The Classic 50 racebike has the original up swept exhaust header, but there is a small hole about 1/32 wide by 1/2 inch long, I suspect caused by water laying in the very bottom of the bend before the pipe goes up (ie the lowest point on the pipe)
What would be the best way to repair this short of getting a new header pipe?
Would JB weld be sufficient? I have patched lots of mufflers with it with good results, but this hole is only about 5-6 inches from the exhaust port.
I thought either that or take it to a shop and have it brazed.
I'd be mostly concerned with the JB falling off due to vibration, but you're not really out much to try it.
If you weld/braze drill tiny holes in the end of the crack to stop it. Try to find someone handy with a TIG. If it's thin from water sitting in it TIGing would be more better than either MIG or brazing.
You may want to preheat or otherwise try to clean the interior of the pipe so as not to pull out contaminants when it's welded.
I would drill the holes in the ends and TIG weld it. Its small enough to be an easy weld even if you suck at TIG and cheap enough to have someone else do it.
i usually put a patch on the inside by spoting a small rod to a round patches center and then sloting the hole so i can insert and then pull it out to cover the hole...degrease,prep area then mig or tig, either will do the trick if you know how to weld.... blend/buff if chromed or h.t. paint etc...joe@vcycle
Thanks guys. I drilled the holes and the mechanic where I get my car fixed (2002 minivan with 217K miles, I am there a lot) mig welded it. Not very pretty but it seems to have worked, and he didn't charge me.
Plans are to have an exhaust made once I get the bike running and sorted, hopefully by the Labor Day race.
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