Sure this has been done to death...

[DoktorMandrake]

But my pipes are leaking. Or one is. The one running from the front right cylinder the goes under the sump. Where it joins underneath the bike to the rear section of pipe. Could this cause her to be slightly down on power? I remember when my original VFR had the same problem, albeit a lot worse (she sounded like a tank), I thought she was running on 3 to begin with. It's a reasonable leak as it's where the two sections of pipe from the front join the back two. Both appear to have not v substantial jubilee clips on 'em and plenty of gungum. However, the left one is leaking. So I am wondering what's the best way to sort it? They're stainless by the looks of it, so can't see corrosion being a problem. Haven't had the weather really for me to get up close and personal with it, but I guess if I swapped the jubilee/pipe clip for an exhaust clamp it might make a diff. Had a quick check on eBay and found a few clamps but am wondering what sizes etc? Also, are they open ended? So I don't have to remove the pipes to slip it on the end I can just pull the two ends apart and slip it round underneath?

[DoktorMandrake]

Any thoughts people? I know it's a big bit of eye-rotting text. So to break it down...

Pipe is blowing under the sump where rear pipes join front.

Only one side is blowing. Left hand coupling.

Pipes are clamped with jubilee clips and some kind of wadding + gungum

Wondered if a specific exhaust clamp would help?

What diameter exhaust clamp would I require and are they open ended so I can slip 'em over the pipe and don't have to remove the headers etc.?

Also, it's a relatively big leak, could this cause it to be slightly down on power?

Experiences, input, suggestions would be appreciated. Ta!

[CRM]

remove exhaust, send to greame france, he chops the rot off and welds new stainless collars to the pipe. fit and forget. cost around 60 - 70 if i recall

[CMSMJ1]

remove exhaust, send to greame france, he chops the rot off and welds new stainless collars to the pipe. fit and forget. cost around 60 - 70 if i recall

What he said...of buy some new ones off Geoff33...

[DoktorMandrake]

Appreciate the responses chaps.

They look like stainless pipes, so why do the collars rot?

Also, am skint til mid-Jan so was hoping for a cheaper solution. I.e. clamps

Do the Delkevic RVF pipes fit btw? Just for future reference. They don't seem to do VFR ones.

Does Geoff33 do new ones or second hand ones? Might have to PM him.

Do you have to drop the engine out to get the rear headers off? Is that the only way? I am presuming that involves draining the cooling system, removing carbs, etc.?

[fastdruid]

AFAIR the pipes are stainless, the clamps are not!

No, you don't need to drop the engine.

Druid

[DoktorMandrake]

Seems crazy to make stainless pipes and mild steel collars.

So it's easy enough to get at both sets of headers without dropping the engine? Would be nice although I have heard on other threads on here and elsewhere that you need to drop the lump out.

[fastdruid]

NC21/24 you need to drop the engine, NC30/35 you don't. The NC21/24 pipes go down the centre of the bike, the NC30/35 go to one side and there is a little cast manifold for the rear cylinders that makes life a lot easier, its a bit tight but with the right tools you can remove the three nuts with only needing to remove the RHS hanger.

RVF400 shown here but the VFR400 is nearly identical.



Druid

[DoktorMandrake]

Nice one, Druid. Thanks for clearing that up. Might have to see what I can do about getting some new pipes then. Have had a couple of offers from forum members. Although I was hoping a clamp might momentarily sort them due to being fuckin' skint. So how come if the pipes are stainless do the collars rot? Is there a decent short term fix? By undoing the current jubilee clips am I likely to make it worse? Ahhh, so many questions. Do VFRs come with stainless pipes as standard then?

Btw, what's that object on the top of your shock between the adjuster and the spring that looks like a big bush?

[royster81]

Do the Delkevic RVF pipes fit btw?

link to them would be handy fella .