header pipe repair

The header pipes on my Seca are rusting pretty bad. Is there any way to repair them? I have tried a few chrome cleaning products with not that much luck. Are there any companies anyone else has used to refurbish there headers?

 

I took my headers and collector to HPC (High Performance Coatings) in Burlington, NC and had them stripped and Jet Hot Coated. The Jet Hot coating is some awesome stuff. I had mine done in black which ends up being 2 coatings, the base coat is silver and almost chrome like in it's luster. The bad news is that it is not cheap. As the headers are chrome plated it is an additional $50 to strip/sandblast it off. And if your collector is getting thin the sandblasting will likely finish it off. It was about $250 by the time I got them back. The bike really likes the way the coating retains and evacuates the heat, great corrosion resistance and great warranty.

 

That is (Jet-Hot coating) probably the single best option. Because they're a double-walled pipe, chrome shops generally want nothing to do with them or mufflers/collector boxes due to the risk of contaminating their tanks of plating chemicals.

Meanwhile, the Jet-Hot process keeps improving with more finish options available now than just a couple of years ago.

 

Another option is Something you can do yourself : POR 15 and POR 20 makes a paint that withstands temps up to 1400 F. I used it on my header pipes, doesn't peel off or discolor.

However like any paint job 90% is in the preparation

One is bright Aluminum and the other is a Flat back. Go Online to buy it you get a better deal.

http://www.por15.com/High-Temperature-Paints_c_10.html

 

Thanks for the information guys. I am not sure if there is enough material left for them to be sand blasted. I might look into the POR-20. Has anyone had any luck finding good used header pipes at a junkyard?

 

Thanks for the information guys. I am not sure if there is enough material left for them to be sand blasted. I might look into the POR-20. Has anyone had any luck finding good used header pipes at a junkyard?

 

Sort of.

I managed to scrape together TWO complete, clean stock exhaust systems for my 550 Secas.

This was accomplished two ways:

-eBay (and patience)

-I signed up with an online salvage parts service, and did end up getting some parts from a couple of the shops/yards that responded. I used: http://www.uneedapart.com/used-motorcycle-parts/

 

Thanks Bigfitz for the website. I will also keep checking eBay too. One other question when doing winter storage did you or someone else say spray the inside of the mufflers with wd40 and then plug the ends with paper towels to help with corrosion?

 

That's what I do. It also keeps the mice out.

 

More questions on headers and exhaust.
1. Is the whole exhaust system made up of 4 header pipes, some crossover chamber and 2 mufflers?
2. Can all of these components be removed from one another?
3. Are there any other seals that have to be replaced other than the ones that attach the header pipe to the engine?

Trying to figure out what other parts I may need to reassemble the exhaust system once I repair or replace the header pipes.

 

Its too much to type from.my phone. i will get you more info in a shortly.

 

Ok assuming that you are staying with stock exhaust.

1. The answer is yes.Header pipes,collector and Muffler or Silencer
2. Yes,With penetrating fluid and occasional force.
3. Yes.There are also seals where header pipes meet collector and where mufflers attach.
Len at XJ4EVER should have all of these.

Hope this helps.

 

and where the pipes go into the head

 

Thanks guys for the reply. A bit disapointed in the Yamaha manual. Not really much info on exhaust system. I did later find in in the Haynes manual. I guess I get to put my Kriol to good use. The studs on the engine where the headers are connected are corroded good. So are the bolts/nuts on the rest of the exhaust system.

 

Haynes manual is what i've been using. and theres only one page or so on Exhaust. Soak the dickens out of header bolts,you dont want to snap one of those off.The others you can replace both bolt and nuts.

 

Not always; some styles of collector boxes have the clamp nuts welded to the permanently affixed clamps.

Another thing to be aware of: under the back of the collector box it has a rather "interesting" mount to the frame consisting of washers and a spacer and other bits plus two rubber/metal "dampers" that are kind of like giant valve cover donuts. I would recommend replacing this pair of rubber dampers and ensuring that you have all of the other pieces that are supposed to be there.

Other than where the head pipes meet the head; and the muffler hangers, that big mount on the back of the collector box is the only other exhaust mounting point.

 

Correction noted !