Conversations with Wolf Exhausts -Continued

[Lucky]

The recent thread on the Wolf exhaust systems got me wondering if Gary could still make 'em. ?below is the text of our emails.
anyone in Ontario willing to take a cold ride?
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 Hi, my name is Lucky & I run the "Vision Resources" website Dedicated to the presrvation & enjoyment of 82-83 Yamaha XZ550 Visions. (linked below) and it has recently come to my attention that you built 20 or so custom exhausts for our bikes, one of which is now up for auction on Ebay: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2454209291&sspagename=ADME%3AB%3ASS%3AUS%3A1 > > > We have a Forum group of presently 428 members in roughly 15 countries. ?As you can imagine, our stock exhausts are rusting out after 20 years, and it has allways been a battle to come up with an alternative. ?Our choices are limited: (Spec II's --no longer made; ?Mac's, made occasionally, but poor quality; ?Preditor exhausts, nice, but at $400+, cost prohibitive; Ebay or home-made) > > I would like to find out if there is a possability of having the Gary Wolf exhausts made again for our bike, or possably some other type mocked up. ?I will posing the question on our Forum site http://www.ghetti.net/cgi-bin/ROVBB/YaBB.pl to guage interest as well, and of course price will be the first question they ask. > > Also, do you have a website? I "googled" "Heritage metalworks", & "Gary Wolf", but did not come up with any current info. > > Thanks for your time, --Lucky

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Lucky, I moved a few years ago and threw out all of the fixtures for exhaust systems that had been slow in sales. Unfortunately the 550 was one of them. I retained the tooling for the parts but would have to make an assembly fixture again. If you have a member in Ontario who could bring in his bike, I could do this. Let me know. Gary Wolf ---

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Wow, fast reply!

We do have some Visionaries in Ontario, but as we are in the thros of winter (i'm in New England with sub zero temps) I don't know how prepaired they might be to ride/transport the bike. ?If that is the case, I may have to let this drop 'till spring when the temps come up some...

Is seeing the bike the next step for getting a bal-lpark price? and do you need a minimum run or can you do 'one-off's'?

Thanks again, --Lucky

[Lucky]

next reply:
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Lucky,
   I can quote beforehand if you give me some more information. The most important number for a short run is the number of exhausts that you can guarantee will be the first order. Secondly I need to know what specification you require. I am assuming that the material will be mild steel and that the mufflers will have an aluminum body, as I did earlier, as this will allow the use of existing tooling.
   The reason that the initial quantity is important is that I will have to pay the cost of building the fixture out of the first run of parts. This will look expensive for the first run but subsequent runs will be at production cost only. There is another way to handle this. I do build short runs for several formula car racing clubs and each club owns its own fixtures. They pay the up-front costs before the first run of parts and then they are billed only for production time. They have the exclusive for their part and can sell it anywhere they wish - I do not compete with them as they are in effect acting as a distributor.
 
  Gary
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So, the Question is: How much interest is there in a new set of exhausts? From what I gather from his letter, the cost of building the set-up fixture will be split between the first order, then he can do "one offs" after that.

I personally don't need another set of exhausts, but would still be willing to invest in a set if the group is interested, and we still need to get him a bike to look at do get a rough estimated price.  I'd like to get some idea on how much interest there is.  We have 300-400 members here, I think the possability of having a good exhaust available to us whenever we need it is something we should seriously consider...

Also, just a thought, I have a personal preference of having one can on each side, from a purely visual point of view, and it seems to me that running everything through one muffler is...Unusual for this bike..

I'll try to get pics of the original Wolf system posted on my site today.

What think Yee?
--Lucky

[Dan Byers]

Ebay auction fo Wolf System:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2454209291&category=35596

[Bruce]

I would be interested if he can put it together for a good price.

BTW. I think I prefer the single can style, since this reduces both cost and weight.

My 2 cents.

Bruce.

[Kenny]

Hi Lucky,
     I talked with Gary about his exhausts about 5 years ago probably before he moved. I have a Wolf system he could use for a pattern if this would help.I also live in Ontario (about 4 hrs drive on the 401), I don't have his phone # or address any more so I can't contact him. Let me know if this will help.
    We will be heading down that way on the 28th of Jan.
              Thanks Ken S  

[RobTx]

I like a single can too, for the reasons Rick mentioned.  Besides, I think the left side of the bike looks really clean without the exhaust on that side.  Seems like 10 people here might pony up for an exhaust system, I'm not ready to commit right now though.  I'm looking at buying another bike, so don't want to sink alot more $ into this one.
Rob

[Blake]

Hey Lucky.


and also Kenny.


Kenny.. If you would be willing to lend the wolf system to, well, Mr. Wolf (haha), i would assume it would help us out GREATLY since he wouldnt have to make one from scratch.  simply build a jig from his original design.


And Lucky.

Could you by chance mention this to Gary..and see if that would help?  who knows..





Blake

[Jeff]

Lucky,
 I would be interested in a set for my Manassas bike.  Just sanded and primed today  :)  
jeff

[Lucky]

Hi Lucky,
 ? ? I talked with Gary about his exhausts about 5 years ago probably before he moved. I have a Wolf system he could use for a pattern if this would help.I also live in Ontario (about 4 hrs drive on the 401), I don't have his phone # or address any more so I can't contact him. Let me know if this will help.
 ? ?We will be heading down that way on the 28th of Jan.
 ? ? ? ? ? ? ?Thanks Ken S ?

Ken,
I'll shoot him an email with your offer (i'll just copy & past your text here)  I have no idea how long he'd need the bike for or if he'd need to pull the exhaust. (I assume he would)
how long do you expect to be in his area?

I'll send him your email addy and ask for his phone #.  You might want to email your # to mee to pass on to him so you guys can talk directly.  well, duhh, here is his email adress: wolfpack@sentex.net Keep us informed!
--Lucky

[Lucky]

Sent Gary this, CC'd to you Ken:
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Gary,

I have a member of our group who has one of your original exhausts, he lives in Ontario (about 4 hrs drive on the 401),  and will be in your area around the 28th of January.  His name is Ken Stuart, and he talked to you about these exhausts about 5 years ago.

I've included a copy of this note to him, so hopefully you guys can exchange phone numbers, and can work out a time to meet.  I don't know how long Kenny will be in your area, but that is something you can work out.

Also, there has been decent response on our forum when I asked how many are interested buying a new exhaust if we can make it happen, and we are trying to see if we can get 10 commitments (that's without even having a price)  so hopefully, getting ahold of Kenny's exhaust will allow you to get us a ballpark figure.

Thanks!, --Lucky

[kiawrench]

hey luck monkey!!,
   add me to the "i wanna one a dose " list. provided it is twin can , that open left side may look clean, but my girly friend will stick her foot into something,,, no sense in asking for an opportunity to prove her blondeness . (OK guys, dont ask- she is from southern cali- blonde - and half my age).
 Am still trying to figure out how my new weber grill burned out the bottom on two cookouts while i was gone .

[GAJim]

I am interested in one of these

[joevacc]

I, like Lucky, do not need an exhaust...  But I would only really be intrested in a two can system.

[Walt_M.]

You might try to find a used Spec II system. It is a two can, left and right. I have one and like it.

[tomas olivieri]

Hi guys, I'm back again!
well I really need to change my exhaut system, I'm using two Ducati's silencer but the problem it's that I'm having a leak on the gaskets on the rear cyllinder, I've tried several things to fix it but nothing seems to solve the leak,  I've seen the picture and I guess that's get it be my solution.  Lucky can you send me the exacts measurements of the exhauts system that's on the ebay selling page, in order to see if I can build this in here in Venezuela.  Well guys any advice on it I would appreciate it. Thank!

[QBS]

I'm assuming that you've eliminated a hole in your muffler as a candidate for the source of your noise.  If so, your exhaust leaks in the rear cylinder area may be coming from flame cut steel discs and or worn/burned out copper rings.

One of the Vs' dirty little secrets is the system Yamaha developed to seal and attach the rear cylinder exhaust manifold to the cylinder exhaust spigots/ports.  They use a system of two steel discs squeezing a cooper ring around the each exhaust manifold inlet, with each entire assembly held together with a circular clamp.  Over time(sooner than later if the clamps arn't kept tight)high pressure hot exhaust gas starts leaking by the steel discs and cuts slots in them, much like a burnt valve.  Once the process begins nothing can stop it.  The copper ring gets eaten up in the process.

This is a really strange set up.  Even though I've been in and out of mine 4 or 5 times, I still haven't figured out how it works.  The only fix is to remove the muffler and replace the cut steel discs and worn out rings.  In the USA these parts are still dealer available, but not cheaply.

[Lucky]

Sorry, i haven't got exact measurements on any of the exhausts, and at the moment, my V is mummified against the winter onslaught.
Go Patriots!!
--Lucky