Reasons Behind Replacing Motorcycle Mufflers and Making Them Right

If you're a motorcyclist, you would have come across the very practice of replacing its muffler. The basic function of a muffler is to muffle the emitting hot gases to reduce their sound and also to save environment from their negative effects. However there are other functions that mufflers perform. These 'other' functions become the basis for replacement of Motorcycle Mufflers. Here is a brief description of these reasons with a valued suggestion to make the right replacement against each reason:

Customized Look: For many motorcyclists, the basic reason to replace their muffler is to give their vehicle a customized look. Though muffler is not the whole vehicle, yet it becomes important because it is the vehicle part that gets the first sight. For this reason, most of the motorcyclists rely merely on replacing their vehicle's muffler alone. A custom motorcycle muffler also helps motorcyclist to put his unique personality in his vehicle. It's good to replace a muffler but the point here is make the right replacement i.e. one that's not mismatched with your motorcycle. Specifying one's requirements before making the replacement or an expert's opinion will help you avoid the unnecessary hassle.

Loud Sound: Lots of motorcyclists want to replace their mufflers because they are fed with their quietness and want to add some thrilling sound in them. The original Motorcycle Mufflers of a bike are manufactured under certain terms and conditions that limit their performance in terms of sound and hence they are not liked by most of the motorcyclists especially those who want roaring or rumbling sound and want to be noticed while riding their bikes. It seems good to be noticed while you drive but an important point about replacing one's muffler for loud sound purpose is to read about state's laws where you want to ride your bike.

Expired Mufflers: Expiry of your motorcycle muffler also makes you replace it with a new one. An expired muffler is full of hassles and thus needs an emergent replacement or you may fall a victim to state laws and thus to heavy fines. Muffler is a motorcycle part that should be very durable or it will expire soon. A stainless steel 304 muffler is durable and resistant to extreme temperatures. A durable motorcycle muffler saves you money and you get a life time guarantee against it.

EPA-Compliance: Environmental Protection Agency is an independent federal agency that makes programs aimed at creating awareness about protecting environment from pollution. EPA has set limitations for loudness of sound. Though this limit is different for different states yet these laws become reason for the replacement of muffler. Whenever you need to change your mufflers, confirm whether you buy the right motorcycle muffler or not. A right motorcycle muffler is one that fulfills all your requirements and also there an EPA-compliance sticker affixed at. If it's not so, you may fall a victim to EPA related laws and thus you'll have to pay fines and eventually you will have to replace your Motorcycle Mufflers.

These are some basic points that become reasons for motorcycle muffler replacement. If these replacements are not made wisely, you will fall in a trouble again. Therefore, it's advisable to complete your homework before making any replacement. An expert motorcycle manufacturer or some online research will help you avoid this hassle to happen.

Shareef is an expert manufacturer of Motorcycle Mufflers and writes articles to share about the latest trends in industry and solutions to motorcycle lovers.

http://www.stainlessride.com/
17035 S. Dixie Highway
Palmetto Bay, FL 33157
E-mail: sales@stainlessride.com
Phone: 1-937-242-6089
Fax: 937-242-6395

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Replacing Spun Motorcycle Bearings

After a few track days Steve's motorcycle felt sluggish and notchy when falling into turns. With the rear tire in the air, Steve grabbed the rear rim at 3 and 6 o'clock, pushed with his left hand and pulled with his right hand and determined the cause of the problem. The symptoms of a spun bearing are straightforward to diagnose and include: a notchiness felt when moving or spinning the bearing; the bearing moves with difficulty; and a noticeable deflection is felt when lateral force is applied to the bearing. First, use a set of calipers to measure the bearing's inside and outside diameters as well as its depth. Armed with this information, look in a local directory for a local bearing house and see if they carry your bearing in stock. Wheel, suspension and swing arm bears are frequently a generic size and can be had for a fraction of the manufacturer's asking price.

Once we have our new bearing we put the bearing in a freezer overnight to get the bearing to shrink a few thousands of a millimeter. Removing the old bearing is a slow process but if you strike the outer race of the bearing a brass punch the bearing will eventually come loose. If you strike anything other than the outer race it will knock the ball bearings loose, potentially wedging the bearing in the cavity. Once the bearing is removed, clean the cavity with some emery cloth until the metal is smooth to the touch. To aid in the new bearing's installation we go to a hardware store and buy some thick washers that are the same size as the bearing's outer race. Note that the washers cannot be larger then the outer race as they wouldn't be able to fit in the cavity and they cannot be smaller than the outer race as the installation process would damage the new bearings. We put the bearing in the freezer to give us a couple of thousandths of a millimeter and will do the same to the rim to make the bearing fit easier.

Using a propane or butane torch we heat the rim's hub for a few minutes to expand the cavity a few thousands of a millimeter. Although a propane torch will not get hot enough to melt steel it could get hot enough to deform aluminum, which would be bad. Do not leave the torch in one place but sweep the flame around and across the hub's cavity to equally disperse the heat. Once the hub is warm we get our frozen bearing and drop the bearing into the heated cavity. If you have heated the cavity enough, the bearing will fall in and make a sizzling sound akin to the cooking of bacon. Using leather gloves, install the correctly sized washer over the bearing's outer race and place a heavy-duty socket overtop the washer. Strike the socket with sharp blows of a hammer to get the bearing to fall completely into its cavity. Once the bearing is seated correctly, take a ruler and measure the distance from the bearing's outer race to the edge of the cavity to ensure the bearing is evenly seated against the hub. If the bearing is flush, install your rear wheel in the reverse order from which you removed it. Torque all the important bolts and ride faster, with the piece of mind that your motorcycle is spinning faster and easier.

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