Wrapping Pipes?
Tourer
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 455
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From: front door of Glacier NP
RE: Wrapping Pipes?
You asked... so I will give you my experience with the header wrap. My last bike was a 1996 FLSTF. Bought a set of the HD 2-1 pipes (I believe they were made by Kerker). I wrapped the headpipes with Thermo-tec (I believe that was the brand, could be wrong). The wrap did exactly what it was supposed to. Really cut down on the heat. To the point, that in cooler weather, I wish I had not wrapped. Regardless, ran the bike for 2 or 3 years with the wrap. Local shop gets a dyno. Take the bike in to get dynoed. We start to try a few different things. I don't know what made me look, but something wasn't right. Pull the wrap....the headpipe was pretty much cracked at all the welds and had some hairlines in the pipes themselves. Turned out that the wrap was also holding things together. The header wrap does exactly as advertised. My understanding is that it essentially bakes the carbon (or something) out of the pipes leading to the cracks. Would I wrap again? No way. To the point that I have two boxesof header wrap sitting in the basement collecting dust.I also have a muffler I cannot use.
I suppose if you do not put that many miles on, you might be ok.However, since the new stuff appears to run rather hot to begin with.....I won't use the stuff again. Unless I win the lottery and can afford to buy new pipes every year or two.
One mans experience. Takeit for whatever it is worth.
I suppose if you do not put that many miles on, you might be ok.However, since the new stuff appears to run rather hot to begin with.....I won't use the stuff again. Unless I win the lottery and can afford to buy new pipes every year or two.
One mans experience. Takeit for whatever it is worth.
Club Member
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 14,564
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From: the 50s & the 60s
RE: Wrapping Pipes?
ORIGINAL: FLHP1034ME
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Ihave two boxesof header wrap sitting in the basement collecting dust.
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Ihave two boxesof header wrap sitting in the basement collecting dust.
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I'd be more than happy to take that wrap off your hands ME.
Let me know what you want for it.
I've been using ThermoTec for at least the last 12 years,
on cars and sickles.
Never had any issue with cracking.
Now I have seen pipes crack - due to poor quality pipes.
My 46 Chevrolet is sitting outside right now with a 10 year oldwrap job.
Maybe I should go out and unwrap themcause they may be cracked.
mud
Tourer
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 455
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From: front door of Glacier NP
RE: Wrapping Pipes?
Mud: if'n you want the wrap, make me an offer I can't refuse and they are yours. I will get home this weekend and let you know exactly what I have.
Now, if you were inferring that the MOCO 2-1 pipes I paid (?) $4-$500 for all those years ago were "poor quality", hmmm....dunno. Tend to doubt it. Have many friends who have used SE exhaust w/o wrap.....interestingly none of them ever had any cracking issues. Nonetheless, $50 bucks of wrap cost me two exhaust systems. The cost for the system it toasted and the cost for a replacement set of pipes. The stuff does exactly what it says it will. It insulates the pipes and cuts the radiant heat. But the heat has togo somewhere. I am sure that somewhere out there, some engineer has done a study and will tell you that the heat of the pipes under that wrap is in fact hotter than unwrapped pipes. And with repeated heating/ cooling cycles....
Anyways, let me dig those two boxes out and I will let you know the part numbers so you know exactly what you are after. That is why on my current bike, the pipes will get replaced with some of them thar' ceramic coated items out there. I am sure they have their problems, too. Later.
Now, if you were inferring that the MOCO 2-1 pipes I paid (?) $4-$500 for all those years ago were "poor quality", hmmm....dunno. Tend to doubt it. Have many friends who have used SE exhaust w/o wrap.....interestingly none of them ever had any cracking issues. Nonetheless, $50 bucks of wrap cost me two exhaust systems. The cost for the system it toasted and the cost for a replacement set of pipes. The stuff does exactly what it says it will. It insulates the pipes and cuts the radiant heat. But the heat has togo somewhere. I am sure that somewhere out there, some engineer has done a study and will tell you that the heat of the pipes under that wrap is in fact hotter than unwrapped pipes. And with repeated heating/ cooling cycles....
Anyways, let me dig those two boxes out and I will let you know the part numbers so you know exactly what you are after. That is why on my current bike, the pipes will get replaced with some of them thar' ceramic coated items out there. I am sure they have their problems, too. Later.
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 26
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From:
RE: Wrapping Pipes?
what color is the wrap, and about how much do you have of it? i think im gonna gamble with the wrap, ill probably be sick of the pipes by the time they crack and it will just give me an excuse to change
Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 709
Likes: 1
From:
RE: Wrapping Pipes?
The only problem I see with wrapping the pipes would be the trapped moisture when they get wet. This could cause the premature failure of a set of pipes also the added weight of the wraps on the stress points of the pipes. If the wraps get wet and are not heated up until all moisture is out of them it will just sit and eat away on the pipes.
The theory BTW of wrapping the pipes is to keep the heat in the pipes which is supposed to help speed up the exhaust flow of the pipes. Which in turn helps evacuate the cylinder on the exhaust stroke. But could just be voodoo Horsepower.
The theory BTW of wrapping the pipes is to keep the heat in the pipes which is supposed to help speed up the exhaust flow of the pipes. Which in turn helps evacuate the cylinder on the exhaust stroke. But could just be voodoo Horsepower.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,306
Likes: 5
From: Bellville, Tx
RE: Wrapping Pipes?
ORIGINAL: plasmadaddy
Thanks all - yes I would use the existing pipes.
I'll get a mate in to help on this one!!!
Cheers
Plasma
Thanks all - yes I would use the existing pipes.
I'll get a mate in to help on this one!!!
Cheers
Plasma
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