Stock Mufflers Removed On Freewheeler These Brackets Will Need To Be Flipped

[Bill G]

I removed the stock Freewheeler mufflers today and found it to be over all a pretty easy task. The only issue is the back muffler bracket bolts are a little tedious to get to. They can be got to somewhat easy with a long slightly angled head 1/2" wrench (you just have to take your time). Pulling the Trike on ramps is a must for the room needed to work.

The task of re-installing those rear bracket bolts will now be a lot easier let me explain why. The reason for that is I flipped the brackets and rubber insert the bracket bars slide through (see pic's). Now the bolt head can be reached a lot easier this way. With the brackets flipped you don't have to fight the upward angle or lip of the bracket to get to the bolt head with your wrench. The wrench now fits on a lot easier to the bolt head and allows the turning to go much easier. (Note) It still will be a slow go tightening the bolt due to the limited room getting to that rear bracket bolt. The good thing is now the head of the bolt will not be partly blocked by the bracket lip. I have done this on other Harleys and the rear muffler bracket works either way just fine.

I thought I would pass this on to others to save all some pains when re-installing new mufflers on the Freewheeler Trike.

Ride Safe All,
Bill G

[Sunman]

I did the same thing when I changed out my mufflers with some that I had from a previous bike. Flipping the brackets and rubber bushing makes it a whole lot easier to get the wrench on the bolt as you said. The one thing I found is I needed to use slightly longer bolts to go through the brackets as the mufflers I put on had the nut set a little deeper in the muffler bracket and if I used the original bolts that came with the stock mufflers I felt that I needed longer bolts to be able to still use the lock washers. Fortunately I had the bolts in my bolt bin. I have had the mufflers off and on three times and it doesn't get any easier!

Let us know how you like the new mufflers!

Sunman

[Keystone]

Thanks for posting that! Looking forward to seeing the FW with those new mufflers installed.

[Bill G]

I did the same thing when I changed out my mufflers with some that I had from a previous bike. Flipping the brackets and rubber bushing makes it a whole lot easier to get the wrench on the bolt as you said. The one thing I found is I needed to use slightly longer bolts to go through the brackets as the mufflers I put on had the nut set a little deeper in the muffler bracket and if I used the original bolts that came with the stock mufflers I felt that I needed longer bolts to be able to still use the lock washers. Fortunately I had the bolts in my bolt bin. I have had the mufflers off and on three times and it doesn't get any easier!

Let us know how you like the new mufflers!

Sunman

I thank you for the feedback. I have collected an arsenal of bolts and nuts for these kinds of issues over the years. I have ran accross similar issues changeing out parts on Harleys in the past.

Ride Safe,
Bill G

- - - Updated - - -

Thanks for posting that! Looking forward to seeing the FW with those new mufflers installed.

For sure, next week mid week I will have all done and post the pic's. I got a little ahead of myself on this project and will be out of town this week.

Ride Safe,
Bill G

[Gorilla]

Good job on the modification. Makes things a lot easier later.

[dirtdobber]

I thought that was a good idea but I was wrong, it is a great idea now that I tried to do it. The last 2 bolts in the rear is a real pain. My fingers are too big to use a 1/4 inch ratchet and get it in there. I had to make a special wrench to get em off. The rubber mount was rearward and could not get anything on the bolt until I got the rubber mounts removed. Good part is I found a easy way to raise the trike. The board under the front wheel was just laying there, not planned. It made it really easy to get under and work.

[cavie]

what is the raised platform for???

[FuzzyWuzHe]

I use a half inch ratcheting box end wrench ... just gotta move the rubber forward or rearward depending on which bolt your doing ... works great and no mod needed.

[Bill G]

I use a half inch ratcheting box end wrench ... just gotta move the rubber forward or rearward depending on which bolt your doing ... works great and no mod needed.

The Freewheelers frame and mufflers are shorter than the Tri Glide. ( Not near the room to work as you have). I am not saying your 1/2" ratchet wrench won't work. I am saying that the mod of flipping the stock bracket and rubber over makes things a grip easier to re-tighten everything back up on the Freewheeler.

Pic off flipped Bracket, just plain makes things easier.

Ride Safe,
Bill G

[dirtdobber]

The raised platform is a bike table. It cost me under $160 to build. There ar 5 sections to it, 4 2 feet wide by 6 feet long. Once you put the bike in the chock and tie it down you remove the 2 center sections to get under the bike/trike. It is stackable when not using it. A lift table would be better but I wanted to spend my $$ on the bikes/trikes. LOL
A better view showing all the pieces. Handles not cut in the photo.

For a 1/2 inch ratchet box end wrench it has to be angled not flat. I tried every thing, I have close to $30,000 in tools. Been wrenching for a lot of years. Pretty near everything you can think of is in the shop.
I made my own wrench to get em out and back on.
Got it finished today, catless headers, open ac from fuel moto, I really like there's the stock cover fits perfectly with open on the back and backing that fits the cover perfectly.
Tuner installed with base map. Dyno is Wednesday.
Big big difference, now we can make some trips without cooking our legs. LOL
My fan now comes about 1/3 as before.
The idea is a great idea.

[Sunman]

Dirtdobber, cool idea on the platform! Much cheaper and probably more stable than a bike lift. Heck of a deal!

Sunman

[dirtdobber]

It is very solid with no movement at all.
very helpful.
I can run one of the trikes up the ramp toward the end of it and they will almost coast almost out of the shop. Don't need reverse. My shop is 25x50 feet. I try not to use reverse except when I have to.

[HoppR]

My Cobra right muffler keeps sliding out 2"-3". How can I get it to stay put? Extra Torquing everything isn't helping.

[dirtdobber]

Make sure the clamp is at the end of the muffler and over the slot on the end of the muffler.
If that doesn't work try a new clamp, if that is no help cut a piece of coke can in strips put it around the header and inside the end of the muffler that will increase the size of the header and grip much better. I have had to do it to some of the after market mufflers