hensteeth Posted May 10, 2011 Report Share Posted May 10, 2011 This might be a silly question but Ive purchased an RTL and have just removed the middle exhaust box to give it a clean. At the bottom there is a very small pin hole. It looks to neat to be a rust hole?Is it a drain for condensation? The rest of the box is in pretty good condition. Should I braze it up? Any clues please. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
copemech Posted May 11, 2011 Report Share Posted May 11, 2011 This might be a silly question but Ive purchased an RTL and have just removed the middle exhaust box to give it a clean. At the bottom there is a very small pin hole. It looks to neat to be a rust hole?Is it a drain for condensation? The rest of the box is in pretty good condition. Should I braze it up? Any clues please. Thanks. Think I would leave it, as that is likely it's exact purpose! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
big john Posted May 11, 2011 Report Share Posted May 11, 2011 This might be a silly question but Ive purchased an RTL and have just removed the middle exhaust box to give it a clean. At the bottom there is a very small pin hole. It looks to neat to be a rust hole?Is it a drain for condensation? The rest of the box is in pretty good condition. Should I braze it up? Any clues please. Thanks. Cause for concern, yes most certainly, take it from someone who owns these fantastic machines, they do, like any other piece of machinery made from steel have problems. That is not a drain hole. It is the perforation of the centre expansion box of the exhaust system. What is happening is the centre box is rotting away from the inside due to the expulsion of water vapour created by the internal combustion. You could try a patch but this in time will delaminate from the rest of the section through time. My solution was to replace with a hand-made alloy replica component although these tend to run a bit hotter than the original steel item, which I have a brand new unused one to keep as a pattern. Big John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barfy Posted May 11, 2011 Report Share Posted May 11, 2011 Completely agree with John. When mine started to rot it became a relentless task of patching the exhaust until I took it to a fabricator to replace the bottom quarter of the exhaust. This only stopped the problem for a short time before I had to get one made. The person I took it to recommend stainless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hensteeth Posted May 12, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 12, 2011 Thanks for that John. I thought as much. I'll have to ask my mate to knock one up. Spot of braze will be a temparary fix for now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hensteeth Posted May 12, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 12, 2011 Completely agree with John. When mine started to rot it became a relentless task of patching the exhaust until I took it to a fabricator to replace the bottom quarter of the exhaust. This only stopped the problem for a short time before I had to get one made. The person I took it to recommend stainless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hensteeth Posted May 12, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 12, 2011 Hi. Did your stainless one work ok? was it much heavier? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barfy Posted May 15, 2011 Report Share Posted May 15, 2011 Hi. Did your stainless one work ok? was it much heavier? Hi Hensteeth, If anything it is lighter than the original centre box. It is made from much lighter gauge stainless than the original. I've had it on the bike for at least the last 8 years and it's still almost as good as new. I got it made by a specialist exhaust company in Wales who made exhausts for Edmunson Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hensteeth Posted May 15, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 15, 2011 Hi Hensteeth, If anything it is lighter than the original centre box. It is made from much lighter gauge stainless than the original. I've had it on the bike for at least the last 8 years and it's still almost as good as new. I got it made by a specialist exhaust company in Wales who made exhausts for Edmunson Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hensteeth Posted May 15, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 15, 2011 Hi. Barfy. Free Tickets to Thruxton! Good result! I shall not be at Alton as well as I'm off to the Coupe de legends in France- Megga Classic bike meet. I only bought the RTL back in January, after many years away from trials and after turning 50 last year thought I better have another go before its too late. So just getting used to the old girl. - Fantastic! - cant wait for the next trial. Just takes me longer to recover. I'll look out for you at the next Southern event. (Also) Dave. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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