ViragoTechForum.com :: Yamaha Virago XV Forums That Rock!!!

#1:  Jardine Leak. Found. (Solved) Author: funkamongus,  Posted: Wed Jun 23, 2010 11:50 am I found the exhaust leak in my jardines, and after hearing others have had some leaks too, I thought Id put out what might be your problem too.. I got a second heavy duty clamp, pushed it up as far as it would go, clamped it down twice and clamped it good. Went a ways, sounded different than ever, so I guess I never had really fixed it, and when I went up to close to the red line it didnt get all flubbery like it did before. I went about 45 miles, checked it and it had already come back down a bit. I mean, the muffler end, hd slipped off the header by about 1/4" allowing it to leak, but still not as much as it had before. On the way back, the redline was flubbery again. So, problem found. I stood back from the bike this morning, and noticed that the rear was offset just a bit and looked more closely at the mounting points. The mounting point, ON the front muffler, attaching the rear one to it, is supposed to have the rear ones tab, inside, INSIDE of the lower (front) pipes tab. It moves the rear of the pipe back out from the bike and angles the header junction different. Its not fixed yet, but is found. Pic below. HPIM1341.JPG  Description: rear looks off.. not tucked in right, so it comes back IN towards the bike.  Filesize:  294.99 KB  Viewed:  0 Time(s) HPIM1343.JPG  Description: the tabs are wrong.. the outer one should be inside the other tab. tHat brings the rear of the rear out from the bike and makes it look straighter too.  Filesize:  170.21 KB  Viewed:  0 Time(s)

#2:   Author: anaman51,  Posted: Wed Jun 23, 2010 1:45 pm As it happens, I was headed out to the garage today to have it out with my pipes and the backfiring. Thanks for the heads up! I'll be removing and reinstalling the whole package, one step at a time, with each connection being properly cleaned and joined, and this will help a lot. Dan

#3:   Author: funkamongus,  Posted: Wed Jun 23, 2010 1:56 pm Let me know if there is something else while youre in there!!!

#4:   Author: funkamongus,  Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2010 4:03 pm Ok, I removed the rear and found some things out, First, the aforementioned tab on the rear has a bolt welded in place on the inside, so, the tab Idea is a NO GO. I also found on the header pipe, is a little nob, you cant go higher than that or it leaks, I took it all apart and started at the joint with a tight clamp, then tightened the other two bolts. I also saw that the header doesnt go in to the pipe very far so the second clamp I had on it was like teets on a bull. Its not much better than it was, in terms of how I think it will last, but, maybe this time its sealed. If not, Next time I'll get something to augment the seal.

#5:   Author: funkamongus,  Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2010 7:30 pm No go. Got some RTV and spread it around the header and inside the pipe after cleaning with sand paper. Setting up now. Fingers crossed. I could literally feel the blow by by hand before. I noticed as I was checking my work earlier, It wasnt so hot I couldnt feel around it and it was a BIG leak!!! (I put the red RTV on before I found my copper RTV.) If I have to do it again.. I think its one of those wrap kind of clamps. Ive never seen one before today, it looked bulky, so I thought Id try RTV. Upon looking at it again, though, thats my next move if this doesnt work.

#6:   Author: funkamongus,  Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2010 7:51 pm Well, Dan, did you do ok? What did you find?

#7:   Author: funkamongus,  Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2010 8:03 pm Been a couple hours, I started her up, just to see if the RTV would hold. It sure seems to. at least for the test. Didnt want to get her up to temp yet. I couldnt see or feel any air rushing out. I'll take her for a ride tomorrow and we'll see.

#8:   Author: funkamongus,  Posted: Fri Jun 25, 2010 7:24 pm Ok, first to solve this thing, and in doing so, reaffirm my "noobness". A radiator hose clamp does not an exhaust clamp make. A radiator hose clamp only goes SO tight, then stops. An exhaust clamp gets LOTS tighter with two nuts. Problem with bike, solved, problem with noobness,,,, well, Im working on it!!! PS its a 1 3/8" exhaust clamp youre looking for, for an 1 1/2" pipe..

#9:   Author: funkamongus,  Posted: Fri Jun 25, 2010 9:34 pm The new exhaust clamp installed, and the old radiator hose clamp. HPIM1345.JPG  Description:  Filesize:  225.49 KB  Viewed:  0 Time(s) HPIM1346.JPG  Description:  Filesize:  160.43 KB  Viewed:  0 Time(s)

#10:   Author: anaman51,  Posted: Sat Jun 26, 2010 3:28 pm Yup. Now yours looks just like mine. Sadly, mine still leaks, but I'm working on it. Dan

#11:   Author: slowpoke,  Posted: Sat Jun 26, 2010 3:36 pm You could always weld it together, but then you loos the ability to remove if need be.

#12:   Author: anaman51,  Posted: Sat Jun 26, 2010 4:38 pm I'm gonna get that sucker, one way or the other, Mike. The idea of welding it doesn't appeal to me, though. You know, a long while back I was looking at MAC's, and one of the things I did to get a better grasp of the quality of manufacture was to go through their installation process online. One of the things that was recommended by them was to loosen the rear header so it would swivel a bit. This was said to faciliate the process, but I've got my doubts. It would have to be tightened back up before any banging with the rubber hammer takes place, and it would probably cost me a pinch gasket along with a lot of cussin' when it's not called for. Besides, they line up pretty good as it is. I'll get it. Dan

#13:   Author: funkamongus,  Posted: Sun Jun 27, 2010 12:35 am I think I have it sealed, but it didnt fix ALL the little problems.. I STILL have a prob smoothly reaching redline. I think its my one sized larger main jet for the rear, (trying to compensate for lean condition brought on by exhaust leak I just fixed). and I want to replace the filter stuff in the little elbows going IN to the carbs for calm air flow. I still want to change out my spark plug wires. I want my bike to run smooth up to 7K. No stumbles. Maybe? I AM at 6500 feet. Im goin down to less, soon, so, maybe thats it. Signed: Doing Great, but still looking for more.

#14:  Re: Jardine Leak. Found. (Solved) Author: anaman51,  Posted: Sun Jun 27, 2010 4:12 pm I have defeated the evil backfire monster! After careful and extensive prep work on all metal surfaces, after slathering the joining surfaces with spooge, and after clamping the living daylights out of it, it finally sealed. I've been out burning up some backroads since about eight this morning, and it finally sounds like it's supposed to. No pops, no burbles, no hiccups, nothing---just smooth running motor. It runs perfectly even at idle, and today I cranked it on for the first time at 4500 RPM and it screamed into instant life. There was no lull, no pause, nothing but solid acceleration, all the way to the red line. When I let off, no popping! I can even descend long grades and it sounds perfect. It's almost scary-good. What a pleasure to ride like this! Thanks for all your help, Funky, and all the ideas that finally came to fruition. I'm a happy guy! Keep doing that one thing at a time with yours, and you'll beat your monster, too. If mine ever runs any better than it runs right now, I'll have to start filing flight plans when I take it out. Dan

#15:   Author: Matthew,  Posted: Sun Jun 27, 2010 4:52 pm When in doubt goop it.

#16:   Author: funkamongus,  Posted: Sun Jun 27, 2010 5:52 pm YAY!! CONGRATS!! I'll let you know when Im "up to speed"! I cant wait! One problem at a time!

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