Topic: 4 into 1 muffler tips PLEASE

[JScottB]

I've got a MAC 4 into 1 chrome exhaust headers on my 75 cb550 and the chrome on the headers are showing their age and some rust that needs attend too ASAP. The plan is to leave the muffler alone but sand blast and paint the headers with a hi-temp black paint however in order to get this sucker to fit into my sand blast cabinet, the muffler has to come off and at the moment the slip on muffler wont budge off the header collector. Now I know that no matter how I do it it wont be easy and basically a PITA  but do any of you have any suggestions, tips or tricks on how to get this so called slip on muffler to slip off with out causing too much damage? I'm open to any suggestions so lay it on me.

[mycb750k6]

Had you considered wrapping the header?

[JScottB]

Had you considered wrapping the header?

Not crazy about the idea at the moment but it is an idea worth considering. I'll keep it in mind.

[Stev-o]

I had same issue with my 550F leave the header bolted on, unbolt the muffler and work it up and down and out as well, it will free up. Use a torch to heat it up if necessary.

[ADW]

How about not disassembling it at all and just take it to a local sandblasting/mediablasting shop? If you're hard up for money and if you can wait for them to do it at THEIR convenience they'll throw it in when they're set up for another job. Will cost less because your header and muffler just takes another 3-5 minutes to do when they're already running another job. When you're there discussing it with them ask them what they want you to do for prep (do you need to mask off the muffler if it's got nice chrome on it you don't want damaged, what kind of tape/mask do they want), etc. Make it easy for them and they'll make it cheaper on you.

[JScottB]

How about not disassembling it at all and just take it to a local sandblasting/mediablasting shop? If you're hard up for money and if you can wait for them to do it at THEIR convenience they'll throw it in when they're set up for another job. Will cost less because your header and muffler just takes another 3-5 minutes to do when they're already running another job. When you're there discussing it with them ask them what they want you to do for prep (do you need to mask off the muffler if it's got nice chrome on it you don't want damaged, what kind of tape/mask do they want), etc. Make it easy for them and they'll make it cheaper on you.

That's an idea worth considering because even though the headers would fit into my blast booth without the muffler, it would still be a tight fit once inside making it a real pain to blast myself.

[flybox1]

check for a ceramic coating outfit in your area....something like this.
They do all the prep work too.
http://www.performancecoatings.com/headercoatings.html

[cougar]

Hey JScottB ; Since you say they won't fit in your sand blast cabinet, I'll assume you have an air compressor. Good, go to your local Flea market or Harbor Freight type place and get a sand blast hose that will drop into a bucket of you favorite blasting media and blast away! It's a little messy with all the media flying around but that's how I did mine. Hope this helps.  ...cougar...

[Bailgang]

Please excuse the new username but I just got a new computer and my freshly installed web browser doesn't know/remember my old username and most important the password and I've changed internet provider since I first registered so the "forgot you password" option doesn't accept my new email address so I had to start a new acct. Well anyhow ceramic coating is what I'd really like to do but the cost is too much for me to afford at the moment. Blasting it out in the open in my driveway is an option however my gravel driveway still has remnants from the sandy mess I made when I sandblasted the bikes frame 2 years ago. I'm not ruling it out, just trying to make it work in my cabinet if I can.