The New And Improved Unofficial R65 Forum V2

Technical Discussion => BMW Technical Q&A, Primarily R65 => Topic started by: Boxer_Bolshie on February 21, 2012, 07:12:16 PM

Title: Muffler damage?
Post by: Boxer_Bolshie on February 21, 2012, 07:12:16 PM

Got a chance to clean up the mufflers today only to discover a couple of concerns. First I heard some loose debris inside the mufflers and little bits of stuff shakes out (smells somewhat burnt)

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-cQQaoZdgrwo/T0Q-_59f6uI/AAAAAAAAP7o/PXRAHJ_uJCg/s512/IMAG0607%2520%2528Large%2529.jpg)

And lastly there are cracks in the chrome where the "L" brackets mount

This is the worse one
(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-iVeB-6j1XO4/T0Q_ATd-UQI/AAAAAAAAP7w/Ub-oZar6LHY/s512/IMAG0608%2520%2528Large%2529.jpg)

Can anyone tell me whether or not I am in need of new mufflers or are these easily repairable?  

Thanks!

Title: Re: Muffler damage?
Post by: tvrla on February 21, 2012, 09:15:54 PM

Condensation is the killer of mufflers. They get hot when working then draw in moisture when cooling down. When a car or bike is first started and until it warms up you'll see white smoke - that's actually steam coming from the mufflers from the trapped water.

So it is really common to get rusty flakes out of a muffler. If the muffler is solid, don't worry about it.

As for the cracks, a lot of them do that. I've got a set of stainless that have a crack about half that long. Weld it up with chrome rod and keep using them.

Title: Re: Muffler damage?
Post by: Barry on February 22, 2012, 04:05:13 AM

Internal corrosion holed my original Zeuna silencers so when I got a replacement set I bunged up one end an poured in a thin solution of waxoyl rust treatment, gave them a good shaking to coat all the internal surfaces and then poured out the surplus.  

They didn't even smoke when I put them on although I did leave them for several weeks before fitting to allow all the solvent to flash off.

Even thin oil would work but I guess they would then definitely smoke.

I don't believe there is packing material of any description in the silencers so at worst this treatment shouldn't do any harm. One day I going to cut open an old silencer to look at the internal construction.

Title: Re: Muffler damage?
Post by: tvrla on February 22, 2012, 06:16:30 AM

Wirewrkr did that a couple years ago. Maybe he'll post up the pix, I'd like to see them again.

Title: Re: Muffler damage?
Post by: Boxer_Bolshie on February 23, 2012, 10:53:11 PM

Thanks again wirespokes! You've eased my mind.  

I don't have a stick welder (have a wire fed MIG) so may have a friend do it for me.

Will be putting some lighter SS on my upgrade wish list  :)

Title: Re: Muffler damage?
Post by: Milo_357 on February 24, 2012, 09:18:23 AM

I've taken both my muffler to the local welder for repairs.  The tube section where it goes over the pipes had rusted on both.  They repaired them for $20 a pop, a nice, nice savings over new mufflers!  Check you local guys and see what they can do for you.

Title: Re: Muffler damage?
Post by: tvrla on February 24, 2012, 09:36:12 AM

You're full of good ideas Barry! I never would have thought of that one!

And you're welcome BB! Get the 'new' bars installed yet?

By the way - the flakes from your muffler look more like carbon than rust. The stuff flakes off after the mufflers haven't been used in a while.