Topic: Removing pipe dents

[1080]

Wonder if this method could be used to headers?

[newday777]

Wonder if this method could be used to headers?

Have you ever lifted a 2 stroke pipe? They are a lot thinner/lighter weight steel than the headers and mufflers on our 4 stroke bikes, especially the stock 2 wall headers.

[1080]

I know they are thin. and I am not talking about double wall pipes.
One of the mistakes he is doing in restoring his pipe is that he does not tapping the high spots, just like in paintless dent removeable method use to remove a dent.
If you had a rare one of a kind pipe and the condition was perfect except for one dent and you can not push the dent out because it is at the bend or just pass the bend, what method can you use?
Cut and repair and re-weld you then have to re plate the chrome.  Weld a rod in the center of the dent then heat and then pull dent out, you may have to re plate.  I watched a video where Paul Brodie straighten a dent in a bicycle tube frame  just by using a vise and wooden blocks.  I watched a video where ice was use to get a dent out in a tube or for metal shaping.  The point is what method could be used to get a dent out of a pipe with the least damage to the rare pipe? I am trying to get a discussion on methods and some useful video used in getting pipe dents out. Remember one of a kind, building from scratch makes it not an original pipe.  Conclusion safe air pressure is not enough to do pipes.

[Don R]

 I saw a video a long time ago of a guy that used metal balls, cables and a slide hammer to drag the balls through the header and past the dent on the inside. Some of the balls (mandrels?) resembled a plumb bob, some were round. I think he made them as needed.

[newday777]

I saw a video a long time ago of a guy that used metal balls, cables and a slide hammer to drag the balls through the header and past the dent on the inside. Some of the balls (mandrels?) resembled a plumb bob, some were round. I think he made them as needed.

I like that idea. I might try that on the bottom pipes of the light weight Hooker Header I have. 🤔

[1080]

I will look for that video. Sounds like a good way. Thanks Don R.

[newday777]

I will look for that video. Sounds like a good way. Thanks Don R.

Post it when you find it!

[RAFster122s]

If it gets stuck, then how will you remove it? Plan for that contingency...

[newday777]

If it gets stuck, then how will you remove it? Plan for that contingency...

Hole through the ball bearing with eye hooks on both sides of the through bolt, wire cables attached to both sides to pull from and use a slide hammer when needed, in both directions. 😉
Use increasing sizes of ball bearings to slowly remove the dents.

[1080]

Here's a ice method video.

[1080]

Pushing out dent.( car Exhaust pipe).     

[1080]

Yoshimura motorcycle exhaust. Still looking for the ball mandrels method.

[1080]

Cut and weld method.

[1080]

Lots of ice methods.

[1080]

This is to show additional tapping is needed to round up the pipe. Maybe someone would spend the time to make a miniature hydraulic gig for the their pipe?

[1080]

Getting close.

[1080]

Paul brodie bicycle dent removal.

[CycleRanger]

Getting close.

"These are my dent balls. There are 101 of them."

[1080]

Thin metal and not a motorcycle pipe, but I wonder if a tank dent could be removed with this method?

[1080]

Technique used in removing a dent is important.

[newday777]

Some more great ideas to try to remember......

[RAFster122s]

Air pressure in tank trying to remove dents will bow the tank out and the seams at the bottom will bulge before most dents will move. Tanks have some strong steel... People have tried it and ruined their tanks

[1080]

Back in the early 1980's my younger brother did the air pressure to a CB750-K2 gas tank and it was very funny how much the tank had ballooned out.  Way too much air pressure is not good.

[grcamna2]

subscribed

[1080]

Again thin pipe, not motorcycle, but the method ,tools and skill used may spark ideas in restoring pipes.