heXed
New Member
Just FYI... this fix did not work in the end.
Ok, so I blew an exhaust gasket on my stock muffler and wasn't quick enough to replace it before the gap caused the bolts to loosen holding the muffler on. With the gap in the gasket, I didn't even hear a difference when the muffler fell off, and it was gone when I retraced my path in search. Since I was running with no exhaust (this is my commute, so I couldn't just park ), I was given an expansion chamber for Christmas. I was ubber excited as I had been wanting to upgrade anyway, but was very agitated to find that the new pipe started coming apart at the seams in under 30 miles. I took it off and am in the process of refunding it, but that leaves me back to having no exhaust on the motor. So, I needed to come up with something and it couldn't involve welding, milling, or anything that involved more than a drill or handtools...
Here's what I cam up with...
I had the copper tube and washer laying around. The copper is a flexible water heater connector and the washer is just a really big sized washer (I have a bunch that I got to set up a washer game in the yard). I cut the ends off of the copper tube and enlarged one end so that I could use the washer to press it against the exhaust port. It was a trial & error process involving ball & flat hammers and different random objects to use as forms, but it finally took shape. The washer had to be have bolt holes drilled in it and the top had to be cut down so that it would clear the cylinder fins... hack saw and grinder attachment on drill. Here is a pic of what I started with..
So, test drive.... still spits some oil, but at least it isn't on the wires anymore, lol. It's loud, but I expected that. Most importantly, though... I have good power and am no longer as concerned with dirt and such getting into the cylinder. I may eventually play around with different pipe lengths, as I assume that will change the performance, but I am very happy with my fix.
I will say, I can't wait to eventually learn to weld. I have so many ideas! In the mean time... point made that you don't have to have a full workshop to come up with something when it's needed. I managed a fix with what I had around and I think it actually turned out quite nice
Ok, so I blew an exhaust gasket on my stock muffler and wasn't quick enough to replace it before the gap caused the bolts to loosen holding the muffler on. With the gap in the gasket, I didn't even hear a difference when the muffler fell off, and it was gone when I retraced my path in search. Since I was running with no exhaust (this is my commute, so I couldn't just park ), I was given an expansion chamber for Christmas. I was ubber excited as I had been wanting to upgrade anyway, but was very agitated to find that the new pipe started coming apart at the seams in under 30 miles. I took it off and am in the process of refunding it, but that leaves me back to having no exhaust on the motor. So, I needed to come up with something and it couldn't involve welding, milling, or anything that involved more than a drill or handtools...
Here's what I cam up with...
I had the copper tube and washer laying around. The copper is a flexible water heater connector and the washer is just a really big sized washer (I have a bunch that I got to set up a washer game in the yard). I cut the ends off of the copper tube and enlarged one end so that I could use the washer to press it against the exhaust port. It was a trial & error process involving ball & flat hammers and different random objects to use as forms, but it finally took shape. The washer had to be have bolt holes drilled in it and the top had to be cut down so that it would clear the cylinder fins... hack saw and grinder attachment on drill. Here is a pic of what I started with..
So, test drive.... still spits some oil, but at least it isn't on the wires anymore, lol. It's loud, but I expected that. Most importantly, though... I have good power and am no longer as concerned with dirt and such getting into the cylinder. I may eventually play around with different pipe lengths, as I assume that will change the performance, but I am very happy with my fix.
I will say, I can't wait to eventually learn to weld. I have so many ideas! In the mean time... point made that you don't have to have a full workshop to come up with something when it's needed. I managed a fix with what I had around and I think it actually turned out quite nice
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