Exhaust heat deflector/broken tang on rear bolt.

Jesse Davis · Jan 23, 2023

Took a 175 mile ride Sat. Installed my new risers that night, then checked over the bike for anything loose, etc.
Upper, black exhaust heat deflector was loose, flopping on the rear of it. Both bolts present and accounted for. Took off the front most bolt, and the tang is broke/cracked off for the rear bolt. Anyone else having this issue? I saw a photo of a bike somewhere that had the deflector removed and missing a tang as well.
Bike has never been dropped or hit.....
My dealer is closed on Mon, so a call to them in the AM to see if they can weld it back on or replace the rear cylinder pipe under warranty (ugh).

ODGreenPA · Jan 23, 2023

No experience here with that and hopefully won't but I've read here and other places that a handful of people "complain" about the welds breaking. "Under normal use"

Jesse Davis · Jan 23, 2023

I posted it on FB "Harley Davidson Pan America 1250 Fanatics " and so far in a few mins 3 folks have responded with similar.

ODGreenPA · Jan 23, 2023

What the remedy/fix is/was I've got no clue. Think someone put muffler wrap on but no positive

Jesse Davis · Jan 23, 2023

Warranty it possibly, but I don't want it in the shop again (and a new one will most likely break similarly since it's only welded on one side). Take it to a welding shop (remove battery cables before welding!). JB Weld in a pinch, hose clamp (fugly). I have safety tie wire on it for the moment. Wrapping is an option too, but ya have to grind off all the bracket which looks like this (__) or in my case __) lol.

roadrash83 · Jan 24, 2023

Mine cracked the heat shield mount and HD replaced the head pipe under warranty, On the new pipe the mount for the heat shield is heaver.

Jesse Davis · Jan 24, 2023

Good to hear, will be calling them tomorrow, thanks.

mikeInPA · Jan 24, 2023

yup, this issue seemed to be limited to 21s, happened to me too, 22s got a stronger flange and warranty replacements use the updated pipe.

Jesse Davis · Jan 26, 2023

Looks like the ENTIRE pipe has to be replaced for that little tang? Ugh, wonder how long that will take to get in? Haven't been to the dealer yet, going Sat for a group ride.

NoIDRecluse · Jan 27, 2023

Jesse Davis said:
Took a 175 mile ride Sat. Installed my new risers that night, then checked over the bike for anything loose, etc. Upper, black exhaust heat deflector was loose, flopping on the rear of it. Both bolts present and accounted for. Took off the front most bolt, and the tang is broke/cracked off for the rear bolt. Anyone else having this issue? I saw a photo of a bike somewhere that had the deflector removed and missing a tang as well. Bike has never been dropped or hit..... My dealer is closed on Mon, so a call to them in the AM to see if they can weld it back on or replace the rear cylinder pipe under warranty (ugh).

I have the same issue with my 21 special, remedy is all new head pipe, of course it’s back ordered until May. I drilled a hole in the broken piece, and wired it back on to the exhaust pipe. The I reattached the heat shield

Jesse Davis · Jan 28, 2023

I rode it in today, had the latest ECM software (released 25 Jan) flashed and started the process on the pipe. It should have gotten ordered today hopefully, first I heard backordered till May lol.

Ben Taylor · May 31, 2024

I said F it and wrapped the whole thing (floppy heatshield and all) in fiberglass wrap (not adhesive tape). I kid you not, it feels 50 degrees cooler.

roadrash83 · May 31, 2024

Ben Taylor said:
I said F it and wrapped the whole thing (floppy heatshield and all) in fiberglass wrap (not adhesive tape). I kid you not, it feels 50 degrees cooler. View attachment 5176

You might want to read up on what heat wrap does to header pipes.

Exhaust heat deflector/broken tang on rear bolt.

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