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question for folks running the black widow down pipes

Started by 5speed, July 12, 2024, 07:04:47 PM

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5speed

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?
1986 FJ1200
2000 Roadstar
1976 GL1000
1978 GL1000
1982 GL1100 (sold)

Isaiah1611

#1
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.
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. Romans 10:9

Isaiah1611

#2
July 13, 2024, 08:35:50 AM
I don't believe they are real stainless
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. Romans 10:9

5speed

#3
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?
1986 FJ1200
2000 Roadstar
1976 GL1000
1978 GL1000
1982 GL1100 (sold)

Isaiah1611

#4
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.
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. Romans 10:9

5speed

#5
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.



1986 FJ1200
2000 Roadstar
1976 GL1000
1978 GL1000
1982 GL1100 (sold)

Isaiah1611

#6
July 14, 2024, 01:54:09 PM
Sounds like a good preventative measure. Hopefully mine were an anomaly.
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. Romans 10:9

5speed

#7
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:
1986 FJ1200
2000 Roadstar
1976 GL1000
1978 GL1000
1982 GL1100 (sold)

5speed

#8
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.
1986 FJ1200
2000 Roadstar
1976 GL1000
1978 GL1000
1982 GL1100 (sold)

5speed

#9
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.
1986 FJ1200
2000 Roadstar
1976 GL1000
1978 GL1000
1982 GL1100 (sold)

Isaiah1611

#10
July 21, 2024, 09:49:54 AM
This was my fix
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. Romans 10:9

5speed

#11
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..
1986 FJ1200
2000 Roadstar
1976 GL1000
1978 GL1000
1982 GL1100 (sold)
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