Header to Silencer leak

How do I stop this? Cut up a beer can and fill the area with hi temp rtv? It wipes off easy enough though. The bottom one goes in a lot farther so I don't have the problem there. The top one barley goes in.



Dave
69S

That might do it for a while, as I was able to do, for a while, on big ass Al water jacket headsers on V8 jet boat. Pack it, whip it, let set up over night, then nip up and hope for the best. Nice clamps btw. If it was a real motorcycle show piece like a Harley it'd have a shiny cover so no one would notice you can't nip up a mere exht clamp : ) hbot

That's the Moose clamps. I still like the solid ones you found Steve, but I already got these.

Dave
69S

Don't know if its better than rtv, but to cure exhaust leaks like this use muffler putty - a white clay like stuff in a little can that you smear on one surface of the join and then push the pipes together.
Once dry and cooked, it sets like a rock - so no separating them unless you HAVE to (so cleanup and start again.). Provided the pipes don't move against each other, it will stay there almost forever, and contributes to the pipes being solidly locked togther. No more leaks - and pops and bangs. Opethiselps.

Try moving the clamp back towards the muffler more to where the relief cut stop. When you say the top header pipe doesn't go in very far do you mean it was cut short because of damage? What hanger are you using? Is it drooping putting the bottom muffler farther forward?

My only problem was the noise from the pipe rattling on the Iso nut.

I'll look into the pipe dope, but I think I'll try the rtv and beer can first since I have the stuff on hand, except the beer can. No, the header pipe is fine, it just seems a bit short, the notches don't go all the way into the silencer and that's why it's leaking. The bottom one goes in a couple of inches. I got the headers from Xanders a long time ago and the silencers from Walridge. My originals were pretty much the same way.

Beating on the iso nut? Like this?



If the exhaust is beating on the nut, your exhaust system is loose, you need to tighten up something, maybe the isos. Mine is close there, but doesn't hit the nut. If you let it go too long, the clamp will start digging into the panel. BTDT.

Dave
69S

Yeah, they'd loosen up over time and end up beating on the nut. Fix, repeat. Never leaked though. The header should definitely go in farther than that.


The Commando's gone, will live on in the P11...

I'd have to have a look at mine, but the pipes and the mufflers don't leak. Right now I'm in the throws of trying to finish a root cellar before the weather closes in on us. It'll be a week or so before i can take my S model a part and measure the pipe.

Greg

Don't waste time on the brittle muffler putty it will not last a ride in our/your rattle prone Commando's, dasmhik. Teflon tape will not last much longer either, dasmhik. There are some really fancy clamps out there, a bit wider that regular with two bolt clamps, one clamps header the other the muffler so over laps the seam and holds by friction of clamp on pipe not the pipe in pipe sliding joint.

I've had some mufflers hanging on by the skin of their teeth Steve, and muffler putty made the difference of them staying there. AND no popping and banging.
No-one would guarantee it would work in all circumstances though.

If you can also find some stainless sheet to wrap around and double clamp over, it isn't quite so obvious its a beer-can lash-up.

Ok I always like to hear first aid goops working out more or less. I've used muffer cement on car and mower muffler holes but not to hold them on. In my failed pipe in muffler snout use of it there's nil bonding to the surfaces to matter then heat expands the gap then the vibes and blow back removable proceeds. The best solution in C'do's might be 1" long flex braid hose with bolt and block clamps on ends.
They make some plumbing items like this that have corragated Al sheet inside rubber molded outer but that'd look like .... of course In a pinch I whip out a .223 to run it through for a thin bolt : )