Dent in header down tube

BALLZ · #1 (**permalink**) 07-24-2008, 02:51 PM

Akropovic EVO full system header, I assume its stainless but don't know for sure since I have not actually seen it in person yet. Can you get just the header? or can a dent be repaired? See pic below. Seems a shame to waste a good system by not being able to get this repaired or replaced.

BALLZ · #2 (**permalink**) 07-24-2008, 02:54 PM

Another view, does that look like TI? yes I know the radiator is bent, I am looking for one of those too however this one is holding water right now. 2007 GSX-R600 is the bike in question.

wolf44 · #3 (**permalink**) 07-24-2008, 03:27 PM

if it were Ti, it'd probably be more of a rainbow color.

**mrgrn** · #4 (**permalink**) 07-24-2008, 03:27 PM

put a magnet on it and if it sticks it is NOT ti

either way if you are handy with a welder you can drill a small hole and TRY to pull the dent out and then a small weld patch and if worse comes to worse you losy nothing right?

BALLZ · #5 (**permalink**) 07-24-2008, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolf44

if it were Ti, it'd probably be more of a rainbow color.

It looks just like my GSX-R1000 OEM TI header color actually. That is why I ask.

BALLZ · #6 (**permalink**) 07-24-2008, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrgrn

put a magnet on it and if it sticks it is NOT ti

either way if you are handy with a welder you can drill a small hole and TRY to pull the dent out and then a small weld patch and if worse comes to worse you losy nothing right?

I'll get to do that Saturday when I pick it up or not. I had already considered the drill a small hole and pull it out but TI is brittle so that may not work. If it is stainless then maybe that is worth a try.

What would be wrong with running it as is, loss of a tiny bit of power, screw up the engine somehow. I believe it has been run already like this for a few races if I'm not mistaken.

**mrgrn** · #7 (**permalink**) 07-24-2008, 03:34 PM

it is not ti, trust me

BALLZ · #8 (**permalink**) 07-24-2008, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrgrn

it is not ti, trust me

I will find out saturday.

Akrapovic sucks they will sell springs, decals and a can but no header assembly. More reason to go back and deal with M4 they will sell every piece individually the way it should be. Its a racebike things happen.

V-Tach · #9 (**permalink**) 07-24-2008, 04:35 PM

It sounds crazy but, in the off-road forums that I frequent, they have pound a great fix for bent headers...

Take the header off the bike, fill the bent down-tube with enough water to fill the affected area (about 3" fore and aft of the bend), then throw the whole thing in the freezer overnight. The bend will be gone by morning. n.b. some have had to do it 2-3 times if the damage was really bad.

Remove dents from your header pipes at home in your spare time - no skill required - ThumperTalk
Good luck

V-Tach

BALLZ · #10 (**permalink**) 07-24-2008, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by V-Tach

It sounds crazy but, in the off-road forums that I frequent, they have pound a great fix for bent headers...

Take the header off the bike, fill the bent down-tube with enough water to fill the affected area (about 3" fore and aft of the bend), then throw the whole thing in the freezer overnight. The bend will be gone by morning. n.b. some have had to do it 2-3 times if the damage was really bad.

Remove dents from your header pipes at home in your spare time - no skill required - ThumperTalk
Good luck

V-Tach

WOW never thought of that. One little problem I do not have a freezer that big to hold a header.

Chest type freezer is what I would need. time to call up my Dad and tell him I need his freezer for the night.

Yea that will go over real well with him.

Appreciate the idea though

keep em coming.

**mrgrn** · #11 (**permalink**) 07-24-2008, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BALLZ

I will find out saturday.

Akrapovic sucks they will sell springs, decals and a can but no header assembly. More reason to go back and deal with M4 they will sell every piece individually the way it should be. Its a racebike things happen.

yes, one of the reasons i will not support them as they do not support racers and riders. termi does the same thing too, try to buy single parts from them too

socal · #12 (**permalink**) 07-24-2008, 05:56 PM

I'd probably leave it. Have it dyno'd- that way you will know for sure if the dent is affecting performance.

247 · #13 (**permalink**) 07-24-2008, 06:05 PM

Try a local restaurant with a walk-in freezer. That is a great idea BTW. I was thinking that sand might work if you could rig a way to compress it while gently heating the pipe.

With expansion chambers we used to just tack a brazing rod to the surface of the pipe and pull gently.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BALLZ

WOW never thought of that. One little problem I do not have a freezer that big to hold a header.

Chest type freezer is what I would need. time to call up my Dad and tell him I need his freezer for the night.

Yea that will go over real well with him.

Appreciate the idea though

keep em coming.

**mrgrn** · #14 (**permalink**) 07-24-2008, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by socal

I'd probably leave it. Have it dyno'd- that way you will know for sure if the dent is affecting performance.

what? know for sure?

it is affecting performance or there would be dents from the factory

duckdawg · #15 (**permalink**) 07-24-2008, 06:31 PM

if the freezer trick does'nt work, ship it to me, and I'll fix it for ya...

BALLZ · #16 (**permalink**) 07-24-2008, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by duckdawg

if the freezer trick does'nt work, ship it to me, and I'll fix it for ya...

I may just do that, how do you plan to fix it?

socal · #17 (**permalink**) 07-24-2008, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrgrn

what? know for sure?

it is affecting performance or there would be dents from the factory

Might not be worth the effort to repair it. There is a risk, moreover, that something is damaged when trying to fix it. Racebikes- esp at the club level- have been ridden to a podium finish with blemishes alot worse than a dented header. There ag, a dyno will tell you if you have a real problem.

**mrgrn** · #18 (**permalink**) 07-24-2008, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by socal

Might not be worth the effort to repair it. There is a risk, moreover, that something is damaged when trying to fix it. Racebikes- esp at the club level- have been ridden to a podium finish with blemishes alot worse than a dented header. There ag, a dyno will tell you if you have a real problem.

for one, dynoes and tires cost money. so a toated tire and how many bucks for a dyno and time are worth enough to source another header, you see? i would try to fix it and if not then just run it but spending money to see if it is hurting performance is a waste of money IMHO

OH, the whole point of a aftermarket header is for ebtter flow and weight loss no?

BALLZ · #19 (**permalink**) 07-24-2008, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by socal

Might not be worth the effort to repair it. There is a risk, moreover, that something is damaged when trying to fix it. Racebikes- esp at the club level- have been ridden to a podium finish with blemishes alot worse than a dented header. There ag, a dyno will tell you if you have a real problem.

So true. Guess I'll know after the 1st time on the track with it whether or not its a dog or not. May feel that way anyway after riding a liter bike for the past two years.

I hope not I got slower going to a 750 then even slower going to a liter bike. I hope to regain my speed on the 600. It has some really nice things on it but this dent being one of the downsides along with the radiator being a little tweaked. Both easily fixed failry cheap or I would not be buying it.

**mrgrn** · #20 (**permalink**) 07-24-2008, 08:12 PM

ship it to texas