Exhaust removal?

Hey guys... Quick question, I was looking at my exhaust and I want to remove it so I can clean up the chrome and hard to reach areas but how do I remove the mufflers? It almost looks like they are welded but I thought motorcycle mufflers were slide on. Also it looks like I need to remove both pipes since there is a a cross pipe connecting the two together. It's an 82 400 maxim.

Thanks!

 

Typically you remove the exhaust header clamps (2 bolts per pipe) and the two muffler mounts behind the passenger foot pegs. Sometimes you can pull the exhaust out as a whole with some finagling and the bike on the center stand, other times you have to remove the header pipes from the collector box by loosening the clamps under the engine on the pipes.

It is a good idea to replace the exhaust gaskets at the head whenever you remove the exhaust, as they are copper crush gaskets and act to seal the pipes and provide proper backpressure. I've found the copper gaskets between the headers and collector box / mufflers can be reused with some additional finagling and patience during reassembly.

 

Ahhh that's what I was figuring, just didn't know of there was a way around it. Oh well I will clean around it and just pressure wash the hard to reach areas. Thanks for the help!

 

Personally, I would never take a pressure washer to my bike. Water WILL get into places you do not want it. I have gotten good results using "Foamy Engine Brite" to clean engines and other parts. Spray it on, wait a bit and rinse it off with a dispersed spray, like from a shower head. Twice if necessary. A couple of different nylon brushes can help too. Read the can. There are 3 or 4 intensities of it. I use the "Original", IIRC.

My pipes are off right now and I used the wet aluminum foil method, that someone else posted on this forum, to shine them up. It worked very well, without much effort. Cheap, too.
http://www.robertscycle.com/chrome-clean.html

 

The exhaust system on the 400s is basically just two pieces; see the fiche: http://www.yamahapartshouse.net/oempart ... 79/exhaust

 

Or does he have an xJ400(Japanese four cyl model) rather than the xS400(2cyl model that the USA got)?

DAVE

 

In Wisconsin? While anything's possible, I'm thinking it's the 400 twin.

 

Yea it's the twin. I'm going to pick up some cleaning supplies and start getting it ready for riding. It's in the mid 30's so it's getting nice out again haha.

 

This is an old trick from Rick O. Use a piece of cotton rope to get into tight places like around the exhaust.

 

Oooooo, good tip. Putting that one in my memory bank
Dave

 

They're different between years. i want to say 79' and older have just two separate exhaust sides, to which the headers are yes - welded right to the mufflers. on 80' + there was a connecting piece under the motor.

Either way, the only things connecting the pipes to the bike are the exhaust studs and the mounting brackets that are mounted to the backside of the passenger foot peg brackets.

Let me look for a picture or two

 

l take no credit for this tip. Its from the great mind of Rick O.