. Then just put
the clamp around the rubber crossover connector and done. Fits and looks
perfect. (pic7 shows the final results)
KC
click on pictures to enlarge.
