CB/CL350 Exhaust

chrisf

Over 1,000 Posts
Hi Gents:

Whilst Kit has the tins for my RD400, I figured I'd start building exhausts. The plan was to build a few in mild, then switch to stainless. Well, after talking with some guys over on caferacer.net, I realized I had a lot to learn before tackling the expensive stainless.

Anyway, this build will document how I build first the mild steel 2-1 exhaust, then the stainless 2-1 exhaust. These will be for sale afterwards.

First up though, I needed to polish up on my welding. So I bought a bunch of razors and welded them together! These are the first set, I have about 80 more to build before I'll start on the stainless. I want my welds perfect! Afterall, it's one thing to pile on the filler doing aluminum and an entirely different matter doing it properly.

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--Thanks, Chris
 
Those are just fused. With material that thin, there is obviously no need for a filler...

Price for the pipes. It will depend on the quality. Probably $250 or a bit more for mild and quite a bit more in stainless. By more importantly, follow along because there will be some cool features. These aren't your generic mac 2-1...

--Thanks, chris
 
chrisf said:
Those are just fused. With material that thin, there is obviously no need for a filler...

Price for the pipes. It will depend on the quality. Probably $250 or a bit more for mild and quite a bit more in stainless. By more importantly, follow along because there will be some cool features. These aren't your generic mac 2-1...

--Thanks, chris

Tig welding?

damn i should get a tig....

i want to build some 2 into 1 for myself, but ill only be able to do it if i can do it with my MIG

xP
 
Rocan said:
Tig welding?

damn i should get a tig....

i want to build some 2 into 1 for myself, but ill only be able to do it if i can do it with my MIG

xP

I had plans of buying a mig and building my own exhaust as well as doing some sheet metal work. However after doing some homework, I realized that trying to mig thin gauged metal is like trying to hammer a nail into a threaded hole. You might get it to stick, but itll look like shit and wont hold worth a damn.

So now my plans have changed. There is a community art center that has metal sculpture classes, and they rent shop space to current and former students at decent rates. You could probably find something similar locally as well.
 
Thanks for the replies gents (and the info on welder access :) )

Starting tomorrow, i have the rest of the week off. I should have two mild steel exhaust with a 2" stainless tip available and possibly a stainless exhaust. The first stainless exhaust is going on my bike and will have a reverse cone megaphone. The remaining stainless exhaust--if I get it done--will be available, but it will have a regular 2" outlet.

Actual prices to follow. I need figure out my exact cost first.

--Thanks, Chris
 
I don't understand the question. I'm making the 2-1 headers and welding a 2" stainless tip on it. None of the systems will have a silencer on the end--just open exhaust.

It will be pretty much like this (http://www.motofiaccone.com/moto/40-cl350-cafe-racer/75-building-a-2-1-exhaust
), but but with tighter, 2.5" CLR bends and will be TIG welded. I'll likely fuse the pieces together, but if someone wants a stack-of-dimes weld, I can do that too. But it's not really needed.

It will also have a really cool feature that you'll have to wait to the weekend to see.


--Chris
 
Taking a quick break and though I'd upload some pics. First up are mild and stainless tubes cut to size. I took these to an exhaust shop to have them expanded--though not pictured.

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Then a single, fused weld round. It varies from 1.5-2mm.

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Next up is the fun stuff, so stay tuned...

--Chris
 
good looking stuff!

my only question is WHERE do you get the pipe material from?
 
I have a bunch if more pics to upload, but I had to take my daughter to soccer. I basically have the stainless exhaust about 70% done.

I don't use pipe for anything. The DOM tube is from my local Metal Supermarkets. The mild steel bends I had. All the stainless can be bought at Burns Stainless.

I'll post the new pics when I get home
 
As promised...

The first pic shows the fit-up in mild steel. Notice the slip joint.

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Well, thank god I tried my idea in mild steel first! There are two issues: 1.) It looks stupi and 2.) it hits the frame.

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The mild steel exhaust is 100% fixable, but I was anxious to start with all my stainless.

First, the set-up. This is the back purge system. Some people claim you don't need and others disagree. At worse, argon is wasted. Besides, why take chances? That's how I build.

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Slide the sleeve over for a nice press fit and tack.

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Stuff some play-dough in the ends to try to contain the back-purge. Don't laugh; I heard it works!

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It doesn't, so I used tape. This worked perfectly.

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All the welds look like this, and the insides are just as clean. You'll have to trust me on that one.

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So this is the fit-up with the slip joint. In case you're wondering, 304 stainless expands much easier than 1020 DOM.

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So I tried it on the bike to make sure everything works; it does.

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Side view. Nice and tight.

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So I removed them for the springs. I think this is a really cool feature of the exhaust.

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I don't feel like making another 2-1 stainless exhaust...or I can. If you're interested in one of the options below, PM me.

1.) 2-1 stainless with slip joint beehive springs. 2" open exhaust
2.) 2-2 CL style stainless exhaust

$500 each.

If you want a reverse cone megaphone (pics tomorrow) for the 2-1, you'll have to add $140. That is a straight pass through cost from Burns Stainless.

I understand if people think that's pricy, but go to the Burns stainless website and price up some bends. Then look at their welding cost. Stainless, gentlemen, is extremely expensive; in material cost, consumables and skill :)

--Chris
 
Like it! :)

my next exhaust is going to be a study in sand bending...

oh, and I had a guy call me that got me very interested in hydroforming, I had some really nice curved megs I wanted to try and now I know how... keep up the fabbin, gives me inspiration!
 
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