Vance & Hines exhaust with mods

[88 gtu]

I have a pretty much new Vance & Hines exhaust for my bike. I had used header wrap on my stock header and really noticed a difference with the heat problems on warm days, so i decided to wrap this one too! I also welded in o2 bungs so, in theory, i can put a wideband AFR monitor on it to jet all 4 cylinders perfect and adjust the carbs so they run evenly. We'll see how it works!

[Pat Conlon]

Brian, did you check the Bosch specs on the O2 sensor before you welded the bungs?
The reason I ask is that the location of the O2 sensors need to be typically at least 24" or further away from the exhaust port.
The closer location which you have is just fine for EGT sensors which are also used for tuning.

[andyb]

With that much effort into it, why wrap it?  Powdercoat one and you'll never go back!

[88 gtu]

Pat, I didn't check the Bosch specs. That o2 was just in there for an example (it was what i had laying around) I'm gonna use an NGK AFX wideband. I'll have to check the specs there. Hopefully it's not an issue. Andy, Powdercoat it? really? i've never heard of that. Interesting, now i'll have to read about it!

[andyb]

Not just any powder will do, but there are some for that sort of application out there.  A friend just did a set of pipes that were spotted with rust by sandblasting them and having them powdered and cooked, and they came out absolutely brilliantly.  Another really good option is ceramic coating such as JetHot (which is probably a form of powder I'd imagine?).  Look into the stuff some of the car guys do to their headers, it also works on bike stuff, but motorcyclists tend to be more concerned about weight than the car guys are. 

I've just heard too many horror stories of the wraps holding moisture against the pipe and making corrosion worse than it'd be otherwise.  Probably in part due to people not being able to see the surface and see the rust coming, just one day the pipe falls in half.  Up to you!

[rktmanfj]

Not just any powder will do, but there are some for that sort of application out there.  A friend just did a set of pipes that were spotted with rust by sandblasting them and having them powdered and cooked, and they came out absolutely brilliantly.  Another really good option is ceramic coating such as JetHot (which is probably a form of powder I'd imagine?).  Look into the stuff some of the car guys do to their headers, it also works on bike stuff, but motorcyclists tend to be more concerned about weight than the car guys are. 

I've just heard too many horror stories of the wraps holding moisture against the pipe and making corrosion worse than it'd be otherwise.  Probably in part due to people not being able to see the surface and see the rust coming, just one day the pipe falls in half.  Up to you!

Nice thing about Jet-Hot is that they coat the pipe inside and out.

[terryk]

+1 on Jet-coat.

Is Jet-Hot a Powder Coat?
No, Jet-Hot coatings are ceramic or ceramic-metallic coatings that are sprayed on the part in a liquid medium. Powder coatings are electrostatically applied powders that are then melted together under lower heat conditions. Powder coating will not survive the high temperatures that Jet-Hot ceramic coatings will.

[Pat Conlon]

Swain Tech coatings are thicker than Jet Hot.

Swain has a product called White Lightening and it is very very good. Durable as hell.
http://www.swaintech.com/store.asp?pid=10969

I Swain coated the collector box on my '84 and it is noticeably cooler under there. It's much easier on the chin fairing. 

[Mark Olson]

I have a pretty much new Vance & Hines exhaust for my bike. I had used header wrap on my stock header and really noticed a difference with the heat problems on warm days, so i decided to wrap this one too! I also welded in o2 bungs so, in theory, i can put a wideband AFR monitor on it to jet all 4 cylinders perfect and adjust the carbs so they run evenly. We'll see how it works!

Brian.
Looks good , 

you are gonna have to notch the lower faring for the V/H pipes to fit anyway, so whats a little extra for the mummified header. some will rewrap once a year but the V/H pipes rust out pretty quick depending on your local weather and if you ride in the rain or wet roads.
3yrs if wet all the time or 10+ for dry climate.

should keep your fender from melting .

[moonrunnah]

so how did the o2s work out