Header stuck in head

[Luca]

Exhaust pipe expanders should be available at your local auto chain.  Pay a deposit to rent the tool, get all your money back when you return it.

If the dent is in the middle of the pipe you could try finding a socket with an OD equal to or slightly smaller than the crossover's ID. Put a long extension on it and bang it through with a hammer. (start with plastic or rubber)

[ShutterPilot]

Never thought of using an expander - Duh!
Thanks guys.
I'm going to revisit the header removal this weekend, with more patience and less emotion to see if a cooler head will prevail, rather than all the ratsin and fratsin going on last week..

[montmil]

... If the dent is in the middle of the pipe you could try finding a socket with an OD equal to or slightly smaller than the crossover's ID. Put a long extension on it and bang it through with a hammer. (start with plastic or rubber)

Dunno, but I'd be mighty hesitant to attempt this. What would be the odds that the socket would become tightly lodged in the pipe due to carbon build up, a small dimple in the pipe, dead mouse, whatever. Yank on that extension and all you may get out is... the extension.  Pound it the other way?

You know many Airhead riders buy a chrome vacuum cleaner wand, trim it and slap in on. What's that Homer Simpson says...

[Luca]

A bit o grease might help, as would shooting some solvent and paper towel through the pipe to clean things up.  I shoulda said a deep socket, as it should be long enough that it won't twist much and further ruin the pipe.

And yeah, if it gets stuck, tap it out with a drift or extension from the other side.  Free and easy to try.

[jusgus]

I used a cleaning product (Simple Green) to clean my pistons after I had removed them from the rods. Put just enough in a pan to wet the tops of the inverted pistons and let them soak over night. It did a good job of loosening the carbon and I finished off with a piece of hard wood as a scraper. I was careful to rinse thoroughly and spray with WD40. I also did the heads.  

[ShutterPilot]

Thanks, Gus on the piston cleaning. Clymers says to take care NOT to remove the carbon ring at the piston crown, nor on the top of the cylinder, or excessive oil usage may occur afterwards.
What?! I'm assuming that with all new rings and scrubbers, that shouldn't matter, so that's how I'm proceeding, unless someone has some tales of woe otherwise.

[georgesgiralt]

Hello !
The pistons have, above the upper most ring, a set of small rings one can easily remove by scrubbing.
This is why it is recommended to leave the deposit alone in this area.
I confirm that too clean piston, without "the" little rings, increase oil consumption...
I've in my garage a living example with new rings....

[ShutterPilot]

Thanks Georges, I'll take a close look a those before cleaning when I get the pistons off.