| Author | Message | ||
     Lorazepam |
I have discovered a crack in my exhaust header. I have had the pipe wrapped for almost a year, and noticed a change in sound. Pulled the wrap off, and the front pipe is cracked just above the junction of the two pipes. Does the pipe from any xb 12 model fit? I am dead in the water until I get a new one. | ||
| Chris_in_tn |
If it is just a crack and you plan on rewraping it. Take the header to any decent welding shop and they will be able to fix it for you. Probably for less than $40-50. (Message edited by chris_in_tn on April 24, 2007) | ||
| Hughlysses |
I believe all XB12 headers are the same. I agree with Chris that a good weld repair shouldn't be hard or expensive. If you want to ride today, do a temporary repair using high temp (red) RTV silicone, a strip of sheet metal over the top of the crack, and a hose clamp (or 2) to secure it. I managed to get another ~5000 miles (and could have gone farther) out of a cracked exhaust manifold on my daughter's car last year using this fix, until we had time to get it replaced with a new manifold. (Message edited by hughlysses on April 24, 2007) | ||
| Terrible1one3 |
Yeah almost any muffler shop should be able to perform the the weld. I don't know what material the headers are made out of though so maybe it requires a different type of welder. But most places will have a welder capable of doing all different metals so who knows. Just go to a muffler shop, they won't even make you take off your headers, but I would disconnect the battery before letting them weld, just as a Long Way Round precaution :-P | ||
| Lorazepam |
The tube is cracked about 3/4 of the way around. I think I will try to get one off ebay and if not order one from the dealer. I am not going to ride it like this. I am pretty bummed, never had wrap on pipes before, and I doubt if I try it again. | ||
| Kc69xlch |
it is more likely that a problem with the alignment or attachment points are responsible for the crack than the header wrap. | ||
| Aeholton |
How did header wrap crack your pipe?  | ||
| Lorazepam |
I am guessing holding in the heat. that combined with the vibration. It definatly isnt rusted, but it is discolored. | ||
| Roadrailer |
it is more likely that a problem with the alignment or attachment points are responsible for the crack than the header wrap. It's fairly common knowledge that header wrap can lead to premature failure; exposure to the elements can only make the problem worse. I've always been surprised that it's such a commonly recommended mod around here. (Message edited by roadrailer on April 24, 2007) | ||
| Lorazepam |
Ok, I have a cause for the crack. I guess that I forgot to loctite the Bolt holding the front muffler mount to the engine. When I was tearing it down to rotate the engine, I discovered the front muffler mount bolt was missing. I remember installing it, getting the spacers lined up with the exhaust band on was a pain. If you have changed your exhaust, and didnt apply thread locker to the front bolt, you may want to check to make sure it is still there. I am fairly sure that holding in all that heat may have helped accelerate the cracking, but bottom line is, I lost a bolt, and it is probably my fault. | ||
| Aeholton |
Lorazepam - Do you do a lot of off-road riding? | ||
| Lorazepam |
Nope, just gravel roads. I think the Uly is just too big for off road in the east US. | ||
| Dragon_slayer |
Gale, just put a set of drag pipes on it. Then ride with the Buell and HD crowd and watch them both freak! | ||
| Jlnance |
Gail, FWIW I priced new headers when I was thinking about getting mine ceramic coated. I believe they are $220. | ||
| Lorazepam |
I looked at a couple used ones on ebay, and with shipping, they both went for more used, than a brand new one from the dealer. I should have the new one this week, rotating the engine today. | ||
| Lorazepam |
Well, things just keep getting stranger. I got the engine rotated, and discovered that one of the rear header studs is broken. This is the first time I have rotated the engine, and I am very bummed indeed to see this stud broken off. There is also a large dent in the pipe. Both have been this way for a while, I will get pictures and post them. The dent I am guessing was there before I wrapped the pipe, and the stud is rusted on the broken end. So what do I do in regard to getting the stud fixed under warranty? Kind of hard to get my bike to the dealer with the engine rotated down. I already bought the header, I realize that wrapping the header something that could void the warranty, so I will take that hit. I would also take credit for breaking off the stud if I had done it as well, but I havent even sprayed them with pb blaster yet much less put a wrench to them. If you guys have any ideas on how to get this resolved, I am all ears. | ||
| Kc69xlch |
so much for "common knowledge" huh!  | ||
| Diablobrian |
the broken stud was probably caused by the nut coming loose. Vibration does that. the crack in the pipe could be a result of the broken stud (and vibration). I've heard of several broken exhaust studs. Particularly on the rear head. | ||
| Gotj |
That's "I slept at Holiday Inn Express" knowledge. | ||
| Roadrailer |
so much for "common knowledge" huh! Um, no. While it may not have been the cause in this case, header wrap is known to cause premature damage to the headers. Google is your friend. | ||
| Roadrailer |
Just a few links to get you started: http://www.centuryperformance.com/heatwraps.asp http://www.stahlheaders.com/faq.htm#wrap http://www.aempower.com/Faqs.aspx?CategoryID=36#14 5 | ||
| Kc69xlch |
experience is my friend. one of these days you may have some too!  | ||
| Lorazepam |
It is a shame our owners manual doesnt have a paragraph about harming the pipes. I would have refrained if Buell had a specific warning against it. I had never had the desire to wrap pipes in the past, only when my leg became constantly sunburned even with leathers on, did I resort to it. I will try running without the bags this year and see if the heat improves. I think the bags have a bad effect on the cooling of the rear cylinder. It can be 50 or 90, and my fan will be running when I slow down enough to hear it. Always goes from high to low to off when stopping. I get looks from as far as 200 feet away, people wondering what the hell that noise is. You certainly get noticed when you ride a Uly. | ||
| Roadrailer |
experience is my friend. one of these days you may have some too! Ah, you know what they say about assumptions.... I've been working on performance cars and race cars since before I was old enough to drive, more than 20 years now. I've taken lots of header wrap off of lots of headers, and seen the effects. A few were so bad the only thing holding them together was the wrap itself. If you do some research, you'll see that of lot of people have had the same experience. I gave you some links to get you started. (Message edited by roadrailer on May 03, 2007) | ||
| Lorazepam |
How many of those headers were mild steel? How many were stainless? My pipes had not a speck of rust on them. I understand the possibility of rust and considered that prior to wrapping. I never got water on the pipes when I washed the bike, and if I am riding in the rain, the pipes should be hot enough to keep the moisture level down till I stop. | ||
| Roadrailer |
Some of each. While the rust was always worse on the mild steel (particularly in street cars), the wrap seems to have a negative effect on the SS as well. Almost like it makes them brittle. | ||
| Lorazepam |
On the website promoting coatings (gee the manufacturers set the site up) the graph shows the pipes being subjected to 12000 degrees f. I dont think my pipes get quite that hot. I wanted my leg to be cooler, and I can stop by summit racing and pick it up, so I did. I guess I will be ordering some shields from odie. | ||
| Kc69xlch |
i see you quoted one of your links as your "personal experience". i guess we all have different experiences. i believe your header is stainless lorazepam. i had read a post about the synthetic oil helping reduce engine temp/ fan running. i tried it and so far i am seeing a noticeable difference in how often the fan runs. almost not at all while riding, and for a shorter period when shutting down. two trips, 1) 260 miles 80' 2) 70 miles 85'. may be worth a try at your next oil change. for the record my header is not wrapped. have only used wrap on the drag bike. | ||
| Lorazepam |
Thanks for the info, but I have tried mobil 1 v twin and syn 3 with little difference in fan times vs dino oil. The 12k I put on in the last year was mostly in 300-1000 mile chunks. There is a big difference between how the air flows over an enclosed car header and a motorcycle header that is exposed to air flow. If the website that did the testing proved to me they didnt bake the pipe in an oven with the header wrap on, and had a fan providing airflow to scrub off heat, I will take the test seriously. Roadrailer, I dont doubt your experience with cars, but no one who I have talked to over the years about motorcycle header wrap made an issue of pipe failure. | ||
| Roadrailer |
i see you quoted one of your links as your "personal experience".  Oh, for the love of god. I guess it's impossible that two people could have the same experience, huh? Or maybe since you've never experienced it yourself it must not be true, right? Again, you don't have to believe a word of what I say. Do a little research. God bless the internet. I've got absolutely nothing to gain by making shit up. All I'm doing is passing along what I've experienced, and the experiences of others that have shared them with me, in an effort to help my fellow Buellers. | ||
| Roadrailer |
There is a big difference between how the air flows over an enclosed car header and a motorcycle header that is exposed to air flow. It's entirely possible that makes a difference. To be honest, until I came to this website, I had never seen a motorcycle with wrapped pipes or heard of anyone doing it. I assumed it was because the wrap does the same thing to motorcycle pipes as it does to auto pipes. That's why I was so surprised to see it so highly recommended here. | ||
| Kc69xlch |
i never said that i had not experienced a problem with the wrap. i only posited that his problem was more likely related to an attachment flaw. you chimed in with your infinite knowledge of header wrap. with the exception of this website i don't spend alot of time on the web looking for sites that validate my opinion. i am sure if i tried i could find a site that says pigs can fly out of my butt. don't necessarily make it true. so for now let's let the header wrap argument go. and move on to helping each other enjoy our uly's. so please let me extend the olive branch.  | ||
| Lorazepam |
I prefer monkeys to pigs flying out my butt personally. Hooves are hard on the 'rhoids. | ||
| Kc69xlch |
yeah, but bacon tastes good!!! | ||
| Lovehamr |
I doubt it would taste to good after coming in contact with your 'roids though! BaaaaHaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Steve |
