Bending head pipes

xs2Doug · Full Member Joined: Jun 01, 2006 Posts: 50

has anyone had any luck (good or bad) trying to bend the stock head pipes?

I need to create some clearance for some triumph bullet type mufflers that I picked up at a swap meet.

the last 3 or 4 inches of my head pipes angle up slightly. if I could straighten this out they would fit perfectly. o.d and i.d. are fine.

I considered inserting a pipe inside the head pipe and placing the whole thing in a pipe bender and forcing it straight but wasn't sure if the head pipe would fold, split or ???

also have heard that you can fill the pipes with sand or freeze them full of water then bend (or unbend) but who knows....I've never tried.

5twins · Full Member Joined: Aug 05, 2006 Posts: 1616

The stock headpipes are double wall with an air gap between the inner and outer. Inserting a pipe inside or filling them with something will still leave that air gap. All you can do is try it, I guess.

xs2Doug · Full Member Joined: Jun 01, 2006 Posts: 50

good to know. I had no idea.

is the double wall visible from the opening or is it terminated there?

any thoughts on heating the pipes to aid in bending?

xsjohn · Posted: January 14, 2008, 5:28 pm Post subject: Re: Bending head pipes

Muffler shop should be able tweak them up .......but that frame mount might get in the way.......

John

xs2Doug · Full Member Joined: Jun 01, 2006 Posts: 50

I'm thinking about picking up a set of spare headpipes at the salvage yard to mess with on this...

with my '72, will other 650 pipes fit? say something from the mid to late 70's or even early 80's headpipes?

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