Exhaust header stuck in silencer. HELP!!!

[BRT-GTR]

   Hi Guys,
             Thought I'd have a look at my exhausts today and get a pair ready for chroming. However, I can't get the header out of a left silencer, tried nudging it out with a baulk of wood, bolted it back on the frame and used a piece of 1" gas pipe in the top to try and twist it out, had the gas torch on the joint but it just won't budge. Could dremel some slots in the silencer spigot but would prefer not to, unless a last resort.  

    Can't be the only one whose had this problem, anyone got a magic solution or tip to loosen the joint ??  

   Living in hope,  Brian  

[slawsonb]

I'd start with the old tried and true penetrant soak for a day or two. Does it look like it's rusted stuck? If so, some evaporust might also help. Then maybe tapping around the perimeter on the muffler side would help break the lock. You may have already tried all this stuff, Brian, but I got nothing else.
...bert

[ziggy stardust]

You seem to be doing all the right things Brian, Try harder.

Z

[OldSwartout]

If you have an oxy/acetylene or good butane torch, heating to near red-hot (approx. 1000° F if you have a temp gun) will do wonders on a rusty joint.  It'll discolor the chrome, though.

[Steve S.]

Use a slide hammer.  Worked for me.  Easy peasy!

Steve S.

[Sye]

Spray the joint in Plus gas Brian, it's good stuff. Leave it for a day or two and keep applying as you go. It should dissolve enough crud for you to free it.

[fiction]

Other option is oven cleaner, shifts carbon Leave it overnight don't hurt chrome either . Missus might even have some to borrow.

[BRT-GTR]

      Thanks fellas, finally got it out.

   Gave it a good soak in penetrant overnight and went in again with the butane torch but hotter this time. It eventually let go and I was able to twist it out. Was just carbon build up holding it, no rust. Will get some Plus Gas, seem to remember it's good stuff and I like the idea of the oven cleaner, wouldn't have thought of that.

  Thanks again, Brian.

[ziggy stardust]

See I told you Brian, you just wasn't trying hard enough.

Z

[BRT-GTR]

         You were right Z......................... now any tips on straightening the silencer attachment points on the frame.............only joking!

   So next stage is to degrease the silencers and try to clean the carbon out. What do you guys do,   caustic soda ?   I don't have facilities to burn it out with oxygen.
    Brian.

[davis]

I would plug one end of the muffler with silencer installed (if not yet removed) and fill with a good carbon degreaser. I used "Grease Lightning". Let it soak as long as convenient, remove greaser, and silencer bolt. A long enough 1 in. dia. rod nests just right into the silencer end cap with care. Deburr or slightly chamfer the rod end for insurance. Give the rod a little love with a hammer to nudge out the silencer.

I cleaned out the chambers on either end with a large bottle brush attached to a drill. I found the center chambers would release scale by tapping the outside of the muffler in those areas and then shake out the residue. This method worked for me on three sets of mufflers.

[slawsonb]

Find a plater with a "hot tank" and have them "cooked" before plating. This is standard practice at plating shops since most folks just send them greasy mufflers and say,"please plate these". This also offers the assurance that if they were not adequately cleaned and the plating was affected, the plater will need to address the issues.
...bert

[ziggy stardust]

Yes that's how I do it Bert, leave it to the platers for preparation.

Z

[BRT-GTR]

    Thanks guys,     Didn't know about 'hot tanks'. Local plater I talked to obviously doesn't have one, would only tackle the pipes if they were totally degreased and decarboned first.!!
      Won't be using him. Chromefix it is.                   Brian.

[slawsonb]

I'm not sure what the brew is that's used in a hot tank (solvents of some flavor), but I'm sure I never want to be in one. 
...bert

[OldSwartout]

I've heard some platers just plug the ends and ignore the internal gunk.