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General Category => Modifications => Topic started by: 5speed on July 12, 2024, 07:04:47 PM

Title: question for folks running the black widow down pipes
Post by: 5speed on July 12, 2024, 07:04:47 PM
Ran in to an issue. The oem exhaust manifold nuts "bottom out" before the pipe is tight in the head.
Anyone else run in to this and have a fix?
I'm guessing just using regular style nuts?
Title: Re: question for folks running the black widow down pipes
Post by: Isaiah1611 on July 13, 2024, 08:31:46 AM
I installed these about a year and a half ago and yes standard nuts are the easiest way to go. I didn't like the look of the long threads left over so I installed the factory nut as well with a few lock washers to make up the gap. One word of caution
though, I installed the Black Widow headpipes and collector in Dec 2022.
I have since had to replace them due to rust. The collector holding mount broke off leaving a hole and the pipes are also severely pitted. I have only ridden once in the rain with them and it is a garage kept bike. I have to say I do not recommend them at all. I still have the OEM exhaust from 85 and they look far better than those do after a year and a half.
Title: Re: question for folks running the black widow down pipes
Post by: Isaiah1611 on July 13, 2024, 08:35:50 AM
I don't believe they are real stainless
Title: Re: question for folks running the black widow down pipes
Post by: 5speed on July 13, 2024, 12:41:50 PM
Quote from: Isaiah1611 on July 13, 2024, 08:35:50 AMI don't believe they are real stainless
oh wow. did you contact them?
Title: Re: question for folks running the black widow down pipes
Post by: Isaiah1611 on July 13, 2024, 05:22:10 PM
I did not bother because I had previously contacted them when I first got them about the downpipes not being designed for the 1100 engine although claiming to be and  :hang1: interfering with my chin fairing and they were extremely unhelpful and told me my replacement fairing was the problem even though it is a direct copy. Also I had come across a custom titanium exhaust off a race bike (Thanks FJ1289) and was not planning on switching back to 2 mufflers after taking them off.
Title: Re: question for folks running the black widow down pipes
Post by: 5speed on July 14, 2024, 10:06:56 AM
Quote from: Isaiah1611 on July 13, 2024, 05:22:10 PMI did not bother because I had previously contacted them when I first got them about the downpipes not being designed for the 1100 engine although claiming to be and  :hang1: interfering with my chin fairing and they were extremely unhelpful and told me my replacement fairing was the problem even though it is a direct copy. Also I had come across a custom titanium exhaust off a race bike (Thanks FJ1289) and was not planning on switching back to 2 mufflers after taking them off.

wow.
I hope mine don't but if they do I have a plan B. I'll get them ceramic coated. Had the headers on my car done years ago and still no rust.
Plus I will become black widow's biggest PITA. I'm good at that.

Here is the before and after on my headers.

(https://i.imgur.com/OVf5pkVl.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/CaXb0Wel.jpg)
Title: Re: question for folks running the black widow down pipes
Post by: Isaiah1611 on July 14, 2024, 01:54:09 PM
Sounds like a good preventative measure. Hopefully mine were an anomaly.
Title: Re: question for folks running the black widow down pipes
Post by: 5speed on July 14, 2024, 02:07:09 PM
well I just discovered that my chin spoiler won't fit now. the #1 and #4 cylinder down pipes hit it. :mad:
Title: Re: question for folks running the black widow down pipes
Post by: 5speed on July 15, 2024, 08:28:55 AM
Been thinking about this..
I compared the old collector to theirs before I started to put the system on and the "spread" of the pipes looked identical.
I'm wondering if the #2 and 3 pipes were mislabelled.
The center two pipes are furthest away from the head ( they are a bit lower then #1 and 4 at the collector) but the pipes labelled for them are shorter then #1 and 4.
I e-mailed black widow asking if this may be the issue. I'll let you know what they say and I may swap the pipes regardless to see if that fixes the problem.
Title: Re: question for folks running the black widow down pipes
Post by: 5speed on July 20, 2024, 01:31:59 PM
Quote from: Isaiah1611 on July 13, 2024, 05:22:10 PMI did not bother because I had previously contacted them when I first got them about the downpipes not being designed for the 1100 engine although claiming to be and  :hang1: interfering with my chin fairing and they were extremely unhelpful and told me my replacement fairing was the problem even though it is a direct copy. Also I had come across a custom titanium exhaust off a race bike (Thanks FJ1289) and was not planning on switching back to 2 mufflers after taking them off.
Quote from: Isaiah1611 on July 13, 2024, 05:22:10 PMI did not bother because I had previously contacted them when I first got them about the downpipes not being designed for the 1100 engine although claiming to be and  :hang1: interfering with my chin fairing and they were extremely unhelpful and told me my replacement fairing was the problem even though it is a direct copy. Also I had come across a custom titanium exhaust off a race bike (Thanks FJ1289) and was not planning on switching back to 2 mufflers after taking them off.
Well I ran into the same problem with my chin spoiler. It won't fit now. I can get it bolted up with the two front bolts but the two bottom ones..nowhere near correct.
I've e-mailed them and they have been quite helpfull but like you they swear the system was made for an fj1200.
I have a new after market chin spoiler coming and I'll see how that fits.
Lincoln from black widow suggested checking the mounting tabs to see if they are bent.
I did and they look okay to me but I have no idea where they were when the bike was new.
I may go down the rabbit hole and use my new spoiler as a mould and make one over top of it.
That will make it a bit bigger.
I think they are off on the angle of the collector because all the pipes hang down below the chin spoiler.
Title: Re: question for folks running the black widow down pipes
Post by: Isaiah1611 on July 21, 2024, 09:49:54 AM
This was my fix
Title: Re: question for folks running the black widow down pipes
Post by: 5speed on July 21, 2024, 10:35:32 AM
My clearance there isn't to bad. It's around the collector that is really off.
From talking to them the pipes are suppose to be installed 1-4 from the left sitting on the bike.
It would have been nice to have instructions included to tell you this..