Motorcycle exhaust is one of the motorcycle parts that most riders like to talk about, and the most obvious reason for that is that this system is not only responsible for exhausting and sending post-combustion gasses from the motorcycle out in the atmosphere, but it also gives your motorcycle that recognizable sound that most of the riders love.
If you have ever heard that the sound of your motorcycle exhaust has some kind of different sound, it may appoint that there is something wrong with your exhaust system (usually pipes) and that you will need to check it and possibly repair it. That’s why we will tell you all the things you need to know to fix your exhaust pipes.
So how do you repair motorcycle exhaust pipes? In general, you need to take off the exhaust pipe and visually inspect it. If the exhaust pipe is dented, you need to fill it with water and place it into a freezer, so it expands and removes a dent. To fix holes, you need a mesh for covering smaller holes and metal sheeting to cover bigger ones.
Stay with us as we will write about another motorcycle exhaust-related stuff such as how to clean exhaust pipes.
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How to Repair Your Motorcycle Exhaust Pipes?
One of the parts of your motorcycle exhaust system is a motorcycle exhaust pipe, and it is usually a part that most of the riders replace. I have never met a rider who doesn’t care about his bike’s sound, which is why most of them change their stock pipes and mufflers with adjusted ones that satisfy their need for increasing motorcycle horsepower and sound, of course.
If you hear any unusual and strange noise coming from your motorcycle exhaust pipe, it indicates that your pipe needs to be repaired. Changing or fixing your exhaust pipe dent is not a demanding task to do. If you notice a large hole in your pipe, you will be able to repair and seal it, but this will be just a temporary solution, and you will have to take it to a skilled professional technician to fix that problem.
We will show you the most common problems that can happen to your exhaust pipes and what you can do to deal with them, so stay with us and let’s get to work.
Here is a great article about How Does Motorcycle Exhaust System Work, so click on this link if you want to learn more.
How to Fix Dent on Exhaust Pipe?
Step 1: Prepare Your Motorcycle
The best and easiest way to perform this task is to park your motorcycle on a flat, hard surface like your garage or in front of your house if you have a paved or concrete surface.
CAUTION: DO NOT put your bike on a soft surface like grass because it can fall and cause more damage to other bike parts or, even worse, fall on you and hurt you.
Make sure that the engine is cooled, so you don’t burn yourself. Use your motorcycle manual to see all the necessary information specific to your bike before starting the process. Search for information that is related to your exhaust pipe.
Step 2: Protect Yourself
As in any other repairing and maintaining procedure, there is no difference with fixing your exhaust system. Your safety and the safety of others (if you will have any help) who will help you in this process is the most important aspect; there is no use if you or someone else gets hurt.
Note: Use protective gloves and protective eyeglasses all the time during the repairing process.
Step 3: Take off the Exhaust Pipe
To remove the exhaust pipe, you need to take a wrench and loosen and remove the screws that keep the exhaust pipe attached to your motorcycle. Once you have unscrewed the screws, you will need to put them in someplace safe, so you know where they are until you need them later. Take off the exhaust pipe and fill the exhaust pipe with water.
Step 4: Fix a Pipe Dent
Take the exhaust pipe filled with water and place it into a freezer. What it will do is expand the water once the water turns into ice. This expansion will remove the dent out of your exhaust pipe, and this problem should be gone in a matter of a day. If the dent is still there, take the pipe out of the freezer and leave it, so the water melts down. Take the exhaust pipe, refill it with water and return it to the freezer again. Repeat the process as long as the dent is not gone.
Note: Make sure to check the dent on your pipe every 3-4 hours.
Step 5: Return the Exhaust Pipe
Once you have repaired the exhaust pipe, return the pipe to your motorcycle. Make sure you return all the screws to their proper position (that’s why you need to put them in some safe space, so you don’t lose them), tighten the screws.
This was a step-by-step guide on how to repair a dent on your exhaust pipe. Now we will show you how to deal with small holes that could happen on your exhaust pipe.
How to Fix Small Holes on Exhaust Pipe?
Step 1: Clean a Small Hole
Take a wire brush and use it to clean a small hole in your exhaust pipe. Make sure that you have cleaned all the dirt and residue on your pipe because it needs to be as clean as possible.
Step 2: Get a Mesh
Cut a piece of mesh with a utility knife and make sure that it is bigger than the hole you intend to fix. Once you have cut a mesh, place it over the small hole.
Step 3: Cold-Weld the Mesh
Put the cold-weld mixture on the mesh and let it dry completely.
Tip: If you have never done a cold-weld kind of repair, make sure to read the manufacturer’s instructions before you start the work.
Step 4: Check the Sound
After you have completed all the previous steps, you need to start the engine and listen to if your exhaust has a normal sound like it used to and if everything is fine. Leave it to work for a few minutes and visually inspect any other holes or leaks.
These were instructions on how to deal with smaller holes that could happen on your motorcycle exhaust pipe, and now the last thing that you could deal with are larger holes. Stay with us as we will explain how to eliminate this problem as well.
Here is a great article about What Sound Does a Motorcycle Produce, so click on this link if you want to learn more.
How to Fix Large Holes on Exhaust Pipe?
Step 1: Get a Metal Sheeting
Larger holes demand a stronger solution than a mesh can provide, and that means that you will need to use metal sheeting to deal with this problem. The best way to cut metal sheeting is to use metal snips. Cut a piece of metal sheeting large enough to cover this big hole you are facing.
Step 2: Place the Metal Sheeting
Place the metal sheeting on the right spot, completely covering the hole and using muffler clamps to secure it. Make sure not to overtighten the clamps; they must fit enough over the exhaust pipe. It is not good to apply too much pressure on the exhaust pipe because it will lead to further damage.
Step 3: Last Check
Turn your motorcycle engine on and listen carefully for any strange sound. In the case where there are larger holes in your exhaust pipe, most of the time, the best and only solution is to take your exhaust pipe to a skilled professional who has experience in this field.
How to Clean Your Motorcycle Exhaust Pipes?
Motorcycle exhaust pipes are a part of a motorcycle where a lot of dirt and debris can accumulate over time, especially if you like to ride during the whole year. This means that you need to know how to deal with this culprit, and this is the perfect place where you will find all the needed answers.
Note: Cleaning exhaust pipes is not something complicated to do, and anyone can perform this job, so don’t worry if you have never dealt with this kind of challenge.
Step 1: Spray a Metal Cleaner
Use a metal cleaner and spray the exhaust pipes with it. Make sure you buy a metal cleaner suitable for the material that your exhaust pipe is made of. Leave the cleaner for 10-15 minutes, and then use a scrub brush, scrubbing pad, sponge, or washcloth to clean the exhaust pipes.
Step 2: Wash Your Pipes
Wash your motorcycle exhaust pipes after you have scrubbed all the dirt off them. Clean all the tracks that may develop while cleaning the exhaust; the best way to do it is to use a water-filled spray bottle or a damped washcloth. Take a clean piece of cloth and use it to dry the exhaust pipes.
Step 3: Apply Metal Polish
Apply metal polish to your exhaust pipes using a rubbing pad or a soft cloth. The metal polish needs to be manufactured to suit the material that your exhaust pipes are made of.
Here is a nice video you can watch to see how to clean your motorcycle exhaust pipes:
Conclusion
Many riders find the exhaust system, especially exhaust pipes, a fun thing to deal with since almost all riders (i have never met a rider that doesn’t care about the sound of his bike) care about their motorcycle sound. This is an exciting part of a motorcycle that I personally like very much. I have taken my stock exhaust pipe from my Kawasaki Z750 and put LeoVince instead, and I can tell you there is a hell of a difference in the sound.