Anybody that has removed the cat from their OEM headpipe on a 09 or newer bike, what type metal are the headpipes made of & what type rod did you use when welding it back together? Thanks in advance.

 

I have welded a few head pipes on Harleys. Nothing newer than a 04. All I have ever used was a common mild steel wire in my MIG. Keep your interpass temp low and I don't think you will have any problems. I wouldn't try to stick weld them TIG or MIG is you best bet.

 

They are made out of melted down Honda's and Suzuki's

 

so they're made of plastic?

 

a magnet sticks to them. The welder I talked to said they were nothing special to weld.

 

they way our steel is made today is not saying much, it really wouldn't hurt to have a mig welder weld it up with a low grade stainless like 304 or 308, with that set-up it will never rust out, that head pipe will fall off before that weld will rust.

 

FWIW I used 6013, 5/64"; worked well.