Picked up the deflector today and read instructions twice and got all tools ready for 24 minute install. Masking tape, duct tape, spit, all pretty useless in holding the template in place in 20 degree temps on cold steel. Finally got it in place and marked holes with a punch. You need to drill three holes in the muffler (twice) and pop rivet the brackets that hold the deflector on before you bolt the defelctor to the mounts. 7/64 drill bit, snapped on first hole. Since you have to make holes bigger, I went to my 1/8 bit. Snapped that one too. 9/64 bit finally got through, but you do need to be careful as there is very little space between outer and inner shell. Make sure your bits are sharp as this is pretty tough steel. Next step of making holes larger with 3/16 bit is easier, but be careful the bit doesn't wander. You need to clean the holes out with the 3/16 bit so the rivets will insert. There is very little clearance when inserted as they hit the inner shell. I then grabbed my pop rivet tool for what I thought would be the easy part. Unfortunately, my tool for aluminum gutter, broke when trying to fasten the first rivet. You need a steel pop rivet tool. Drove to my Dad's to get his and you need fingers of steel to break these rivets off as they seat against the inside of the pipe. Got all of them done and then tried to align screws. Fronts went in fine, but back hole had drifted just a bit. Fortunately, the back bracket rotates and the screw hole in the defelector is slotted so it all went together. 1 hour and 10 minute, including drive time.
Good news, it does cover the discoloring. Even better, the stock pipe no longer looks like they mounted the leg of a pygmy rhino on the bike. Worth the $60 which is the rest of the story. Dealer would not comp the deflector. Dealer says discoloring is not a defect and only burned off paint indicates high enough heat that would indicate failure of internals. They will watch and see if that happens, but mine is just a mild discoloring. BRP is probably setting us up. When the muffler does fail, they will blame it on us for nicking the internal wall when attaching the deflector.
Verdict: worth the price, just for the nicer look, but take your time, use sharp drill bits and a heavy duty pop rivet tool.
Good news, it does cover the discoloring. Even better, the stock pipe no longer looks like they mounted the leg of a pygmy rhino on the bike. Worth the $60 which is the rest of the story. Dealer would not comp the deflector. Dealer says discoloring is not a defect and only burned off paint indicates high enough heat that would indicate failure of internals. They will watch and see if that happens, but mine is just a mild discoloring. BRP is probably setting us up. When the muffler does fail, they will blame it on us for nicking the internal wall when attaching the deflector.
Verdict: worth the price, just for the nicer look, but take your time, use sharp drill bits and a heavy duty pop rivet tool.
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opcorn:
