six into six

[pancho]

I just put the exhaust system back together and installed it today, and noticed there are no baffles in the pipes!!!  No wonder it was so loud.. HA   I am wondering if anyone can identify this system,,, Cobra, Two Brothers, or who?? or does it matter, will any two inch baffles work?? I would like to know the type and length of what is supposed to be in there.  Also, I just had the carbs apart and they still have the 35 slow jets..... from reading some previous threads, I get the idea that most find 38s work better with this kind of exhaust?? and ideas?

[Chrisj CMA]

Those are Cobras.  Id contact Cobra in California.  They should be able to sell you the right baffles for a decent price.  If they have both kinds on hand tell them you want the ones with the little handle going across the final opening

http://www.cobrausa.com/

[al v]

Curious, are the headers powdered coated or high temp paint?

[BonS]

The baffles are about $21 each directly from Cobra.

[pancho]

Curious, are the headers powdered coated or high temp paint?

Its high temp paint.... I have used it before on the headers of my FLH and Guzzi loop frame. It holds up pretty well, but those bikes were always sunny day trippers and bar hoppers, never any extended time in the rain or weather. I will see how long it holds up in the real world. THis bike had sat exposed to the elements for a long time, the headers were rusted so you could scrape it off with your fingernails, every chrome surface showed specks or worse of rust and the aluminum surfaces were growing corrosion like cauliflowers... ( might be a slight exaggeration, except for a set of kuryikan foot pegs which did ) .... the paint was still pretty good.

[wolf]

i got the same pipes on my big girl and loud is good. i looked on jp cycles they got drag baffles for about 4 bucks longer ones are about 15-18 bucks but if it aint broke dont fix it not unleess your law enforcement like shoving a stick up to check

[pancho]

I don't think I want to be sitting on this bike six or eight hours with this level of noise,, also there is already one obnoxious/loud guy down the road, he can keep the title.

[9Ball]

With the Cobra pipes your carbs are typically rejetted from 35/100 to 38/105 and new needles shimmed to the third notch...(that was my baseline setup with K&N filter and no foam pre-filter).  My '99 standard was dyno'ed at 90 hp/90 tq at 5280 ft in Denver with this setup.  In the early days around here there was much discussion about running 102 mains in the front two carbs and 105s in the back 4.  I never bought in to that and just went with the Factory Pro jet kit and needles.

If you are running without baffles you're probably losing a bit more horsepower.  You also want to make sure that you aren't running too lean with your setup or you will risk both excessive power loss and potential engine damage.

Good luck...

[pancho]

Hey 9Ball,, is there any reason you said "new needles" ???  I will pull one to see where they are set...... are the notches counted from the top or the bottom??

[salty1]

Pancho, I have a 97 Std with Cobras and stock jets and needle settings, it runs like there's no tomorrow. I do have a K&N air filter. I wouldn't mess with a good thing if that's what you have. FWIW

[9Ball]

Your stock needles don't have the "e" clip adjustments.  The adjustable needles come with the cobra or Factory Pro jet kits.  With stock needles the only adjustment you can do is by shimming...adding washers.  Search the archives and you should find plenty of discussions.  I believe Rattlebars website also has directions on shimming...maybe the shop talk section here too.

Will your bike run OK with the Cobras and factory settings....probably, but you will have lost horsepower and you also have the possibility of doing damage from running too lean.  This varies from bike to bike as well as your geographic location.  My bike ran much differently in Denver than it did in NJ due to elevation, etc.

One good way to see if your bike is running optimally is to check the spark plug color periodically...this can identify very lean and very rich problems....or if the color is in the just-right zone.

If you want the most power out of your bike there is no substitute for dyno tuning.  My dyno tuning resulted in me gaining back the lost HP from the Cobras and K&N...it was a net difference of +7 after tuning...which brought the bike back to almost stock hp with no mods.  I believe there is a perception that increased noise from the 6x6 with stock jetting gives a false increase in the "butt dyno" effect that some settle for.

It's up to you....good luck.

[CajunRider]

I don't know if you've talked to Cobra or not yet...

I have contacted them for the SAME issue.  I was told that the WOULD NOT help me because they don't make those pipes any more... even through I ONLY wanted baffles. 

If you find someone who can give you baffles... PLEASE let me know where they come from!!! 

[CajunRider]

With the Cobra pipes your carbs are typically rejetted from 35/100 to 38/105 and new needles shimmed to the third notch...(that was my baseline setup with K&N filter and no foam pre-filter).  

I have the 4" baffles (would like to find longer) and K&N without pre-filter...

Factory jets & needles.  Backed the pilot screws out to 2/5 turns.  Runs Great and gets 40+ MPG if I keep it (mostly) under 3000 rpm. 

[9Ball]

With the Cobra pipes your carbs are typically rejetted from 35/100 to 38/105 and new needles shimmed to the third notch...(that was my baseline setup with K&N filter and no foam pre-filter).  

I have the 4" baffles (would like to find longer) and K&N without pre-filter...

Factory jets & needles.  Backed the pilot screws out to 2/5 turns.  Runs Great and gets 40+ MPG if I keep it (mostly) under 3000 rpm.  

It would be interesting to see what numbers you turn in on a dyno.  Rejetting isn't required but it does help optimize....sounds like you're happy and that's all that matters.  At 40+ mpg that sounds a bit on the lean side to me....but what do I know.   I lost 7 hp before rejetting and got it all back afterwards.  This was my goal plus I had visual proof that everything was in order.

[R J]

   Baffles can be bought from J&P Cycle in Anamosa, Iowa. They are listed for a Harley.    Measure your ID of the 6X6 and order the one that will fir your pipes.   Mine I drilled a hole in the bottom at the rear of the baffle and stuck a metal screw in to hold it.

A rider in California blew his out as a Cruiser was going by.  Citation time.

[Mildew]

They can be made from a pipe with holes drilled into them also. I made one with a  pipe with a cap on the end with holes drilled.

[pancho]

With the Cobra pipes your carbs are typically rejetted from 35/100 to 38/105 and new needles shimmed to the third notch...(that was my baseline setup with K&N filter and no foam pre-filter).  

I have the 4" baffles (would like to find longer) and K&N without pre-filter...

Factory jets & needles.  Backed the pilot screws out to 2/5 turns.  Runs Great and gets 40+ MPG if I keep it (mostly) under 3000 rpm. 

Hey CajunRider, no I havent found any yet except for generics. Are the four inch you use the J&P generics??  and are they still too loud for you?? 40mpg is impressive,, what do your plugs look like????

[dreamchaser]

I have the ones that came with my Cobras that are almost 12" overall length and have the bar across the rear.  They were still too loud for me.  I bought some S/S wool that is 11X11, cut it so there was a butt joint going around the small dia. of the baffle and fastened it  in place with  s/s wire from Nappa.  They  are perfect for me!.  Quiet as I want them to be unless you rev the engine or get on it hard for acceleration, then they sound like a dragster!  It's kind of like in cooking.  They say season to taste   

[CajunRider]

Hey CajunRider, no I havent found any yet except for generics. Are the four inch you use the J&P generics??  and are they still too loud for you?? 40mpg is impressive,, what do your plugs look like????

I'm not sure who made the baffles I have, but they are a bit loud for me when just cruising the interstate.  I'd like to get some 12 to 24 inch baffles. 

I ordered a set from J&P Cycles using the I-D measurements... 1 7/8". 
J&P send baffles that were 2 1/8".  Incorrect measurements type on their specs page.    

Those were returned. 

Until I can find someone who can actually help me by walking out into the warehouse and MEASURING the damn things instead of just reading a computer screen, I'm not going to order again. 

[signart]

If your high heat paint doesn't work out, you can always have them ceramic coated aluminum finish or black or whatever. It should hold up just fine and not really all that pricey.

[pancho]

I have the ones that came with my Cobras that are almost 12" overall length and have the bar across the rear.  They were still too loud for me.  I bought some S/S wool that is 11X11, cut it so there was a butt joint going around the small dia. of the baffle and fastened it  in place with  s/s wire from Nappa.  They  are perfect for me!.  Quiet as I want them to be unless you rev the engine or get on it hard for acceleration, then they sound like a dragster!  It's kind of like in cooking.  They say season to taste   

So what are you going to do with those cobra baffles dreamchaser??

There is a place that does ceramic coatings out in the country not 4 miles from me signart,, but the last time I went out there with two pipes, the price they quoted me scared me off.

[dreamchaser]

Pancho, I'm gonna live with them as long as I can.  Just letting you know what I did.  Keep looking at the after market places & use their phones and ask.  Sometimes they have stock that isn't in their catalogues.  By the way, I have great success with J&P.  Use their chat function.  Gary

[CajunRider]

40mpg is impressive,, what do your plugs look like????

I missed this one earlier...

Plugs are LIGHT tan.  I'm likely a tad bit lean (keep choke on for 2 or 3 minutes in the winter, 1 or 2 during the summer). 

Though the color looks a bit on the light side to me, there's no sign of burning on the gap, so it's close enough for me. 

I'm sure I'm down a few HP, but the Valk has so much torque that I don't really care. 

[pancho]

Pancho, I'm gonna live with them as long as I can.  Just letting you know what I did.  Keep looking at the after market places & use their phones and ask.  Sometimes they have stock that isn't in their catalogues.  By the way, I have great success with J&P.  Use their chat function.  Gary

I see Gary,,,  I didn't read your post carefully enough,, bad habit I need to break,,  that gives me some ideas for when I get some baffles,, stock or generic.  Yeah, I have used J&P since about the time they opened,, my only problem with them is once you get a catalog from them,, you dont have room in your garbage for the number that arrive over time, I have had to cancel several times over the years!
Thanks

[dreamchaser]

Pancho, Look @ cruisercustom.com for cobra 14.5 inch replacement baffles for 2" drag pipes.  They are pricey for 6, but I think you can do what I did to make them do what you want if they are still too loud.  Good luck, Gary

[9Ball]

Pancho, Look @ cruisercustom.com for cobra 14.5 inch replacement baffles for 2" drag pipes.  They are pricey for 6, but I think you can do what I did to make them do what you want if they are still too loud.  Good luck, Gary

maybe 3 of these could be cut in half to give you the 6 needed...haven't looked at them to see if that's possible but just throwing out the idea.

[salty1]

Also once you find a baffle that you want to use, you can wrap the baffle with a fiberglass blanket to tone it down some more. Use wire to hold the glass mat in place.

[pancho]

Well boys,  I made a winter run and brought this bike home from Valdosta Ga in January,  and aside from getting it off the trailer into my shop, I had not been on a Honda, let alone a Valkyrie for at least 40 years. The first thing I had to do was to start disassembling it to learn it, check it out and get it into shape.





After four months with a lot of knowledge gleaned off the board and members,, and much help to questions from many people, (along with the downloadable service manual I was pointed to) I have learned this bike fairly well, maybe helped others, and worked out the problems. Yesterday I insured it and got the tags.




I took it out for a trial run, and… what a bike…. The roll on power from 35 in high gear is great,, No shakes buzzes or vibration,, I can see in the mirrors…..  HA…..  A smooth comfortable ride (as good as it gets with 40 lbs in the tires) The bars and seating position are perfect for me…it is so easy to go fast.  I somehow always knew,, since 97,, that these were great bikes…. but having a Harley…... I only got about 40 miles on it and decided I needed to get back home to get the windshield and air horns on her,, there is always tomorrow.

Yeah, I still need to get some baffles in the pipes, build a six tube rig and sync the carbs, (they are working fine but I cant help it), pilot adjustment, maybe the carb jets…… but it is running GREAT….  Thanks for all the help … without this board, I could have never moved along at this speed,, four months was not too bad...... considering it was winter.  Again, thanks to all.


If it wasn’t a sin to worship false idols,, I would love this bike,,,,,, as it is I LIKE IT A LOT. 

[CajunRider]

^^^^^

Awesome!! Congrats!!

Once you balance the carbs and set the pilots at about 2 1/4 turns, I think you'll be plenty satisfied and decide you don't need to re-jet...
...
...
...
At least, not until winter rolls around again...   

[pancho]

Ok, I just ordered six baffles for the Cobra pipes, but after reading some posts on the subject, I get the idea that these pipes as a direct swap out for the stockers is going to give you a HP loss.... AND, the only way to get it back is to feed more fuel through .038 pilots and adjustable needles which will decrease the gas mileage. I don't understand what the big difference would be, is it the fact that there is no central can for several pipes?? expansion chamber phenomena?? or what. I would like hear from anyone knowledgeable on the subject, and possibly the optimum baffles/steel wool /back pressure to make these pipes work as well as they can.  I really don't like the idea that an aftermarket product is taking away from the bike.

[salty1]

My butt dyno couldn't tell any loss in power with my Cobras. IMO all those carb mods are truly not needed unless your a power officionado. FWIW.

[Jess from VA]

Very nice story and work Pancho.   

I have no info on Cobras, but have read many times they give an 8-10 Hp loss on a stock bike.

I'd like to ask what you coated your final drive with?  Mine are covered by hardbags, but are looking old and worn with degrading clear coat.

[al v]

Your bike looks sharp in the sun. Nice pic. I like the yellow/black.

[pancho]

Very nice story and work Pancho.   

I have no info on Cobras, but have read many times they give an 8-10 Hp loss on a stock bike.

I'd like to ask what you coated your final drive with?  Mine are covered by hardbags, but are looking old and worn with degrading clear coat.

Hey Jess, I had the final apart and cleaned up,,,, (had to replace shot drive splines) so I prepped the surface and shot it with flat black enamel... I did several other pieces at the same time,, inside windshield mounting hardware, rear motor frame supports, passenger peg mounts,,  anything else that was showing rust,,,,,,  wish I had done the calipers at the same time (dont care for that silver Honda used) ... but... next time.

[Jess from VA]

Wow, it looks more like wrinkle coat or LineX bedliner.

[CajunRider]

Ok, I just ordered six baffles for the Cobra pipes, .....

Pancho,

If you don't mind, could you send me a link to what you ordered?  And let me know if they fit?

I've been trying to find a set, but after getting parts that had the wrong specs listed, I'm a bit trigger shy for those types of things. 

[pancho]

Hey CajunRider, I didn't forget about you,, I was just waiting to get them in, but I'm pretty sure they will fit just fine.   

http://www.ebay.com/itm/321092473414?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649

They are the cheapest thing I could find to fit these pipes, one auction is for two, so I ordered three sets. I plan on welding a cap on the inside end as they do not appear to have one, and wrapping them to get a bit of backpressure,, maybe weld a bar across the back end to aid in installation and removal,, experiment with them a bit, see what works best. With shipping, six of them came to about $60.

[dreamchaser]

Don't even try steel wool as a wrap, as it will burn.  Stainless Steel Wool yes.  Do a search on tech board for the Company that makes it.  Also search the Texas Board.  That is where I got my start info.

[Bone]

First thing I noticed yesterday when I saw the picture was the final drive / rear wheel.
I want mine to look like that is the wheel stock ?

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

I used the rattle-can when I first painted my headers several years ago. It will not last long before it start's flaking off. I use BBQ / Stove Rust-Oleum 1500 degree paint now and apply heavy with a brush. I still have to touch it up from time to time.... That's a sharp bike you have