Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums Exhaust Header wrapping

ok i give up searching

im gonna wrap my headers/exhaust down to new sleep on cocktails,,,and i was wondering if y'all want to share any tips etc...should i remove headers from the bike(do they come off easy?) i noticed a cross brace welding them together below ...also should i remove the heat sheild and if so any tips on cutting the welds?

I wrapped my headers on the bike. Just start at the top and fit a clamp. Then make sure you wrap tight and use a spray bottle of water to lightly wet the fabric as you wrap ( it helps you get it tighter ) when you get to where you want to stop, fit another clamp and trim the excess. I stopped short of the heat shields.

Then when both headers are done, start the bike up and run it and get ready for alot of smoke. Don't do it near the washing line if the Missus has just put the clothes out. The smoke will begin to get less, then its time to go for a ride.

For the next week you will find smoke coming off the exhaust when you stop and people will make comments like "hey mate, you're bikes on fire etc" but after that no more smoke.

Good luck.

thanks,,,so you left the headers on and just wrapped them? ...water bottle trick thanks.

I took my pipes off the bike. Just thought it would be easer to get a tighter wrap. I also soaked the wrap in water before wrap them. I let everything dry in the sun for a day then painted with bar-b-que paint.

Yep Pauly I did em on the bike without taking them off, no probs. Just make sure you wrap tight.

Why do they smoke? The wrap itself smokes?

The wrap smokes at first and has to be cooked onto the pipe. This is part of the installation process. It smokes a heck of alot the first time so I suggest you just let it idle for awhile out in the air away from the washing etc. It gradually lessens and then you can take it for a ride. It will smoke a little bit for about four to five days but eventually stops doing that.

So what happens when you remove the wrap? Are the pipes stained? I'm still waffling between wrap and ceramic coat. I've already got the kit to wrap them...

I debated this too but a local dude told me chrome headers will be black after taping them. So if I waste do it I would have to always have them taped or would have to ceramic coat them in the future. Decided cool with te blueing.

Maybe I'll just coat the whole shebang. Watch for a pipe wrap kit in the classifieds.

Hmmm now that I talked you into not doing it I can get the wrap cheap and change my mind. Haha!

If you ask me, and you didn't, I think ceramic coating the whole thing would look cool and they can do all sorts of colors. I was told powder coating won't withstand the heat.

I do like the taped look but I'm too cheap to suck it up and buy new headers if I change my mind-like I always do a year later with my mods!

wrapped my today...love the look..makes motor look a lil more beefy...now if i can just stop itching...btw...dont wear your new clothes

Pictures!

Thats right Pauly, we need pics.

http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/179860_1843365081134_1150817441_2196487_1747355_n.jpg

Nice job Pauly. I love the look of wrapped pipes. I bet that exhaust sounds sweet.

No sprocket cover!! You are a brave man.

with your guys advice...thank you...i removed the headers...fun...dry wrapped first for length,,,then spray bottle with water as i wrapped...not bad for a one legged man with no vice to hold them..while i was at it i added a new set of cocktails...now to find the procom setting and jet combo to smooth out the running...hmmm???

what pack did you use the 1"x50' roll or the 2"X25' rolls pack?

did you remove the outer pipe or go over both?

went over

Just seen this thread

For what its worth, I just rewrapped mine last season and got to see the headers after being wrapped since the previous owner. Dont know when he wrapped them, but Ive had the bike 3 years.

The pipes were in pretty good shape if you ask me. I could see slight scuff lines where the tape had originally been, but no rust or any corrosion besides them being pretty tarnished.

And my bike had been parked in a leaky damp musty shed for the entire time Ive had it. Even got caught in the rain a few times.

+1

I removed mine after about three years to slide a "heat sink" up the header pipe.

The pipe and chrome finish was flawless.

Not even the normal wear and tear, scuffs & scrathes that "Exposed" pipes inevitably get.

(I did have to clean residue off, and I keep the bike under a cover. But it does get caught in the rain, sometimes)

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2-x-30-BL...sQ5fAccessories

think 15' would cover the header on one pipe

According to the manufacture, you need 44" of the wrap to do 1' of a 2" dia. pipe. Plus you "lose" some on the bends, It will be close.

I bought one 50' roll 2" wide and had a 3+ feet left over. Youre supposed to overlap at the mid point and I stuck to that pretty closely.

thanks guys I guess Im geting the 2 2" x 25' rolls then. the prices on ebay seem good.

I wouldve thought one 50' roll would be cheaper?

I used a 50' roll and just cut it in half, no leftovers.