Topic: CB550 4-in-4 exhaust: How to fix/weld ?

[Franky]

Hi guys

It's been a while, since I was last active on this fine site :-) But now I bought another CB550 - a 1974 K0. This one is very original and I intend to keep it that way. However, the exhaust have some damage. There isn't really any loose/rattly stuff inside them, but there are quite a few holes in them. Otherwise the chrome is really nice and the rougher parts are mostly concealed.

How would you fix them? I was thinking TIG-weld, but I'd be grateful for any tips.

Here's the bike :-)



Exhaust 1







Exhaust 2







Exhaust 3





Exhaust 4

[calj737]

You’ll never TIG weld that. The interior is completely rusted (hence the holes) regardless of the exterior appearance.

Even if you find a means of patching and welding that, the chrome will be destroyed and you’ll have to have it re-chromed. Good luck with that 

Basically, that pipe is trash. Bin it and pay through the nose for another.

[Stev-o]

Some guys have luck with brazing patches, but if visible they dont look good.

That bike looks in very good cond and deserves a nice stock exhaust.  Pipes pop up here and on ebay from time to time.  Have you check the for sale section?  There was a very nice set not too long ago but might have sold?

[MauiK3]

Nice bike
Pipes are toast.

[Kevnz]

I agree with the other posters. That's a lovely looking bike and deserves a nice set of pipes. Would be an investment in my opinion.

[jonda500]

They can definitely be fixed - two of my four nicest pipes have repairs. I did the repairs with my oxy/acetylene welder and cut the patches out of a chrome plated pipe. Yes the chrome is gone in the weld area, but after I grinded, sanded and polished the area you can barely see it! (it does need frequent polishing to keep it shiny though). Of my four spares my worst pipe had such large holes and cracks in it that I had to wrap a patch right around the muffler - that one doesn't look pretty but it keeps the noise in and is solid now!
John

[seanbarney41]

A good welder friend of mine patched a pipe in similar condition, but probably smaller holes, by using a tig welder to braze silicone bronze.  The brazed s/b does not continue to rust.  Sure it sticks out some, but overall, it's just a couple warts on a nice shiny chrome pipe and it works well until I, or the next owner, can find a better pipe.  The other 3 are near perfect.  My friend only charged me a very low "bro" price.  Unfortunately, your pipes are gonna need upwards of double digit hours to fix all those large holes.  Even a bro would have to charge you a lot.  Probably gonna be better off sourcing some better pipes or just run 'em as is.  I too think that bike deserves some good ones.

[Franky]

Thank you very much for your replies. I do have a friend, who is an experienced welder. I'll see him tonight and see what he says.

Finding a nice new or used exhaust system in Europe (I'm danish) is next to impossible. I think my only option here is cmsnl.com, who sells some very nice remakes, but they cost EUR 1100 !

Damn it... the american seller said: "I'd rate the exhaust an 8 or 9 out of 10" and "The original exhaust is very nice and the chrome shines great". 1st time in my life I have been lied to like that, when buying something. Bummer... But, I am very happy about the bike overall :-)

[Stev-o]

Damn it... the american seller said: "I'd rate the exhaust an 8 or 9 out of 10" and "The original exhaust is very nice and the chrome shines great".

Rule #1 - Dont ever believe American sellers!

[ckahleer]

This is interesting. The first time in your life you have been lied to by a seller?
I'm always thinking worst case scenario when buying. (What isn't he telling me. What is he covering up. What is he lying about.)
Are you saying that in Europe you can just believe what sellers tell you?

[Franky]

Well, saying that all is good in Europe like that is quite a stretch :-) We got dishonest people too, off course.

But, I have purchased lots of stuff from people over the phone, via ads on our "craigslist", imported weird little mopeds from Asia and so on - all deals where I have trusted the seller on his word, descriptions of  the items and images he provided. Never had a problem. Being 44 years old, I guess I had a good run :-) Just too bad, it had to be this particular time, that I had to have a bad experience. Will most likely cost me 800 USD. I will contact the seller in the coming days and confront him on this. Maybe he is a good guy, after all, and just didn't know. I don't really think so, as he is buying/trading vintage bikes for a living. He must have known about/discovered  the bad condition of those pipes, when he bought it off someone in the US.