2-Stroke Pipe Question

lake_harley · 03-30-2012, 10:33 AM

Does the exhaust system on a 2-Stroke ever need to be cleaned out? I'm tinkering with a couple F7 175 Kawasaki enduros ('74 and '75 if I recall correctly from the titles). One of the pipes that I have off seems a lot lighter than the other and just wonder if they build up deposits, similar to the combustion chamber, that should be cleaned out? If yes, then how or what do you do or use to clean them?

I've had a few 2-stroke bikes over the years, but none that were this "mature", and I never kept them all that long.

Thanks, in advance.

Lynn

JeffS77 · 03-30-2012, 10:38 AM

Stick a torch in and let her rip... Burn it out

lake_harley · 03-30-2012, 10:55 AM

Hmmm. Propane, Oxy/Acetylene or?? Since I haven't done this before, will it "light off" and continue to burn and then the ashes can be tapped out?

Thanks

Lynn

gloud · 03-30-2012, 12:28 PM

Yes they need to be cleaned out if they are that old. Any torch should get them going do it outside as it will stink. You can also use oven cleaner I have been told but you need to be careful of the lye.

brendonb11 · 03-30-2012, 12:50 PM

absolutely they need to be cleaned out!
Torch and scrape (if you can get a brush in there). Some older models have baffles in the end of the pipes that you can yank out as well...

anotherguy · 03-30-2012, 01:19 PM

Yank the baffle (if you can) clean it. I like to heat the pipe and stick a broken cable in a drill,insert cable in pipe (after heating/cooling) and let the cable knock as much carbon loose as possible. Do that from both ends if possible. Empty the debris and repeat.

Hunsta · 03-30-2012, 11:37 PM

It will do wonders for your bike. However your neighbours will hate you for the tons of smoke you will create.. Just did mine. Oxy torch and compressed air. What an environmental freak show.

lake_harley · 03-31-2012, 05:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hunsta

It will do wonders for your bike. However your neighbours will hate you for the tons of smoke you will create.. Just did mine. Oxy torch and compressed air. What an environmental freak show.

Sort of a mini flue fire maybe? Now you have me looking forward to it!

Lynn

lake_harley · 03-31-2012, 02:28 PM

Well, I used a propane torch from the "engine" end of the pipe. Let it burn in that end for quite a while. Got some smoke, but not as dramatic as I had actually hoped for. I wonder, since all of the bikes had been sitting quite a while, could everything sort of dried up that it wasn't all that flamable anymore? This 2-stroke stuff is rather new to me. I did manage to get a layer of soot out of the curved end of the pipe, so I guess at least I did some good. Anyone put any "accelerant" in the pipe, like gas, to get it burning

? You're probably thinking now, "Man, I'm glad I'm not his neighbor!"

Lynn

Euromad · 03-31-2012, 03:22 PM

Putting gas in the pipe prolly give you an unexpected BANG
you may blow the pipe apart and give yourself a reason for a hearing aid and plastic surgery

lake_harley · 03-31-2012, 07:42 PM

Yeah, I'll probably search for dramatic effects elsewhere. Hearing aids and plastic surgery would cut into my motorcycle habit budget too much

Lynn

sieg · 03-31-2012, 07:45 PM

I just throw them in the trash barrel and light it.

03-30-2012, 10:33 AM	#1
lake_harley ^OP Studly Adventurer Joined: May 2009 Location: Uniontown, MO Oddometer: 613	2-Stroke Pipe Question Does the exhaust system on a 2-Stroke ever need to be cleaned out? I'm tinkering with a couple F7 175 Kawasaki enduros ('74 and '75 if I recall correctly from the titles). One of the pipes that I have off seems a lot lighter than the other and just wonder if they build up deposits, similar to the combustion chamber, that should be cleaned out? If yes, then how or what do you do or use to clean them? I've had a few 2-stroke bikes over the years, but none that were this "mature", and I never kept them all that long. Thanks, in advance. Lynn

03-30-2012, 10:38 AM	#2
JeffS77 cheap bastard Joined: Apr 2006 Location: Riverside , CA Oddometer: 2,996	Stick a torch in and let her rip... Burn it out __________________ A n00b Races Hell on Wheels Vintage Scrambles A n00b Races Elsinore Grand Prix For a Cause A n00b Goes Flat Track Racing

03-30-2012, 01:19 PM	#6
anotherguy Beastly Adventurer Joined: Jun 2009 Location: in the foothills now.... Oddometer: 4,309	Yank the baffle (if you can) clean it. I like to heat the pipe and stick a broken cable in a drill,insert cable in pipe (after heating/cooling) and let the cable knock as much carbon loose as possible. Do that from both ends if possible. Empty the debris and repeat. __________________ When injustice becomes law,resistance becomes duty. Thomas Jefferson

03-30-2012, 11:37 PM	#7
Hunsta Have guns will hunt Joined: Jan 2006 Location: Gympie Queensland Australia Oddometer: 5,401	It will do wonders for your bike. However your neighbours will hate you for the tons of smoke you will create.. Just did mine. Oxy torch and compressed air. What an environmental freak show. __________________ I REALLY AM A NICE GUY. JUST ASK ANYONE WHO HASN`T MET ME.

03-31-2012, 02:28 PM	#9
lake_harley ^OP Studly Adventurer Joined: May 2009 Location: Uniontown, MO Oddometer: 613	Well, I used a propane torch from the "engine" end of the pipe. Let it burn in that end for quite a while. Got some smoke, but not as dramatic as I had actually hoped for. I wonder, since all of the bikes had been sitting quite a while, could everything sort of dried up that it wasn't all that flamable anymore? This 2-stroke stuff is rather new to me. I did manage to get a layer of soot out of the curved end of the pipe, so I guess at least I did some good. Anyone put any "accelerant" in the pipe, like gas, to get it burning? You're probably thinking now, "Man, I'm glad I'm not his neighbor!" Lynn

03-30-2012, 10:55 AM	#3
lake_harley ^OP Studly Adventurer Joined: May 2009 Location: Uniontown, MO Oddometer: 613	Hmmm. Propane, Oxy/Acetylene or?? Since I haven't done this before, will it "light off" and continue to burn and then the ashes can be tapped out? Thanks Lynn

03-30-2012, 12:28 PM	#4
gloud Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Jun 2011 Location: Western mass USA Oddometer: 143	Yes they need to be cleaned out if they are that old. Any torch should get them going do it outside as it will stink. You can also use oven cleaner I have been told but you need to be careful of the lye.

03-30-2012, 12:50 PM	#5
brendonb11 Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Jul 2011 Location: Lat: 41.1870719 Long: -73.19559 Oddometer: 140	absolutely they need to be cleaned out! Torch and scrape (if you can get a brush in there). Some older models have baffles in the end of the pipes that you can yank out as well...

03-31-2012, 03:22 PM	#10
Euromad Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Feb 2010 Location: Lower Slobbovia Oddometer: 154	Putting gas in the pipe prolly give you an unexpected BANG you may blow the pipe apart and give yourself a reason for a hearing aid and plastic surgery

03-31-2012, 07:42 PM	#11
lake_harley ^OP Studly Adventurer Joined: May 2009 Location: Uniontown, MO Oddometer: 613	Yeah, I'll probably search for dramatic effects elsewhere. Hearing aids and plastic surgery would cut into my motorcycle habit budget too much Lynn

03-31-2012, 07:45 PM	#12
sieg Beastly Adventurer Joined: Jul 2008 Location: Southern Illinois USA Oddometer: 1,389	I just throw them in the trash barrel and light it. __________________ I'm not saying there should be capital punishment for stupidity, but let's take the safety labels off of everything and let the problem solve itself. Current bikes: '12 WR250R, '10 F800GS, '08 Versys, '07 WR250F, '85 RZ350, Wife's bikes: '10 F650GS, '09 XT250,'03 WR250F

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