Need help with exhaust, jet kit, etc...

[bkaz]

So guys, inspired by your gung-ho attitude about things, I went to work on my bike.  I finally took that brand new V&H exhaust out of the box along with that K&N jet kit and with my trusty Clymer's guide got busy.  I swapped the exhaust.  Some questions about that:

1.  There is a small black plate that you are supposed to bolt on to the center stand, but if I mount it the exhaust won't clear.  So...I just left it off.  Is it neccessary?

2.  Those damn springs that hold the exhaust parts together are a b*&$!.  I could do the one on the outside of the bike, but the one under the bike...No way.  Any advice?

Then, I took out the carbs, followed the directions and installed a step one jet kit.  I have a K&N air filter in place already.  That all seemed to work well except for:

1.  My choke is straight jacked up.  I can put the choke on but when switching it off it stays in place on the carbs.  Like is spring is messed or something.  Not sure?

2.  While trying to get the tank back on, the fuel lines both got torn, they were all gooed onto the plugs.  So, I went to autozone and just bought some similar sized automotive fuel lines and stuck them on.  Seems to be workig okay.

3.  Last thing!  So, I get everything stuck back together, fire the bike up and it roars to life.  I am so excited at my success...until I notice smoke coming out of the bike.  There was buttloads of smoke which seemed to be coming from the headers.  Any advice?  I cranked the damn exhaust on there as tight as I could, do I maybe need to replace the gaskets?  Any ideas?

Oh, then the next day there was mysterious dripping landing right by the left centerstand.  I think, actually I have no clue what it is because it was on the fuel lines so dripping from above there.  Can't figure it out.

Thanks fellas!  Hope you guys have some good advice.

Later,
Brent

[The Buddha]

Pipe smoke is probably paint... shouldn't be comming through the pipe, just from the surface... Its normal... it will smoke a bit and then be OK.
Dripping... I am going to guess is stale old gas.
The center stand... OK its supposed to hit the exhaust and not make contact with your left foot... That part you have to use to put the bike on the center syand.... should not hit your foot.
Springs... OK fit it on before putting exhaust on.
Choke  - has a spring at the carbs.
Cool.
Srinath.

[Kerry]

For the choke cable, see if this helps:

Help! Choke cable problems


For the dripping ... did you get 5/16" fuel hose?  That's slightly larger than the OEM stuff - maybe it's not clamped down tight enough on the ends?