Removing exhaust silencers

[Hoppity]

I have a '91 ABS model. The rear cans are held on by button Allen key (6mm) bolts that go through a bracket to a threaded, sliding part, which presumably allows a bit of movement when it is time to remove the cans from the collector box. Most of you will be familiar with the set up. So far, despite breaking two Allen keys and hollowing out and slotting the wheel-side of this arrangement, and plenty of heat and WD40, still no sign of movement, nothing I have tried has worked. The forums do not seem to show that this should be an issue. The bolts do not feature on the exhaust or chassis diagrams, go figure. Is there a knack, or should I move to drilling out the bolts/pushing the bike down a ravine? All help appreciated. Even with choice of ravine.

[mtc]

drill it

[Sparky84]

Sometimes I've found it needs to be tightened before undoing it.

Can you get Vice grips on it?

[Hoppity]

drill it

The next morning, as I was undoing all the bolts etc that hold the footrest bracket in place, armed with a yuge drill bit, a I noticed that once there was a little bit of play I could get the Allen key in properly (the ball end having sheared off the day before), and gave it a few whacks with a rubber mallet. Finally there was movement, probably a combination of all the previous measures taken; a job that should have taken an hour took a day.

I recently bought one of those tables you can raise and lower, mainly to save my back. Getting the airbox back on (removed to improve access to the suspension unit), and reconnecting the engine breather tube was made easier by removing rubber connector no.3, and putting my hand inside the airbox to guide the various gubbins into place, I hope. I tied some fishing line around the clip on the engine breather tube so that I could pull it roughly into place. I used a wooden spoon/spatula thing to persuade everything to go into the right holes. WD40 was used as a lubricant, along with swearing. Even so, not a quick job. One of the stud nuts for the exhaust fell off mid twiddle. The fact there was no metallic clang helped me decide that it was probably lodged somewhere in the bike. I found it a couple of inches into the collector box, by eliminating all other possibilities.

Thanks for your help; fortunately I am on holiday and the bike is not my only means of transport. Wemoto France is not too far away. Ommmmmmm!

[Tuned forks]

I didn't know that swearing was a lubricant?  Huh, no wonder stuff goes together better after a few @#$^^ and &^*?<%$#.

Joe