oh cr@p

gory · Apr 13, 2012

I do not think this was meant to happen when designs were made - anyone got a lh header for a '66 Atlas for sale. I really would like a well used one, with a great degree of patina to match the rest of the bike

bwolfie · Apr 13, 2012

Yours could be repaired if it comes down to it.

gory · Apr 13, 2012

trying to establish if there was a flange there or not, can't find a decent illustration or photograph - seems like there should be, but I just don't know for sure.
If not, what the heck holds it in place? a wing and a prayer?

Rohan · Apr 13, 2012

There is usually a large lip right on the end of the pipe.
May still be behind the header nut, when you unscrew it from there. !

bwolfie is right, it could likely be welded back, and preserve your existing pipe.
Check with your welder that what is left is not too thin to successfully weld though.
He'd want to weld it in short runs, with a long cooling times between, or it will get too hot and discolour / distort too much. Clean the inside a bit first too, or the fumes might be lethal...

Rohan · Apr 13, 2012

P.S. What do the rest of the pipes look like ? Some branched/cafe pipes may well just be a push in fit, with the muffler location keeping the pipes in place.
I think this is called the plug-and-pray-it-stays-there system.

beng · Apr 13, 2012

Grab your acetylene torch and a steel coat hanger and weld it around the inside, then grind away whatever part of the bead might bother you. If you like patina then it will just add to it.

Your pipe looks like one of the older style that are a full diameter for their whole length from the cylinder head on out, is that right? I think they just put those on the Atlas for a few years before switching to the ones that necked down right away, what year is your bike?

I don't think I have any orphan used pipes, only complete sets of two, but I will take a look. Also as a quickie fix you could put the side of the pipe against some makeshift anvil and hammer a new lip over. Yes it would make the pipe maybe 1/4" shorter but that should not be a problem, just loosen the muffler clamp and let it slide in a bit more, presto you have even more oddball patina for your bike.

Triton Thrasher · Apr 14, 2012

Typical eh!

You wire the nut on and the pipe breaks off.

Bernhard · Apr 14, 2012

Triton Thrasher said:
Typical eh!

You wire the nut on and the pipe breaks off.

Welcome to the wonderful world of British Bikes :!:

gory · Apr 14, 2012

Rohan said:
P.S. What do the rest of the pipes look like ? Some branched/cafe pipes may well just be a push in fit, with the muffler location keeping the pipes in place.
I think this is called the plug-and-pray-it-stays-there system.

Bike is a '66, believed to be all original (odometer showed 2300 miles when it was pulled out of a shed in North Carolina, with 1974 plates on) before I 'refreshed' it.

grandpaul · Apr 14, 2012

I have a good used set of '67 N15 pipes...

swooshdave · Apr 14, 2012

gory said:
Rohan said:

P.S. What do the rest of the pipes look like ? Some branched/cafe pipes may well just be a push in fit, with the muffler location keeping the pipes in place.
I think this is called the plug-and-pray-it-stays-there system.

Click to expand...

Bike is a '66, believed to be all original (odometer showed 2300 miles when it was pulled out of a shed in North Carolina, with 1974 plates on) before I 'refreshed' it.

No offense but that doesn't look very fresh. :mrgreen:

gory · Apr 14, 2012

No offense but that doesn't look very fresh. :mrgreen:

None taken - by refreshed I mean only that it was made roadworthy, nothing polished, painted or prettied up.

swooshdave · Apr 14, 2012

gory said:
No offense but that doesn't look very fresh. :mrgreen:

Click to expand...

None taken - by refreshed I mean only that it was made roadworthy, nothing polished, painted or prettied up.

Pictures of the rest of the bike aren't loading... :mrgreen:

gory · Apr 14, 2012

swooshdave said:
gory said:

No offense but that doesn't look very fresh. :mrgreen:

Click to expand...

None taken - by refreshed I mean only that it was made roadworthy, nothing polished, painted or prettied up.

Click to expand...

Pictures of the rest of the bike aren't loading... :mrgreen:

? not sure I know what you mean.

swooshdave · Apr 14, 2012

gory said:
? not sure I know what you mean.

I want to see pictures of the whole bike. :mrgreen:

gory · Apr 14, 2012

swooshdave said:
I want to see pictures of the whole bike. :mrgreen:

only one I have, took it just after getting her roadworthy again, few years ago.

Now, anyone wanna sell me a pipe? summer's flying by

Rohan · Apr 14, 2012

Very nice.

Did you look for the flange behind the exhaust nut. ?
A good welder should be able to successfully reattach it.
Keep its original good looks.

Or even remake a flange and attach it, its not rocket science.

gory · Apr 15, 2012

Rohan said:
Very nice.

Did you look for the flange behind the exhaust nut. ?
A good welder should be able to successfully reattach it.
Keep its original good looks.

Or even remake a flange and attach it, its not rocket science.

It was in there, almost didn't see it, looks durned thin.
Got to admit, I am no welder, but I think finding the right one to do this job might be tricky, thin metal, snapped off right on the 'radius' of the flange.

Anyone know a decent welder in the Roanoke VA/ Greensboro NC corridor?

gory · Apr 15, 2012

beng said:
Your pipe looks like one of the older style that are a full diameter for their whole length from the cylinder head on out, is that right? I think they just put those on the Atlas for a few years before switching to the ones that necked down right away, what year is your bike?

I don't think I have any orphan used pipes, only complete sets of two, but I will take a look. .

Thanks, pipe is full diameter, and if anyone had a pair of Pipes, I might well be interested in buying them - who knows when the other will snap?

Hobot · Apr 15, 2012

I've a 750 set of 1 3/8" new headers that I had Alumizied ceramic coated but shop also coated outside over the chrome, so ain't factory, so can use on Trixie and ain't big enough for Peel, so just hanging around in wrappers, looking like Al lawn furniture. I've a couple Headers from sets that cracked prior, but will need them when current headers crack. Welding alone may not work long once the metal embrittled so what I've done on Peel is weld a strap or plate over the fracture. Looks like hill billy poo poo of course, but ya do what ya can to ride with whats on hand now and then.