Trick to installing velocity stacks

[enginesludge]

Hello, This is my first post and I hope to contribute something useful or worse case less useful and more helpful to me. I am installing velocity stack on 1998 Valkyrie.

The middle stack was hitting the gas tank on the left side. The right had 0.1 inch plus clearance. I guess the tank or something is a tad off center. The instruction stated a rubber spacer (provided) might be needed to raise the tank. I read on this forum if the tank was raised, two rubber spacers should be used on both sides of the tank to prevent rocking. And my tank is full with 5 gallons of gas.

My solution was to use white plastic No4 washers in two locations between the stack and the carbs. These press tight into the metric screws so I can do the job without dropping washers. I used 6 washers. There and three. The combined thickness of three washers is 0.1 inch. The clearance between stack and tank is now 0.1 inches. A coincidence of the geometry.  I only place the washers at two locations closest to the tank. I tighten the screw without a washer first. That pulls the stack way out. Then I just snug down the two closer screws which have washers.  

The result is the middle stack is cockeyed. But honest to god, you cannot see it. I dont know if 0.1 is too little to see or if the curvature of the tank creates an illusion. It works real slick. I am a little worried that black plastic piece under the stack could crack or leak air? I dont understand the function. I could form a tapered gasket for a more uniform contact. Right now all seems well. I also considered some red Loktite on those two stack screws that are not so tight. Left that way, so the canted washers don't break off a piece of the black plastic.

I feel I am definitely on the right track for an easier install. I am unsure the function of the black flat piece over that carb. And worried about over torquing the stack at an angle. The white plastic should be much more forgiving than a metal spacer.

I do not see any way to add photos without my own photo web host.

Edit: I added a pic as my avatar

[Chrisj CMA]

Careful jacking those around don't mess with the carb springs.  Its way easier to raise the tank, some say the increased airflow under the tank is good.  That must be why my 97 is so fast, the tank is raised in the front from some chrome dressings

[enginesludge]

I am not sure which springs you mean. The previous owner glued a "Dragon" plate over all three carb covers. I had to remove all three covers as a single unit and OMG! - Springs everywhere. Probably those. huh? I found all thoseon the floor.  At least any future work I do is removing one cover at a time.  

Another PIA spring is the little coil spring on the choke plate(?). The cable pulls this piece and the three carb chokes move. That needs to be lifted away to get the stacks in place. The little spring pops off and a tiny washer drops out. I though I was an ok hack for simple jobs, but tweezers and springs - not my cup of tea.

I was scared to pull the tank. I know there is an air filter under there, so; someday I guess I got to venture down under for a look. I just got the bike and try to mess with one thing at a time.

What do you think about red loktite (271) on the cover screws?

[R J]

bigbf.com one of our VRCC Sponsors has a metal one for sale.

You take out the front tank bolt, raise the tank up slip the disc in put in a longer bolt and all is good to go.

You do realize these stacks are NON-functional, right?    Just a little added chrome.

http://www.bigbf.com/product_sale/

3rd item down on the page.

[enginesludge]

You do realize these stacks are NON-functional, right?    Just a little added chrome

Yea, I know. I just purchased the bike because the idea of 6 cylinder and 6 carbs seemed way cool.  I wanted to make it 100% clear to anyone looking this is a 6 cylinder engine. I dont know,... why do we do these things?  This is my one and only mod planned. It already uses a rear car tire. Seems to run very smoothly.  Honest, no more chrome.

[Ricky-D]

What do you think about red loktite (271) on the cover screws?

Loktite of any variety is not recommended for any fasteners, except a few very
specific places as pointed out in the manual.

***

[enginesludge]

Thank you Ricky. I will keep an eye on the screws.

RJ, I forgot to say. That my understanding was if the tank was raised up with a spacer, then the tank might tend to rock side to side. Over time a little added stress. The solution is to remove the tank and add two thick rubber spacers on both sides of the tank. To avoid that, just to put a dummy stack over the middle carb, I used my washer trick to cant the stack outwards.

I am a little worried it seems almost to easy not to have been tried before.

And on another obvious note, Who ever design these stacks should be beaten for not have the stack tube angle out. It would be so easy to design in 1/2" guarantee clearance. These are obscenely expensive. Well, I read about it all here and I knew that going in.

[R J]

Thank you Ricky. I will keep an eye on the screws.

RJ, I forgot to say. That my understanding was if the tank was raised up with a spacer, then the tank might tend to rock side to side. Over time a little added stress. The solution is to remove the tank and add two thick rubber spacers on both sides of the tank. To avoid that, just to put a dummy stack over the middle carb, I used my washer trick to cant the stack outwards.

I am a little worried it seems almost to easy not to have been tried before.

And on another obvious note, Who ever design these stacks should be beaten for not have the stack tube angle out. It would be so easy to design in 1/2" guarantee clearance. These are obscenely expensive. Well, I read about it all here and I knew that going in.

I have this spacer under MGM's tank and there is NO wobble wiggle or movemwnt of any kind in the tank.    

You have a bolt in the front and a bolt in the rear, and I have no movement.

If you want to add unneeded rubber in my book, add it to the tubes under the tank that the tank lays on,    There is some rubber there already, so you will know where to add it.

I've never meausred it, but I doubt like the devil there is much room under the tank and this rubber gommet already there to stabilize it.

Just for sheet & grins, mine has been installed this way for over 200K+ miles with NO ill effects.

However, it is your bike so please do as you wish, I'll just wish you the best.

Have a nice day.

Peace.

[The emperor has no clothes]

I think you would be a lot better off with the spacer on the front mount and extra rubber on the frame tubes. Taking the tank off is no big deal and as you know you are going to have to anyway for a air filter change. Running your tank almost empty helps.

[greggh]

A+ with what RJ says about under the tank.
I used some old radiator hose.   Sliced it down the middle and zip tied it to the top of the rubbers already there.
Give a good tight fit and the tank won't wobble like it did some times on a ruff road.
Mechanic friend said he saw a valk with the stacks and the tank raised without support underneath
Had cracked the mount bracket on the top of the tank.  He presumed it was because there was no extra
Support under the tank to fill the void bright on by using the spacer up front.

By shimming the back side of the velocity stack you might cause an air leak in that area if not
Tightened to specs.  Lifting the tank you won't need to shim anything.

The choke cable slides for mine I gave the a slight curvature in the area behind the stack so as not too
Cause any binding while operating the choke when needed.
I find that when I remove the tank is best to ride until almost empty or on reserve.   Much lighter that way   
Just my 2 cents is all.
Greggh

[Dusty]

 Adding washers like that is fine.  The stacks hit on one side because  the carbs are offset  and the one stack that hits is at the widest part of the tank. I used washers and raised the front and rear of my tank to get mine to fit.

Dusty


http://vrcc.photostash.com/vrcc_13538/V-Stacks+small.jpg

[Chrisj CMA]

Thank you Ricky. I will keep an eye on the screws.

RJ, I forgot to say. That my understanding was if the tank was raised up with a spacer, then the tank might tend to rock side to side. Over time a little added stress. The solution is to remove the tank and add two thick rubber spacers on both sides of the tank. To avoid that, just to put a dummy stack over the middle carb, I used my washer trick to cant the stack outwards.

I am a little worried it seems almost to easy not to have been tried before.

And on another obvious note, Who ever design these stacks should be beaten for not have the stack tube angle out. It would be so easy to design in 1/2" guarantee clearance. These are obscenely expensive. Well, I read about it all here and I knew that going in.

Putting pictures in the avatar is not the way to go, hard to see and its your avatar, put them in the post so we can see what you are showing....I recommend photobucket

[Xtracho]

Use BigBF's spacer and 1/4" sheet rubber on the frame tubes under the tank and you are good to go.