I talked with mark today and he is having diffficulty find a glass pack that will accept his bones..
Maremont discontinued the 87510 glasspack I've used for 11 years. When my distributors told me about this I bought 4 dozen of them 1st quarter. They are gone now & I'm building the system with other glasspacks (except the orders that are already in the shop) So the trombone LOUD option is on hold until I find a replacement that's compatible - should have a replacement this coming week. I have built the system many times in the past with other glasspacks - like Purple Hornies for example - on request.
I bought the trombones and have only used them once for a very short distance. I never cut mine down approximately the recommended 4" so I only know what the full length trombones sound like. I do not like the full trombone sound as it is too harsh and can't imagine running this setup for very long.
FYI for readers (John knows I'm sure): Cutting the bones down reduces the volume and brings in the mellower rumble of the glasspacks - not the harsh sound of the full bones. e.g., 6" cut off sounds about like the halfway point between no trombones and inserting them full length.
I had Mark grind down the welds so I could install the truck stacks at some future point, but still run the stock covers with the Cobra slash down tips.
Overall, I have been happy with the glaspak sound "as is". I'm at a point where silencers are more appropriate than making a bunch of noise. I tried to talk Mark into making a quick release set of silencers using the trombone locking mechanism, but he said there wasn't enough of a demand to engineer this option. I would buy a set in a heartbeat if he made them.
Such a latch would be much different from the trombone latch though I'm sure I could do it. There is more of a problem with sourcing the silencer cores, if such a latch were to become a production item. Silencers are normally chopped from the back end of the OEM muffler cans. Which is also what holds on the OEM or aftermarket tips as well as the OEM muffler cover. If you want silencers you have to install slip-on ~36" stacks or source another pair of silencer cores, to have silencers with the original muffler covers and bolt-on aftermarket tips.
FYI You can install silencers in your Cobra aftermarket tips if you have about 7 3/8" between the outlet of the glasspack and the miter cut. If not you could also install longer bolt-on tips from say airflo so you have enough space. I have even built shortened silencers to fit in smaller spaces. I have a few silencer cores on hand if you don't have a set yourself.
My only complaint about the bones is that they do rattle a little inside the glasspacks which kind of aggravates me, maybe there is a way to eliminate the rattling but I haven't tried yet.
I explain how to fix this if it happens, in the install documents. Again, FYI: Look into the outlet with a flashlight and wiggle the trombone so you see which plane it's moving in. Then pull it out and squeeze it in a vise to make it oval, longer in the direction it's moving. A little at a time while you reinsert it until you take up the slack in the direction it's moving. You can also add a small bit of metal as a shim in the direction it's moving with a welder, if you have one. FYI this happens because over time and with wear the edges of the little perforations of the inner glasspack tube wear down and clearance increases.
Mark is like so many of our Valk suppliers, great to work with and willing to spend time talking with you. He is a wealth of information but unfortunately now stays away from participating in tech discussions anymore, probably to avoid the confrontations with the self-proclaimed experts.
Might be somewhat true - but it's more that I'm just busy and don't have time to surf here frequently.
I also have the mark T's. Sound great, but the trombones are usless.....way to loud......
Ya can't please everybody. That's why I make the system with user-settable different sounds which you could have adjusted. Before condemning the system and announcing it's "usless(sic) .....way to(sic) loud......", try cutting off the inlet end of the bones with a hacksaw about 6". Remove the burr with a flat bastard. You'll find that adds mellowness and reduces volume.
Hmmm, not "usless" for Gator:
If you think you have any inclination at all of wanting to have some fun with an awsome loud phat lady, then pitch for the trombones. For the last couple of years that I've owned these excellent 40" Mark T truck stacks, I've run with trombones probably 50% of the time. So easy to install or remove. They're definitely inserted if I plan to stop in at "HD Poserville".
I also have the silencers, but I have no idea what they sound like.
W
Thanks for all of your valuable comments. They are much appreciated..
And Yes Garland I a, interested in your pipes..Email at
jtwodar@nospambex.net, ck your pm, or ph 4193507080.
I did 500 miles today on my Tourer.. I have had wings for a long time.. I am very impressed with this bike. Spent alot of time in the saddle today. What a great crusier.. Just need make a decsion on the exhaust and improve the lighting.. I always liked the looks of the Rivco spots, and saved a set until the January and sold them on Ebay, knew I shouldnt when I was doing it...
John, check my tech tips page for improving your lighting. See my article on upgrading your headlight to hi power with relays, and also Chet's article on relays (link also on my tech tips page):
http://www.horseapple.com/Valkyrie/Tech_Tips/tech_tips.html You can get a great set of 4" spot shells at jcwhitney, and some aircraft landing lights from this ebay site at a great price:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/WAGNER-SEALED-BEAM-12V-P-H-7604-_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQhashZitem35ab67c329QQitemZ230508970793QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories - they are Wagners, have a really cool look - look closely at the picture - and are way brighter then the GE spots of the same number - I replaced my GE sealed beams with these. They are a closeout of inventory from the LA police dept: " FROM THE LOS ANGELES CITY POLICE DEPARTAMENT GARAGE PARTS OLD ATTIC STOCK" - I bought 8 of them so I don't run out forever.
