Found the source of my exhaust leak. How to fix?

[RicoChet]

Hey everyone. So as some people have seen I've struggled trying to get rid of an exhaust leak on my 2016 ES. I installed the new arrow pipe twice with paste and new clamps. Still exhaust leak. Checked the seals, they looked perfect. I couldn't see anything so I used a match to see if the flame moves around in a a certain spot and then I got my camera and did some pictures. After reviewing the pictures I saw this. Hair line crack along the seam of the collector. How should this be fixed? Can it be done under a warranty? I never made any modifications to the original headers or collector. Pictures below

 

[Pterodactyl]

Seems like a warranty item to me. The dealer will look closely to see if there any signs of damage.

 

[Checkswrecks]

::026::

 

[Kurgan]

Nice clamp on there now! Sucks that they're going to have to take everything apart to install the new head pipes. Maybe put the factory canister back on, less chance of the dealer scratching up or dinging the new Arrow?

 

[RicoChet]

Nice clamp on there now! Sucks that they're going to have to take everything apart to install the new head pipes. Maybe put the factory canister back on, less chance of the dealer scratching up or dinging the new Arrow?

Thanks!! That clamp I got is really cool, it was able to open up so you can slide it over the pipe and then close it back up. Didn't have to remove anything!

Sigh.. I dont know at this point. We are still more then a month away from actually getting weather decent enough for riding, at which point I will take it do a dealership and have them look at it to see if its a warranty viable repair... Really sucks. I really, really dont want to take everything apart again. It's been a really stressful few weeks for me, especially after waiting 2 months for this exhaust, and not having a chance to ride it since November when the weather was last warm enough to do so. The ideal thing for me would be for someone to just lift the bike up and put a weld on that edge, even if its ugly.. don't care. Just fix it.

 

[bob dirt]

If it were mine, I'd pull it off and weld it or take it to a shop and have them do it. I had a Harley do that once and the dealer was a PITA. I don't take anything back there unless it absolutely has to go. I just had a dealer eff-up a recall on my motorhome.

 

[limey]

If it's under warranty just leave it for the dealer.

 

[Checkswrecks]

If it's under warranty just leave it for the dealer.

I agree. The crack is coming from the edge of the weld and the pipe is now used. Carbon from the exhaust getting into a repair weld leads to cracking again and it takes a LOT of grinding to get truly clean base metal when an exhaust has been used. It can be done but the odds of a long term success go down.

 

[snakebitten]

Just a thought, but quite a few folks have upgraded to the full arrows system.
That means there are likely quite a few oem exhaust system\parts to be had.

I think mine (full system) is in Fort Worth at Jaxons. Probably in a pile of same, since he has changed a bunch of them.
I don't have any idea what he might have done with it, but you can have it if it's available.
Give him a ping and see if he can help you out?
(Unless warranty is all in your favor and you would rather go that route)

 

[RicoChet]

I'll provide an update soon hopefully. The annoying thing that just happened earlier today was I called my closest Yamaha dealer and they checked my warranty. I only have until April before it expires! When I originally bought this bike used I had paperwork showing that the previous owner payed a large sum of money and got the 4 year extended warranty. The problem is it was not put into the system so the dealer doesn't see it but it was payed for. So now I have to see if I can get Yamaha Canada to get this extended warranty business sorted out. I hope they're easy to deal with.

Wish me luck :

 

[limey]

Looks like it's going to be mild next week ride to the dealership and leave it with them.

 

[WJBertrand]

My concern is the dealer weaseling out of the warranty because of the non-OEM exhaust and clamp. I can see them arguing that the clamp was over torqued. If it were me I'd spring for a new OEM clamp and put the OEM can back on before taking it back. I'd also try to clean away any of that paste.

 

[RicoChet]

My concern is the dealer weaseling out of the warranty because of the non-OEM exhaust and clamp. I can see them arguing that the clamp was over torqued. If it were me I'd spring for a new OEM clamp and put the OEM can back on before taking it back. I'd also try to clean away any of that paste.

I happen to have a friend who is the service manager at a Yamaha dealer and he said he would be happy to help with it if that type of defect is covered under warranty. I won't lie to him that I installed the pipe, that's how I found the problem in the first place. Either way, the worst thing that can happen is I either buy a second hand set or a set of arrow headers.

 

[Don in Lodi]

Wrap it with muffler repair tape and call it done. Oh, and I'd put the factory muffler back on before going in.

 

[tuonodave]

Not sure if its the same with motorcycles as opposed to cars but the converter falls under EPA and Federal Emissions Laws with usually a much longer warranty.
Usually 8-10 year 80-100k+ in the USA. Good luck with getting it changed out under warranty.

 

[2daMax]

If you can find a tig welder this thing can be sealed up. There is also high temp epoxy mix for exhaust pipes but not sure if it can withstand the temperature near the cat converter.

 

[Kurgan]

If you can find a tig welder this thing can be sealed up. There is also high temp epoxy mix for exhaust pipes but not sure if it can withstand the temperature near the cat converter.

Permatex makes some near bomb-proof exhaust sealing stuff that hardens like epoxy, good for 2000 degrees F.

https://www.amazon.com/Permatex-80335-Muffler-Tailpipe-Sealer/dp/B000BOAZM8