I have a pretty good dent in the header and curious to hear what other people have done to fix theirs? (White Brothers Titanium Header)
Also, does anyone know if someone in the San Diego area offers this type of repair?
Exhaust pipe dent repair?
Started by
MX Racer57
, Dec 11 2005 05:22 PM
28 replies to this topic
Posted 11 December 2005 - 05:26 PM
Is the pipe twisted at all or is it just dented?
If it's only a dent, just take the header off the bike, fill it with water as much as you can, and stick it in the freezer over night. It should push the dent out. If it's not removed completely, repeat the process until the dent is pushed out.
Or.....
Cap both ends of the header, in one cap install a quick disconnect air fitting, heat the pipe up with a torch at the dent, then pressurize the pipe with air. Dent gone.
If it's only a dent, just take the header off the bike, fill it with water as much as you can, and stick it in the freezer over night. It should push the dent out. If it's not removed completely, repeat the process until the dent is pushed out.
Or.....
Cap both ends of the header, in one cap install a quick disconnect air fitting, heat the pipe up with a torch at the dent, then pressurize the pipe with air. Dent gone.
Posted 11 December 2005 - 05:35 PM
It's just dented and have tried the water in the freezer over night & it just pushes the plugs out. I'm using rubber expansion plugs and torquing the sh#t out of them, even vise gripped the end with the flange but the other end (muffler side) has nothing to help secure the plug?
Have heard of the compressed air and heat but haven't tried it yet? How much pressure are you using & what kind of heat? Will a propane bottle be enough for a titanium pipe or I've heard people use MAP gas which i'm not familiar with. I have an air compressor but nothing to use for heat, what would you recommend?
Have heard of the compressed air and heat but haven't tried it yet? How much pressure are you using & what kind of heat? Will a propane bottle be enough for a titanium pipe or I've heard people use MAP gas which i'm not familiar with. I have an air compressor but nothing to use for heat, what would you recommend?
Posted 11 December 2005 - 05:57 PM
The head pipes I have blown out I used 45 psi and be careful not to over heat it it will distort or blow out if you get it too hot.
Posted 11 December 2005 - 07:25 PM
Thought of another way to secure the plug on the muffler side so I just stuck it back in the freezer and we'll see what happens in about 3-4hrs. It usually pushes the plug out at about 3 hrs.
Posted 11 December 2005 - 11:42 PM
The last time worked, it pushed about 75% of the dent out. I'll try it again tomorrow to see if I can get the rest out 
Posted 12 December 2005 - 12:14 AM
I fabed a plate that bolts over the end of the header...I used a generic schrader valve, pretty simple to make, freeze plug the other end and heat lightly red 40 to 50 psi 100% of the dent removed.
Easy stuff once you decide to do it.
Easy stuff once you decide to do it.
Posted 12 December 2005 - 06:06 AM
I tried the heat method also. 40 psi is what I used also, but this is also dependant on how much heat you use. The hotter the metal gets the easier it moves, but also makes it easier to blow out. The propane torch would allow it to move, but not all the way out. I then proceded to the oxy-acetylene torch and almost made my self and expansion chamber 
You have to gradually ease up to the optimal heat to get it just right, then it is easy 
Wear protective gear!
You have to gradually ease up to the optimal heat to get it just right, then it is easy Wear protective gear!
Posted 12 December 2005 - 06:19 AM
I was so sick of denting my stock pipe 
so i drilled a hole on the opposite side of the dent to push it out. I then used an asbestos exhaust gasket & 2 clamps to cover the hole so everytime i dent it now i just remove the header, punch out the dent, & put back the gasket & clamps 
works perfect
This procedure isn't the prettiest but is the only thing to do if your on the ground as much as i am. I smacked the header out about 4 times since i've had the bike 05 450 R i'll get another header if i ever decide to sell
so i drilled a hole on the opposite side of the dent to push it out. I then used an asbestos exhaust gasket & 2 clamps to cover the hole so everytime i dent it now i just remove the header, punch out the dent, & put back the gasket & clamps works perfect This procedure isn't the prettiest but is the only thing to do if your on the ground as much as i am. I smacked the header out about 4 times since i've had the bike 05 450 R
i'll get another header if i ever decide to sell
Posted 12 December 2005 - 01:31 PM
Does anyone make a good guard that will withstand the temps that these see? I have fixed the header on my 450x once already, and would like to find a guard so I don't have to worry about it so much everytime I hit the ground.
Posted 12 December 2005 - 02:13 PM
I would rather buy a new headpipe and spare myself playing with a bomb....
My bro has a radiator shop and he uses plugs and pressurizes radiators and other things, he only uses 10-20 lbs and sometimes the plugs fly, you dont want to be hit by them even at low pressures.
My bro has a radiator shop and he uses plugs and pressurizes radiators and other things, he only uses 10-20 lbs and sometimes the plugs fly, you dont want to be hit by them even at low pressures.
Posted 12 December 2005 - 03:01 PM
Cap the ends real good and freeze it. Should remove most if not all the dent.
Posted 12 December 2005 - 03:22 PM
gchprime said:
Cap the ends real good and freeze it. Should remove most if not all the dent.
Sounds like the most safe way to me.
Heating up somthing that is pressurized just sounds like an accident waiting to happen, yeah you might get away with it a couple of times but ya never know..
Posted 12 December 2005 - 03:42 PM
I just did the freezer method with my stock 2 smoke pipe. Worked like a charm. I bought two rubber expansion plugs from Napa. Plugged both ends. Filled the pipe with water. Removed all frozen food from the freezer. Pissed off the wife. Put the pipe in the freezer and a few hours later, no more dent.
Posted 24 December 2005 - 12:16 PM
450R pipe with two huge dents. Took a steel plate with three holes. Two to bolt up to header flange, and the third one I tapped with 1/8" pipe thread, and screwed my blowgun nozzle into it. Plugged the other end of the header with an expandable rubber freeze plug. Then heated the dents with O2_Acyt torch, and pulsed the blowgun trigger until the dents moved out. Looks ok, but definitely not like new....Works.
Posted 08 June 2008 - 07:34 AM
how did you keep the plug in i dented mine yesterday
mine is about the size of my thumb print
mine is about the size of my thumb print
Posted 08 June 2008 - 01:09 PM
I have a PC Ti4 that had a dent. Filled it up enough to cover the dent and then some, no plugs or end caps. Stood it up in my freezer overnight, did this about 3 times and for the most part the dent is gone.
It was from a point of a rock so it still has that punch mark but the dent around it is out.
It was from a point of a rock so it still has that punch mark but the dent around it is out.
Posted 08 June 2008 - 01:36 PM
Centrespike said:
I have a PC Ti4 that had a dent. Filled it up enough to cover the dent and then some, no plugs or end caps. Stood it up in my freezer overnight, did this about 3 times and for the most part the dent is gone.
It was from a point of a rock so it still has that punch mark but the dent around it is out.
It was from a point of a rock so it still has that punch mark but the dent around it is out.
Basically had the same thing on my stock pipe. I needed to do 5 applications, but the same end result. You can tell there was a dent, but the dent itself is gone. No capping, just put water in it, then placed it in the freezer so the water was where the dent was, and froze it. Dent was gone after 5 apps.
Posted 08 June 2008 - 04:54 PM
I agree with the above post of not using any plugs or heat. Just filled a little above the dent in the neck of header and stood up in freezer. Did about 4 times to get it almost new.
