can an engine get damaged from running lean?

[Shane_Bettin]

i know the carb is set up almost spot on and the engine runs great, but i have a very small exhaust leak where the header connects to the pipe. i think this leak is making the engine run lean, but will it cause engine damage as opposed if the carb was set up lean?? ive done a 100 different things to try and patch it up but some how it still finds a way to leak.

[Hamish]

very unlikely. If you were lean on the MJ and did lot of WOT riding it would be a different story.

[rsstom]

I agree...I don't think that's a problem to worry about.

But a very lean engine can be damaged. LEAN=HEAT Of course, heat is the enemy.

[Shane_Bettin]

ok right on. ya i went one size bigger with my new pipe so thats alright. and the leak is barely noticable at all so i was hopen its nothin to worry about.

[Moto-XXX]

On a thumper i don't see how anything can get hurt internaly since lubrication is not part of the intake, it would ping probably a little, but nothing serious should happen.

[Hamish]

On a thumper i don't see how anything can get hurt internaly since lubrication is not part of the intake

lean MJ = hot piston = melt or nip ?

It wont do any damage to the bottom end if thats what you are refering to

[R_Little]

you're kinda right.

lean jetting will cause a motor to ping espcially in the winter.

you've gotta be very lean to melt the motor, it has happened though.

[TexasDirtNap]

I assume that this is a four stroke runnin lean. If so, you'd normally get lots of decelleration popping. Sounds like your exhaust leak is changing that behaviour. If it were causing a lot of decel popping I expect you'd richen it up so why not richen it up anyway.

[nzer]

has anyone found a decent way way of sealing up the pipe joint yet ive tried alsorts of sealers and they all seem to get blown out

[crf450f]

Welding it back is the only way. The pressure, and the heat will blow all sealers off of pipe. Belive me, I tried.

You may want to replace it. I found a header pipe on E-bay for 25.00 to replace my cracked one. Good luck ?

[Shane_Bettin]

ya think stock is a 175.i think ive got a 180 or 82 in it. theres almost no popping at all on decel. but the plug is always white anyway.