Repacked my BUB's today (pics/video)

The BUB's on my 03 RSV had been getting louder and this season the packing must have eaten itself because they sound louder then ever. On the Venturers site someone posted a pictorial on how to repack them and what to buy, which I did. I also took this opp to paint the peeling chrome tips flat black.

I bought two kits from Moose Products, $25 each. Each kits comes with stainless steel screen material, stainless steel padding and a lot of fiberglass matting. For Bub's, there is way more then enough fiberglass material in one kit for both mufflers but not enough of the other material. It did come with replacement rivets, that was appreciated. $50 though? Not again. Anyway, it was easy, only requiring the rubber mallet and a good amount of persuasion to get the baffle out of the shell but they eventually gave way, then the tips popped off the baffles easily.

I expected better results through.

Audio/Video:

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhVj6wrDz0E]YouTube- Repacking Bub Mufflers on a Yamaha Royal Star Midnight Venture[/ame]

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_9EMyKcng_yA/S5wTwlUlxCI/AAAAAAAADaQ/mHR4FzTR4Sc/s800/P3130615.JPG

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_9EMyKcng_yA/S5wTxBdwTuI/AAAAAAAADaU/_aq0iK7Bctk/s800/P3130616.JPG

http://lh4.ggpht.com/_9EMyKcng_yA/S5wTxZj2RWI/AAAAAAAADaY/c4HxHw0pUlE/s800/P3130617.JPG

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_9EMyKcng_yA/S5wTx7CJIgI/AAAAAAAADag/FQkvS5vUY5I/s800/P3130624.JPG

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_9EMyKcng_yA/S5wUE9BNctI/AAAAAAAADao/ZgNtYKOvR5E/s800/P3130623.JPG

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_9EMyKcng_yA/S5wUFiUC5aI/AAAAAAAADa0/0V3VIf7Xaj0/s800/P3130635.JPG

Nice and thanks for the comments on the packing, I was wondering if I should doit as well.

Brad

installing the kit with the metal screen to the inside of the packing is why your pipes are still loud, the screen is tight knit and keeping the fiberglass from getting any of the exhaust, and making the pipes like straight pipes.

the screen and the steel wool will make the packing last forever and if you were in comp. racing and just wanted to meet all the enviromental rules and regs and spark arrestor b/s then you did the right thing.

but if you want your low deep rumble, and don't mind a repack every couple of years, then toss the screen and just use the fiberglass material from moose, and yes you can buy just the fiberglass kit alot cheaper, wrap the glass alone and two layers thick and masking tape it together just the same as you did, and they will last twice as long as the original glass from bubs.

another thing that i have seen with the screen wrap inside these bubs, is it will hold moisture and start to rust from the inside out and the baffle and the pipe will eventually rust beyond repair.

i have a set of bubs with over 200k on them and have had them on several bikes, i took the tips to a local chrome shop, and they no longer peel.

this has worked well for me. mike

installing the kit with the metal screen to the inside of the packing is why your pipes are still loud, the screen is tight knit and keeping the fiberglass from getting any of the exhaust, and making the pipes like straight pipes..................

YA, I have seconded guess this whole plan at this point ! The fact is the Moose kit isnt really designed for normal bikes as it is for atv's, race bikes. You comments make sense. After running them a bit more today (and outside of my garage, it was pouring yesterday) I can say they are softer then I thought yesterday BUT I agree with your assessment of the screen and stainless mat material and will repack them today with just the fiber glass mat for which I have plenty!

Now that I've done it once, I can see how easy it was and the material to buy for next time. Anyone else planning to do this to your BUB's, I'd follow the pictorial for repacking on the venturers site but use Mikes advise on material.

I happen to like the black tip look.

Thanks. I'll post another sound test later.

DONE and much better! Thanks Mike. I repacked using the fiberglass mat only. Its hard to tell the real story via video but here's the comparison:

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eFAL3Dt963g]YouTube- Venture BUB Mufflers RE-Repacked[/ame]

glad i could help, enjoy the rumble!!

I have bubs with the messed up tips as well. When I removed the tips and baffles there was no packing left at all. Just for the fun of it I started up my bike and loved the way it sounded. I use to have a v-star 1100 w/vance and hines and miss that sound. So what would happen if I dont put my baffles back in? Would my carbs need to be re-jetted? Would heat become an issue and cause the pipes to crack, chip, or blue??

with no packing or baffles, it will run too lean and cause engine dammage. if you run with the baffles and no packing, it may be ok if your not running it too hard. i doubt very much that it could ever run lean enough to blue the slip ons, as they are too far from the head/ heat source and due to the larger diameter of the slip on.

mike

would re-jetting be a solution or just put the baffles back in??

You may also want to check on how your local municipalities tolerate LOUD bikes in Ohio. Around my area you will get a ticket sooner or later. My recommendation is put the baffles back in and turn up the radio.

would re-jetting be a solution or just put the baffles back in??

 

you could do either one.

mike

Is there a way to check the packing without taking the pipes off?

Is there a way to check the packing without taking the pipes off?

No... there is no way to check the packing without disassembly other than sound level.

Well... I pulled my BUBs off & discovered the packing was just like in the photos above.

However, I took a different approach. I put 8" universal baffles in the opening of the stock baffles. Because the inserted 8" baffles have little clearance to the sides of the opening, I drilled 4 3/8" holes in the stock baffle's closest disc/block to the engine. This allows exhaust to flow down the center & outer parts of the stock baffles & then into the added 8" baffles. My muffler tips were also flaking chrome, so I belt sanded them & then painted them with high temp black stove paint.

The sound level is much reduced, but still growls. The only change in performance is a little more torque at take off (must have stock jets).

Still can't pull wheelies... only burn rubber... really. Hemi-Dodge annoyed me for a few traffic lights & I opened it up at the next.

johnb