Author Topic: removing the downpipes (Read 10387 times)

solorider · « **on:** 26 March 2012, 07:55:39 pm »

i have spent part of today trying to remove my downpipes,the bike has done 70k and there was not much in the way of nuts left,the only reconisable nut was on the left side downpipe,and the only downpipe that is not rotted to hell.the inner nut was very corroded though.the problem im having is the downpipes are well and truely stuck in the head (well 3 of them are) the rust has swelled then in there.

here is the remains of the top mounts,most has nearly corroded away

Bracechenko · « **Reply #1 on:** 26 March 2012, 08:00:00 pm »

WOW.....they are the most corroded pipes i've seen!

Best of luck sorting that out though

Kosmic Kartman · « **Reply #2 on:** 26 March 2012, 09:02:55 pm »

FOKIN HELL!

ddtwelve · « **Reply #3 on:** 26 March 2012, 09:17:12 pm »

OMG

id look for a new head might be a lot easier

solorider · « **Reply #4 on:** 26 March 2012, 10:45:24 pm »

tommorrow i will get a blow torch on it,i may cut the pipes lower down and use the to break the seal,i wont give up just yet and i have to try and get the studs out,i managed to get one out,some of the studs are a bit thinner than they should be because the rust has made them thin,i cannot afford another head so hopefully i will get the exhaust off without any further damage

ghostbiker · « **Reply #5 on:** 27 March 2012, 01:56:19 am »

I had something along these lines many years ago. the mounts had russted compleatly through on a RF900. useing a rubber mallet on the headers and tapping them in and from each side for about an hour eventualy released them all (used a lot of pen fluid to but i dont think that in iteslef had any effect) and although the studs were worse than yours (4 of them had also rusted compleatly through) they cam out fairly easy.
that said i didnt take the studs out. that was done by a friend with a welder.

Hope you have the same luck, fingers crossed

Falcon 269 · « **Reply #6 on:** 27 March 2012, 08:14:10 am »

Sheesh!

Was that parked overnight in a harbour for the last 70k miles?

Cut 'n' twist.

Prayer.

snapper · « **Reply #7 on:** 27 March 2012, 09:25:33 am »

wd40 and a quick wire brush and the'll be fine

seriously matey I think you may need to replace those

solorider · « **Reply #8 on:** 27 March 2012, 06:27:21 pm »

well the downpipes are off,and i have managed to get all the studs out without breaking one,there was a few scarey moments when undoing the studs,i bought a blow torch with a narrow flame and i had to cut the pipes so i could hit them with my trusty lump hammer,and there was no damage done to the ports or the threads

anyone want a set of used downpipes lol

as you can see there was a bit of rot at the top

now tomorrow i have to go and get some studs,i am not getting yamaha ones as they cost way too much so i will get some from my local vauxhall dealer as i can get them cheaper from them

solorider · « **Reply #9 on:** 27 March 2012, 06:42:11 pm »

oh and the last owner cut up the original can and used the front part of the pipe as a link pipe,then he cut down a silencer and re riveted it back together,the only pronlem was the cut was not very straight so the rivets gave out when just light weight put onto it,lucky i bought another can to fit the bike.
and when i took the airfilter out there was a date on the bottom,it was 2005 so it looks like it has been there for 7 years,and yes it is a bit black so it is lucky i planned to give the bike a service along with the anti freeze

Bracechenko · « **Reply #10 on:** 27 March 2012, 06:50:52 pm »

Good work in getting them off!

Sounds & looks like the previous owner neglected the bike in a big way. No doubt, all other service items were neglected too so i'd spend some time cleaning, servicing & lubing anything and everything.

Sounds like you're on the case though

Falcon 269 · « **Reply #11 on:** 27 March 2012, 07:06:04 pm »

Coming up to Easter. Bringing back stuff from the dead is quite appropriate, methinks.

solorider · « **Reply #12 on:** 27 March 2012, 09:46:28 pm »

Quote from: Falcon 269 on 27 March 2012, 07:06:04 pm

Coming up to Easter. Bringing back stuff from the dead is quite appropriate, methinks.

i have had the bike since september but because of the hours i have had to work and due to the weather the first chance i have had to work on the bike is this week,i spent some time buying some parts so i was ready but till i sell my vfr im still short of funds so i cannot do all i want to get the bike looking better so im doing just the basics to get the bike on the road,i do have some silver engine paint to tart the front of the engine up and i may do the cylinder head cover as most of the paint on it has peeled off,it doesnt help in that the bike has to live outside but the cover i bought for it has now split not helping

The Male Whale · « **Reply #13 on:** 27 March 2012, 10:42:29 pm »

Mine did 102,000 miles and did not look anywhere near as bad as that!

Makes you cry really to see a decent bike in such a state.

What a travesty.

Whale

Minty · « **Reply #14 on:** 27 March 2012, 11:28:49 pm »

Excellent job "can you do mine" makes mine look like a walk in the park.
Please could you tell me what diameter the exhaust gaskets/pipes are now you've got them off ?
I have some FZS600 exhaust gaskets I didn't use and wonder if they'll fit my thou?
cheers

cable tie · « **Reply #15 on:** 27 March 2012, 11:44:01 pm »

be-jesus im glad thats yours and not mine id have sleepless nights LoL.

solorider · « **Reply #16 on:** 28 March 2012, 12:23:18 am »

Quote from: Minty on 27 March 2012, 11:28:49 pm

Excellent job "can you do mine" makes mine look like a walk in the park.
Please could you tell me what diameter the exhaust gaskets/pipes are now you've got them off ?
I have some FZS600 exhaust gaskets I didn't use and wonder if they'll fit my thou?
cheers

looking on a yamaha parts site the thou ones are different to the 600 ones,the gaskets i have are 44mm od,37mm id,6mm thick

bludclot · « **Reply #17 on:** 28 March 2012, 08:19:57 am »

that looks like some great work, i think that this will be a fine bike when done.

i'd be inclined to keep the old downpipes for the minute, they could be bolted back in place for when the front of the engine is being cleaned / blasted / sanded / painted....

solorider · « **Reply #18 on:** 28 March 2012, 08:56:57 am »

Quote from: bludclot on 28 March 2012, 08:19:57 am

that looks like some great work, i think that this will be a fine bike when done.

i'd be inclined to keep the old downpipes for the minute, they could be bolted back in place for when the front of the engine is being cleaned / blasted / sanded / painted....

i will have a hard job refitting the old downpipes,the top fixings are in 2 pieces in a box,i will have to place some pieces of rag in the ports

solorider · « **Reply #19 on:** 28 March 2012, 09:08:46 pm »

well i now have my replacement exhaust fitted and also the exup cables,i did clean some of the crap off the front of the engine but decided not to paint it yet as i dont ride the bike in the winter or in the wet if i can help it,so next winter i will probably take the engine out of the frame and do a better job as i felt if i did the front of the engine now the rest would look crap

Minty · « **Reply #20 on:** 28 March 2012, 10:15:30 pm »

A bit late, but cheers for that info.

solorider · « **Reply #21 on:** 29 March 2012, 04:09:45 pm »

well i have just started the bike up,and it fired first time and has not been started since september,and it is nice and quite,just got to sort the insurance and tax out so i can ride it