Header Dent

[fjrbrad]

Was doing an oil change the other day and noticed a good dent in the right side header. I usually stay on the left side where the filter and filler is and decided to move some cardboard around on the other side and noticed it. It is the right side pipe right before the cat, and it is dented more than half. Is this restriction going to cause any damage to the internals running it this way, as I have a trip planned for next weekend. How do I get it out of there short of removing the exhaust drilling it from the top and using a punch to hammer it out through the hole and welding a patch over the top. I am sure someone here has had the same problem. I wouldnt worry about it if it was small but this is a large dent. If only the system had a disconnect at the cat it would be easy to access and get out. Thanks.

 

[FJRBluesman]

It won't ruin any internals of the engine, it just may not run as well tuned.

Do you have a good welder that also does exhaust? We have a guy in SoCal (Huntington Beach, CA), Jim Shirley Welding. He also used to build custom exhaust systems for two-strokes etc. I always take my stuff to him. He's very reasonable, I mean like dirt cheap, many welders charge a minimum etc that is very pricey.

One thing that can be done with a welder not being much of an exhaust guy (usually they are pretty good with metal stuff period), is to cut the header at the dent. They can then either heat it up, or use a pipe expander, get it back to size, then weld it back up. Easy peasy.

I would not try drilling holes etc and yanking on it then plugging it, although it would work just not as clean.

Good luck.

 

[fjrbrad]

I guess the other thing I could do is look around for someone who has gone with and aftermarket exhaust, buy their old header that is sitting on a shelf in the garage, and install that. Thanks for the info, I was mostly concerned with doing damage internally. The pipe looks to be the same colour as the others so I would have to assume it isnt running at much different a temperature than the other 3 pipes. Thanks.

 

[Bustanut joker]

IIRC ..radman was sellin' his stock pipes awhile back.. Might check with him.

:jester:

 

[fjrbrad]

IIRC ..radman was sellin' his stock pipes awhile back.. Might check with him.
:jester:

Thankyou, I will.

 

[Big-D]

To have the exhaust header get dented like you describe, you must have hit something pretty substantial. Doesn't seem like a rock possibly thrown up by the front tire would have done that.

Just curious as to what you think you may have done or hit to have caused such a dent? The exhaust material is pretty stout, especially on a bend area.

 

[fjrbrad]

To have the exhaust header get dented like you describe, you must have hit something pretty substantial. Doesn't seem like a rock possibly thrown up by the front tire would have done that.
Just curious as to what you think you may have done or hit to have caused such a dent? The exhaust material is pretty stout, especially on a bend area.

It certainly wasnt me, it was the previous owner. It is on the straight section just before the cat on the very bottom. Looks like he ran over a curb or something, because the pipe is also lightly scratched further back behind the cat.

 

[canyonman]

If your riding off road in rocky terrain it's not difficult to dent one. Or so i've heard

 

[FJRBluesman]

I guess the other thing I could do is look around for someone who has gone with and aftermarket exhaust, buy their old header that is sitting on a shelf in the garage, and install that. Snip>>>

Excellent idea! :yahoo:
Maybe cheaper than getting it welded. I've seen numerous headers on ebay, maybe someone here might be parting one out.

 

[Ordrock]

I dinted the **** out of mine as well, because I thought I could jump curbs like I did with other bikes. I recommend that you don't jump off your CRF 450 after a weekend of moto cross and ride the FJR. The damn thing wont clear the slightest curb.

 

[Patriot]

a concrete lined ditch with ramp like sides jumped right out in front of me as I tooled along a road through a spillway near Hattiesburg MS.

shock bottomed on impact and the center stand bracket exhaust mounts both were bent pretty good...there's a dent in one of the header pipes as well.

that was many tens of thousands of miles ago and no issues

https://www.flickr.com/photos/mholiver/sets...57624843708841/

 

[LAF]

a concrete lined ditch with ramp like sides jumped right out in front of me as I tooled along a road through a spillway near Hattiesburg MS.
shock bottomed on impact and the center stand bracket exhaust mounts both were bent pretty good...there's a dent in one of the header pipes as well.

that was many tens of thousands of miles ago and no issues

https://www.flickr.com/photos/mholiver/sets...57624843708841/

Just me but I would need to have that first from the left fixed. There is no way that cylinder is running right. No way the valves are doing their job, and I would venture to say you will eat a valve seal or seat over time. No way that exhaust is clearing the exhaust gasses in the time that valve is open. With a pipe restricted like that there is no way it could be.

Just my opinion and not worth more then the time it took to type.

 

[RaYzerman19]

Yeppir! IMHO them's needing replacement before too long!

 

[johnny80s]

Take it to a muffler shop and have them repair it.

 

[stealth1]

The pipes do dent easily when used off road.

I have a small dent in one of mine that showed up after falling into a hole while riding a gravel road that was covered with water.

I guess that's why they aren't classified as adventure tourers.

 

[palerider]

I dinted the **** out of mine as well, because I thought I could jump curbs like I did with other bikes. I recommend that you don't jump off your CRF 450 after a weekend of moto cross and ride the FJR. The damn thing wont clear the slightest curb.

I dented mine when a security guard left after closing the garage gate in an office-building where I was working after hours. I came down to find the that the only way out was through the front doors and down the steps and across the sidewalk and over the curb. The steps were fairly shallow, but my pipes hit. Actually I was lucky the bike didn't get hung up on step three with the wheels on steps two and four.

 

[RadioHowie]

I dinted the **** out of mine as well, because I thought I could jump curbs like I did with other bikes. I recommend that you don't jump off your CRF 450 after a weekend of moto cross and ride the FJR. The damn thing wont clear the slightest curb.

I dented mine when a security guard left after closing the garage gate in an office-building where I was working after hours. I came down to find the that the only way out was through the front doors and down the steps and across the sidewalk and over the curb. The steps were fairly shallow, but my pipes hit. Actually I was lucky the bike didn't get hung up on step three with the wheels on steps two and four.

Isn't that Chapter 2 of "Stupid Things You Shouldn't Do!" by Wile E. Coyote from Acme Publishing?

 

[palerider]

I dinted the **** out of mine as well, because I thought I could jump curbs like I did with other bikes. I recommend that you don't jump off your CRF 450 after a weekend of moto cross and ride the FJR. The damn thing wont clear the slightest curb.

I dented mine when a security guard left after closing the garage gate in an office-building where I was working after hours. I came down to find the that the only way out was through the front doors and down the steps and across the sidewalk and over the curb. The steps were fairly shallow, but my pipes hit. Actually I was lucky the bike didn't get hung up on step three with the wheels on steps two and four.

Isn't that Chapter 2 of "Stupid Things You Shouldn't Do!" by Wile E. Coyote from Acme Publishing?

Actually I wrote that book using Wile E. Coyote as my nom de putz.

 

[radman]

Probably been axed before, but will a Gen 1 header fit a Gen 2 machine?