| Author | Message | ||
     Manimal |
So i've been thinking about heat wrapping my headers and if anyone has any tips for me, it would be appreciated. Where can i get some wrap and clamps for a good price? I know when i take my headers off i need a new gasket but is there anything else i need to be aware of? | ||
| Badlionsfan |
don't do it. dirty little secret about header wrap is that it WILL destroy your headers over time. i used to work in the high performance automotive field and i've seen it with my own eyes, headers literally crumbled apart after being wrapped. the heat causes the metal to just crumble over time. i wouldn't sell the stuff when i worked at summit racing equipment, as the stuff would instantly void any warranty on the headers. save up a few more bucks and get them ceramic coated. looks better, won't harm the pipes and will help with heat too. | ||
| Firebolteric_ma |
Not true! these are stainless...auto headers were steel. steel will rot..stainless will not. Mine have been wrapped since 04 with no ill effects.. best thing is to do a search on this....it has been covered in great depth numerous times....  | ||
| Lost_in_ohio |
You do not need to remove your header to wrap it. I have had it wrapped for a year with no problems, I have resprayed the header wrap a couple of times to keep it midnight black the way I like it. There is no right answer. ceramic coating is not the uber solution than most tout it as. If you read the literature from the companys it does reduce the temp, but it is dependent on the color of the coating. I wanted black and it has little effect on temp and it fades. Several badweb members even reported that it radiated heat worse than stock. Their best coating is chrome looking, not what I was after. Jegs online sells the wrap I so not remember the cost off hand. Buy the wrap paint too. It helps protect it and you can get it in a number of different colors. Far as putting it on....soak it in water like the directions tell ya too. I wrapped from the motor to the muffler. Wear long sleeves and gloves to protect your arms and gloves from the fiber. It is gonna stink and smoke for a week or so when you ride. It will stop after that I promise. A question to the group........ Does anyone have first hand knowledge of header wrapping damaging an XB exhaust? First hand knowledge only please. | ||
| Glitch |
Does anyone have first hand knowledge of header wrapping damaging an XB exhaust? No. Mine was wrapped since '03 until just before MBV. That's four years of all kinds of weather and riding conditions. That was around 40thousand miles with the wrap, newly wrapped each time it started looking ugly. It was looking ratty and it was either spend $50 on more rap, or just clean up the headers to be ready for MBV. I've not wrapped them again, but since it's really hot now, I'll probably spend the $50, since it really does a great job with keeping the heat inside the header. | ||
| Beachbuell |
I'm going to be wrapping some XB headers (not mine)soon myself. Any tips or tricks? Someone told me to soak the wrap in water as you are wrapping the pipes, as it cuts down on particles flying around and is easier to work with. The pipes I will be wrapping are also ON the bike. | ||
| Hogs |
Beachbuell, Yeah water helps, FWIW, Everything I heard is overlap the wrap only 1/4 inch and if ya can have the tail of the expose wrap facing downwind if ya get my drift... 3 years now no plms. and just a quick respray with the DEI header paint for touch ups twice a summer... I should add if ya can get some small Dia. Stainless wire and just wrap around a few times at the beginning and ends and just twist tie and cut off access Worked for me... (Message edited by hogs on June 23, 2007) | ||
| Wantxbr |
I've used header wrap since 02 on my Dyna and never had any problems except the header wrap falling off(My fault got too low and scraped the pipe). I've wrapped several of my customers bikes and not a problem. I DON'T recommend using water. IMO it makes the wrap fry quicker from what i've seen. DEI Cool It is the wrap I always use and have liked for a couple of years now. Graphite Black of course. Hogs got the right idea of wrapping. But when you come to a bend in the pipe over lap the wrap closer on the inside of the bend, keeps the wrap from bunching up on you. The plus side of wrapping is that if you touch your pipe it won't burn you a bit unless you hold your hand on it. It's so much cooler than Heat Shields and Ceramic Coating. (Message edited by wantxbr on June 23, 2007) | ||
| Strato9r |
I work at a shop that sells the stuff and, yes, I have seen first hand the effects of wrapping headers not made of stainless steel. However, XB pipes are stainless, and can deal with more heat, and are unaffected by moisture, which plays a major part in the degradation of a plain steel pipe when wrapped. I wrapped mine a couple of weeks ago, and found that using stainless hose clamps to secure the ends worked very well. I was able to wrap all but the short segment above the sensor on the rear pipe. I didnt have to remove the header, just the plastic shield running along the bottom of the frame spar. The reduction of radiated heat was phenomenal; I actually took the bike out after wrapping the pipes (to a safe, desolate stretch of road) and held it against redline in fifth for a couple of minutes, then pulled a fast stop. I could actually touch the wrapped pipes with my bare hands; they were warm, but certainly no where near hot enough to remove fingerprints. I've got the factory race muffler on the bike, and the exhaust tone is much snottier now, sharper and more percussive. At the same time. I opened up the airbox in a manner similar to the way the '07 item is made, which sweetened up the tone as well. Since these are air cooled machines, I am of the opinion that anytime you are able to isolate the cooling fins, as well as the oil cooler lines, and oil filter, all of which are in close proximity to the header on a Buell, the engine, and it's oil, will run significantly cooler. Mine sure does now. I do plan on inspecting the header in about a month, as I've got some other work planned as far as isolating the airbox enclosure from radiated heat as well. We'll see if there are any problems at that point. Slightly off topic, but still on the subject of exhaust tone, the rather surprised fellow on a Z1000 Kawasaki that got smoked through a rather twisty section of desolate pavement last night thought that my XB had the nastiest exhaust tone he'd ever heard. He was waiting at the door of Lethbridge Buell/HD this morning when he told me that................... | ||
| Lost_in_ohio |
I overwrapped my by 50%. I think the tape width was 2 inches...So I overlapped by 1 inch. I remember it helped with heat but I can't tell ya exactly how much because it was so long ago. Here is what I used http://www.jegs.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/prod uct_10001_10002_17168_-1 | ||
| Busterx |
Wrapped mine 2 years ago with DEI black tape from Summit. No problems yet besides some of the tape falling apart, keeps the heat down on your leg big time. | ||
| Forerunner |
The only problems I've ever seen with wrapped exhaust pipe is with mild steel. The exhaust wrap traps moisture and promotes rusting. We got around that in automotive applications by ceramic coating the piping in/out and then wrapping/painting. So I guess if you're really concerned and/or want to minimize radiated heat as much as possible you could coat and wrap too. Had this on mild steel exhaust pipes for over 10 years and the ceramic under the wrap still looks good. This is on a rotary engine so it definitely sees some heat. YMMV. Nels | ||
| Yz450kid |
Do it. Therma-tec makes good stuff. | ||
| Jerseybuell |
Mine has been wrapped for two years, as well. DEI tape with the black spray sealant. My right leg doesn't get roasted, anymore and gives the XB that industrial Mad-Max look. The only thing I remember was not to use too much water as it seemed to wash out the graphite(?). Stinks from high heaven for a few days after, though... | ||
| Hogs |
http://cgi.ebay.ca:80/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&it em=140132558240&sspagename=ADME:L:RTQ:CA:1 saw that you may be interested not a bad deal.. | ||
| Jeepster |
I used this guys wrap and ss ties. He has great prices, and ships super fast. I was also very pleased with the product. After it has gotten hot several times, it has a nice black chrome silvery sheen to it. I like it better than jet black. Its enough to wrap two bikes. The straight pipe took about 8' and the curved pipe and collector to the muffler took 12-13' depending on your wrap overlap (I wrapped mine with 50% overlap). Well worth doing, and I know that drummer has both his personal bikes wrapped, so I would say he knows if its okay to do or not. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ewItem&item=110141757516&ssPageName=MERC_VIC_RCRX_ Pr4_PcY_BIN_IT&refitem=110130421642&itemcount=4&re fwidgetloc=closed_view_item&usedrule1=CrossSell_Lo gicX&refwidgettype=cross_promot_widget |
