bob Posted July 8, 2005 Report Share Posted July 8, 2005 Hi all, Just wondered if anybody knew a quick fix to stop your muffler from rubbing on the wheel, I am riding an 03 with a Michelin X11 tyre. I have put in quite afew washers on the bracket but this doesn't seem like a very good idea to me, I have recently had the bracket rewelded and this has reduced the problem but not solved it. Thanks, Bob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neonsurge Posted July 8, 2005 Report Share Posted July 8, 2005 (edited) I used a thick (about 10mm) plastic washer on the rear mount and most Beta owners I know have done something similar. I think I got mine from the plumbing department at B&Q... Could be worse: My old GasGas wore right through the silencer in less than 3 months. No apparent damage to the tyre tho. Curious. Edited July 8, 2005 by neonsurge Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob Posted July 8, 2005 Author Report Share Posted July 8, 2005 I think that it is the mud on the tyre which is causing the damage, I have tried the washer solution but am still getting some rubbing, maybe a section of push bike tyre zip tied to the muffler would cure it? Thanks, Bob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neonsurge Posted July 8, 2005 Report Share Posted July 8, 2005 On the Gasser I riveted an aluminium plate to the inside of the silencer which did the job for a while... until the tyre wore through that as well! However, the rubbing's not usually that severe on Betas so it might be worth a go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trialsrfun Posted July 8, 2005 Report Share Posted July 8, 2005 Please do not ask me why as I am no metallurgist but a softer material will always wear through the harder one, on my Beta I too have put a spacer on the exhaust mounting bolt to give some tyre clearance & so far ok. Popular mod is to put a decal on the inside of the silencer to prevent any wear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob Posted July 10, 2005 Author Report Share Posted July 10, 2005 I put a double layer of vinyl on the inside but it wore through that pretty quickly, I have had the muffler off and there is actually a crack on the bracket so I have got that welded up so that it points the muffler out slightly, I will also try to get some plaggy washers and see if that will stop it, it isn't too bad though like you say TrialsRFun. Thanks Bob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob w Posted July 11, 2005 Report Share Posted July 11, 2005 (edited) My 05 250 rubbed the tyre on the silencer from new. I discovered after a few rides that the inner muffler was also rubbing on the carburetor. I hated that. I was convinced that the tab on the silencer was welded on crooked and was throwing the rest of the exhaust system out of line, but after comparison with a few other 05 bikes I wasn't so sure. It was suggested that I space it with a rubber washer - I had to use an 8mm thick one to clear the tyre. I didn't like it because it only pushed the inner muffler harder up against the carburettor. Betas are very well designed, and after discovering that the exhaust parts are machine welded in a jig I changed my thinking - it must just have been the way they were assembled. Anyway, long story short... The crux of it was the little bracket that attaches the exhaust to the frame near on the left side (which, I think, is only on later models - I'm pretty sure it is not on the 02). I turned it over and clearanced the slots a little. This allowed me to move the inner muffler backwards about 3mm, to the left about 4mm and down about 2mm. It now sits very close to the crankcase (0.5mm), but clears the carburettor. This meant that the bottom end of the silencer mover inwards and the top (noisy end) outwards. I also tweaked the subframe outward a little where the silencer attaches so it lined up neatly with the silencer tag. This messing about pushed the silencer out and amazingly it clears the tyre perfectly, mud or no mud. No packing needed. Doesn't help if you don't have the little bracket though? Cheers Rob W Edited July 11, 2005 by Rob W Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob w Posted July 11, 2005 Report Share Posted July 11, 2005 Hopefully here is a picture. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amiller Posted July 11, 2005 Report Share Posted July 11, 2005 If this is something that just started happening than most likely you have bent the right rear subframe a bit. If you look at the bike from the rear and the fender is not sitting dead center over the tire the subfram is bent. This is not a big deal to fix. Remove fender, remove bolts in air box, remove muffler bolts. In most cases the upper frame bolt can stay. Give a bend up and refit airbox till it centers. With everything back together you should be able to sit on your bike with your fingers between your exhaust and rear tire and bounce up and down. It will be a tight fit but possible. Aaron Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kinky boots Posted July 12, 2005 Report Share Posted July 12, 2005 If its just a bit bent (i.e. you've just dropped it on the exhaust side during an unexpected mid-section detour), a very quick and easy solution is to lay the bike down on its side, with the exhaust side up, and then pick the bike up by the rear silencer. The lug that attaches to the rear subframe usually bends just enough to stop the rear tyre rubbing. Worked on my Techno and has worked for me on the Rev-3. Don't swing on it obviously or you'll break something!!! In fact, I'm glad you've reminded me - need to do it myself. I'm probably going to get lambasted now for my non-scientific approach to fixing the problem!!!! Cheers KB. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevin j Posted July 12, 2005 Report Share Posted July 12, 2005 as a routine habit, whenever picking up the bike I grab the muffler and pull it outward to make sure its clear. TY, and GasGas. and yes, I do that a lot. k Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob Posted July 13, 2005 Author Report Share Posted July 13, 2005 it hasn't just started, it just seemed to have got worse, I took it off as I said and the bracket on the muffler was cracked so I got that re-welded and it is still rubbing a little like before. I will try a decal again and a think washer like you said and see what happens at the next trial. unforturnately I don't think that I have that small bracket RobW but thanks for your help, I don't think that it would go much further left anyway since the muffler was rubbing on the airbox until I glued it to the airbox with silicone to stop any vibration. Cheers bob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob w Posted July 13, 2005 Report Share Posted July 13, 2005 Bob, I have seen the cracked subframe on an 02. We did the same thing as you - welded and refitted it without any problems. But I did lever the mount out a little (with a 12" shifter). I think the mount cracked because the rubber mount ("silencer block") was broken and was placing extra strain on the subframe. Is your silencer block in good condition? If it is cracked or stretched it could be making the difference. I have an 01 apart at the moment so I will have a close look and see if I can see another solution. However the 01 bikes have a single piece subframe where the 02s on have two piece subframes - still the geometry is the same. Rob W Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob Posted July 14, 2005 Author Report Share Posted July 14, 2005 (edited) it isn't the subframe which was cracked, just the aluminium thingy on the rearsilencer, as far as I know the metalstick bush on the exhaust is ok, if not I have a couple of spares though. Nothing is broken apart from that tab on the muffler due to vibration as I am told that the type of crack is caused by this. I could have moved the tab but I am worried about twisting at the joint whenre it joins into the front silencer. Bob Edited July 14, 2005 by bob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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