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Message started by stewmills on 06/29/16 at 09:36:19

Title: Safe way to check for exhaust leaks
Post by stewmills on 06/29/16 at 09:36:19

(neat idea I stole form this car guy)

1) MAKE SURE THE EXHAUST IS COLD
2) Set vacuum from "suck" to "blow"
3) Connect to muffler
4) Hold a candle or grill lighter around the connection points and look for flame getting blown around

Think there is any negative impact to the Savage, such as junk getting blown back into the cylinder?

Title: Re: Safe way to check for exhaust leaks
Post by Dave on 06/29/16 at 09:56:43

Before you do this.....put the bike in gear and slowly push the bike forward until you feel the piston come to the compression stroke - then the valves will be closed and nothing will blow past the exhaust valve.

I remember reading a story about a fellow in the Corvair Club that wanted to siphon the fuel out of his car - but he didn't want to put his mouth on the siphon hose and get a mouth full of gasoline. So he got the bright idea of using his vacuum cleaner to get the siphon action started....then he could quickly shove the end of the siphon hose into his fuel can. The problem was that when the fuel came out the siphon hose and mixed with the air in the vacuum cleaner hose.....it became a fuel/air mix that traveled into the vacuum cleaner - and it found a spark or two in the electric motor...."BOOM"! The fellow wanted to warn his other club member about it so they wouldn't do the same thing - but the reverse actually happened. The member started blowing up vacuum cleaners on purpose.....and even had contests at their club gatherings.

Title: Re: Safe way to check for exhaust leaks
Post by Serowbot on 06/29/16 at 12:18:15

Geee,.. that sounds real safe... ::)

Somebody’s pullin' yer' leg, Stew...

Title: Re: Safe way to check for exhaust leaks
Post by stewmills on 06/29/16 at 12:29:10

Pullin' my leg....? Dave's the one talking about blowing stuff up!

Title: Re: Safe way to check for exhaust leaks
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 06/29/16 at 16:45:15

Corvairs, dangerous even parked..
Actually, they got a bum rap..

Title: Re: Safe way to check for exhaust leaks
Post by Kris01 on 06/29/16 at 19:12:00

Why not just let it idle and put a candle/lighter near the joints? It's the same thing.

Title: Re: Safe way to check for exhaust leaks
Post by Dave on 06/30/16 at 03:58:24

6A5348521110210 wrote:

Why not just let it idle and put a candle/lighter near the joints? It's the same thing.

Sorry to have distracted the thread with my Corvair Club anticst....I actually like the idea of using the vacuum. When you are running the engine to look for leaks.....things get noisy and hot and it is easy to get burned.

Title: Re: Safe way to check for exhaust leaks
Post by Gus on 06/30/16 at 06:15:23

This sounds like a solid way to find leaks. Trouble is I can see folks heading all kinds of directions with this. No telling where they may end up.
Daves addition to the initial instruction is helpful too; in all seriousness.

Title: Re: Safe way to check for exhaust leaks
Post by Kris01 on 06/30/16 at 16:41:13

19222F3829253E38232B26394A0 wrote:

...and it is easy to get burned.

Sorry Dave, I have to play Devil's Advocate. Anyone with half a brain knows to not touch a hot exhaust pipe.

Title: Re: Safe way to check for exhaust leaks
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 07/01/16 at 03:17:59

Yes, everyone Knows not to touch a hot exhaust.
Checking for exhaust system Leaks means working close To the exhaust system, and the connections that need checked aren't exactly easy to get close to and maintain a safe distance From..
Everyone Knows the knife is sharp, too.. And they get cut anyway.

Title: Re: Safe way to check for exhaust leaks
Post by Dave on 07/01/16 at 05:50:54

I don't like working around hot chrome pipes. I have had 3 pretty serious burns from chrome exhaust pipes....one of them took months to heal and left a scar on my calf for about 10 years. I still have a faint scar on my arm from a Suzuki GS550 when I worked at a dealer and was changing oil in a customers bike.....in 1976!

Title: Re: Safe way to check for exhaust leaks
Post by LANCER on 07/01/16 at 14:39:04

08333E2938342F29323A37285B0 wrote:

1976 ? ?

That was just day before yesterday !

Title: Re: Safe way to check for exhaust leaks
Post by KennyG on 07/01/16 at 23:14:59

Half the girls in Lancaster, PA that would hang out at The Little Pig Diner had burns like Lancer is describing on the their calf from leaning on my 1960 Sportster.

I caught hell from a lot of parents back in the day.

Kenny G

Title: Re: Safe way to check for exhaust leaks
Post by Art Webb on 07/02/16 at 07:18:42

0B252E0332213328400 wrote:

Right, not the girl's fault for being unaware that hot piped burn you, your fault for hav8ing hot pipes ::) ;D

Title: Re: Safe way to check for exhaust leaks
Post by Serowbot on 07/02/16 at 08:44:09

Option 2... put bacon in there, cork the end, and see if yer' dog can find it... :-/

Title: Re: Safe way to check for exhaust leaks
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 07/02/16 at 09:17:37

If he starts sniffing around the muffler/header connection, there you go.... And then you can uncork and fire up and cook the bacon, gas it, blow it out and give him a reward..