Side pipe mountings

[Paul B]

I have been running side pipes for about a year and notice the connetion between the exhaust manifold and the down pipe that passes out through the body, keeps coming loose.

I have tried mounting the side pipes very rigidly and even quite loosely but this first section keeps coming loose. It appears that the engine movement whilst running means that something must give but what?

On Dax Cobra's I notice they only use a single mounting for the actual side pipe but the Pilgrim Sumo's have two.

I also notice the side pipes want to twist outwards from the mounting points, under the eccentric weight of the pipes.

Has anyone else had this problem and have you found a suitable cure ?

Maybe I should use two Mini exhaust bobbins per mounting instead of the one, as advised ?

[kdavies3]

It's not a problem I've had yet but I've only done 300 miles since the SVA 'cos of the weather (no hood);(
how about drilling a small hole through both the header and side pipe and screwing in a self tapper this should lock everything together.
Or if you don't want to drill then how about two exhaust clamps one on the header and one on collector and then lock wire the two together then it can't fall off. :7

[Paul B]

Hi Keith

It's not a case of the fittings falling off, more a case of the pipe rotating loose on the manifold connection. This then leaks and causes embarrassing popping and banging on the overrun due to air entering the exhaust system as well as exhaust blackening the manifold !

So I tighten it some more, to the point where the pipe gets deformed and still does not permanently seal.

As I said the other problem is side pipe droop (Ooer missus) due to the eccentric load on the pipe mountings.

One word of advice about the winter, I finished mine last November and could not keep off the road. The result ?? This winter I am stripping it down again to clean and repair the salt damaged paint work etc !!!

[breskit]

You have used exhaust sealing paste, right? If you have, it sounds like the pipes you have are not the right size for each other. If you are clamping it up and, as you say, the pipe is deforming - do you have the right size clamp?

The pipes I have for my Sumo are a tight fit without any paste. Putting paste on the pipe and an exhaust clamp make it almost imposible for the pipes to come apart. Not looking forward to have to take them apart. ;(

Tony B
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http://homepage.ntlworld.com/tony.breski

[Paul B]

Yes I am using Firegum sealing compound and yes it is a b***er to get off. But as the engine rocks something must give between the engine and the sidepipe mountings. I find this "give" is shown as a slight rotation of the intermediate pipe and thus breaking the gas tight seal.

I therefore tighten the clamps even tighter, it seals for a while then the rotational forces break the seal and it needs even more tightening !!!

I even tried buying some flexible exhaust pipe (pretty expensive !!) but this doesn't bend tight enough to connect between the manifold and the side pipes.

So I am back to square one.

Surely someone else has this problem ??

[Dan]

Don't understand how your pipe can rotate? The side pipe should be secured in two places with large bobbins. The only way I can see a rotational force braking the seal would be if the bobbins were loose? Did the side pipes come from Pilgrim? was there a gap between side pipe and the header pipe before you started clamping? do you have a large area of contact between the inner and outer pipes or only where the pipes has been clamped? How many clamps do yo have.

I owned a Mini once, On a long journey the Exhaust snapped in the center (Well rusted would have been a better word). I was able to make a road side repair using 2 clamps, gun gum and a beer can (Being a Student I had plenty lying around in the footwells (For the passengers mind) ). The can was cut open and the top and bottom removed so I had a rectangular sheet of metal, The inside was lined with gun gum, wrapped around the exhaust and clipped either side of the hole. The repair was so good it lasted for 2 years.

I'm not suggesting you use a beer can - but maybe somthing that could be clamped across from the side pipe to the header pipe that will stop the 2 parting company?

[breskit]

Dan,

What are you doing letting your fellow students eat gun gum???? Or did I read that wrongly!! :7 :7

Tony B
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http://homepage.ntlworld.com/tony.breski

[dave]

You can get some very high temperature silicone sealer that will remain flexibly, so if you exhausts are a bit iffy and work loose they wont blow.

[Jnex26]

Ok the Suggestions about the drilling hols and using self tapping screws would probably work becuase it would stop any movement all together.

Although this would not stop the problem of the vibrations. i would say to check your engine mounts. if they are too lose the engine would rock too much (especially under acceleration) or you should check your engine.

Althouhg i could be compeltely wrong as i'm just starting out.

[Kevin W]

Dave,
that sounds like the stuff I need - tryring to match custome chrome sidepipes to pilgrim manifolds has proved to be a nightmare.

Where can I get some, whats it called?

Is it OK to apply thi Silicon goop to the manifold / sidepipe joint - it gets very hot?

Kevin