Exhaust wrap

[chascarpenter1]

How long should the wrap on the exhaust pipes smoke for?

[BajaRon]

How long should the wrap on the exhaust pipes smoke for?

It is best to break the wrap in slowly. It will smoke less and last longer.

In other words, start up the bike and let it idle until you start to smell it. Then shut down and let it cool some.

Do this 2 or 3 times before you ride it. That helps the wrap cure before you really bake it with full heat.

It will smell for a little while but after a ride or 2 it will go away.

[burg650]

I only did the left side so far and it took about 100 miles before I can say the smoking was all gone. I did start and run it a few time when it was first done and the first time it smoked like hell I even got the hose ready just in case. I was told that I should have pre-soaked it first and or after I wrapped it should have sprayed water on before I start it, not sure if this was right or not but it will go away the hard part was while waiting for it to stop smoking a few time while at a stop light some people would look at the bike and me and there face told me they were thinking dude do you not see your bike is on fire kind of freak them out I believe.

[SpyderGirl]

I am considering this.... I assume it's wrapped around the exhaust pipe itself all the way up the manifold? Where do you get it at and what do you use? Might be a good idea to do this before departing on my cross-country trip. Every little bit helps!!

[smokster]

This does not sound like it is good for the bike to contain this heat.
I am not a mechanic, but this subject sounds interesting.

[bone crusher]

This does not sound like it is good for the bike to contain this heat.
I am not a mechanic, but this subject sounds interesting.

Interesting point...hmmmm...this bike gets hot enough!

[SpyderGirl]

Yeah, I was reading up about them on my lunch break. Sounds like it's a great idea! I definitely will be ordering myself some.

[wyliec]

It prevents the heat from radiating, and carries it away through the exhaust system......

Maybe the exhaust temp. isn't dissipated as quickly with the pipe wrapped. Won't that cause the engine temp. to go up.

I'm speaking from an air conditioning background. As the discharge temp. of the refrigerant gas goes up it causes the compressor temp. to go up along with the oil temp. In some applications they would run a section of the cooler suction line along the discharge line. Too high a compressor temp. would result in oil breakdown. The higher discharge temp. also reduces the compressor capacity.

I'm not saying that will happen here. But, maybe it's something to think about.

[BajaRon]

Actually, keeping the heat inside the exhaust pipe and out of the engine compartment is all good.

Hotter air travels faster effectively increasing the volocity of the exhaust gasses and increasing the efficiency of your exhaust system. Racers have known this for years. That is where this "Header Tape" got its start.

Anything that makes an engine more efficient will effectively lean out the mixture. However, fuel injected engines have some ability to compensate and add more fuel (carbs can't do this without changing out hard parts).

In this case I don't think it will give you a leaner mix. Instead, it should increase your power.

Some heat in the engine compartment is not a problem. But the Spyder is a little overboard in this regard. The airbox gets hot raising the incoming air temp. That will decrease power and increase engine temps as some cooling occurs with cooler incoming air.

It also heats up the gas tank. Hotter fuel, like hotter air, is less dense and will reduce power. Fuel is also a component of engine cooling so cooloer fuel is a good thing all around.

I'm not saying that you're going to see any huge difference in power if you wrap the exhaust. But you will see a noticeable reduction in engine compartment temps (which is the main objective here) and other side effects are all good as well.

All of your sensors, hoses, and other components will last longer and function better over time with a reduction of engine compartment heat. Your plastic pannels will also appreciate lower temps.

One more thing. You will notice that the engine is quieter when you wrap the exhaust. Again, not huge but noticable.

Just don't see how you can go wrong with this mod. I suggest the 1" wide wrap that is impregnated with graphite (Black). It comes in wider sizes which may seem like a good idea (covers more ground with less wraps). But the narrower stuff gets around bends more uniformly.

Check this out.

http://www.jscspeed.com/universal/th...eader_wrap.htm

[smokster]

Actually, keeping the heat inside the exhaust pipe and out of the engine compartment is all good.

Hotter air travels faster effectively increasing the volocity of the exhaust gasses and increasing the efficiency of your exhaust system. Racers have known this for years. That is where this "Header Tape" got its start.

Anything that makes an engine more efficient will effectively lean out the mixture. However, fuel injected engines have some ability to compensate and add more fuel (carbs can't do this without changing out hard parts).

In this case I don't think it will give you a leaner mix. Instead, it should increase your power.

Some heat in the engine compartment is not a problem. But the Spyder is a little overboard in this regard. The airbox gets hot raising the incoming air temp. That will decrease power and increase engine temps as some cooling occurs with cooler incoming air.

It also heats up the gas tank. Hotter fuel, like hotter air, is less dense and will reduce power. Fuel is also a component of engine cooling so cooloer fuel is a good thing all around.

I'm not saying that you're going to see any huge difference in power if you wrap the exhaust. But you will see a noticeable reduction in engine compartment temps (which is the main objective here) and other side effects are all good as well.

All of your sensors, hoses, and other components will last longer and function better over time with a reduction of engine compartment heat. Your plastic pannels will also appreciate lower temps.

One more thing. You will notice that the engine is quieter when you wrap the exhaust. Again, not huge but noticable.

Just don't see how you can go wrong with this mod. I suggest the 1" wide wrap that is impregnated with graphite (Black). It comes in wider sizes which may seem like a good idea (covers more ground with less wraps). But the narrower stuff gets around bends more uniformly.

Check this out.

http://www.jscspeed.com/universal/th...eader_wrap.htm

Good information, thanks.
So, how many feet will we need for this cooool mod?

[bone crusher]

Please post pics of this when you're done wrapping...I'm curious to see what it looks like...

[SSG Bean]

I have had my exhaust wrapped for about 3k miles and have had the Leo Vince for about the same amount of time and haven't had any major issues. I have noticed some increase in deceleration backfire, but it is not major. I did notice that the "under plastic" temps seem much lower and that is worth the risk of a lean condition to me.

[SSG Bean]

Please post pics of this when you're done wrapping...I'm curious to see what it looks like...

Here's the thread with my pics.

http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/s...9878#post89878

[smokster]

Here's the thread with my pics.

http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/s...9878#post89878

Very nice.
How long did it take to do the wrap?

[CheeseCake]

Did you remove the exhaust?
or wrap them on the bike?

also did you soak the wrap in water before wrapping??

thanks
CC

[Webhead]

As long as you're aware of the possible consequences of an overly lean condition, then it's all good

OK, I'll ask - What are the possible consequences of an overly lean condition?

[Blinc]

I ordered my wrap from here: http://www.deicycle.com/catalog/1/mo...pipe_wrap_kits

If you leave the pipes on, it will be easier, just not as complete. I removed my pipes and did both sides. Some people seem to notice a big difference, but afer wrapping my spyder and my wifes spyder...at least on our bikes, we have not noticed it to be that significant of a difference, but then again, we live in Florida and its hot out here. One thing I did notice is my right foot gets even hotter...a lot hotter now since wrapping the right side and I'm not sure what that would be the cause of it, but I would think so since it now happens after the wrap. I did have the dealer check it for exhaust leaks and no issues there.
Today I installed a DEI insulated type of deal in the radiator area, so will see how that makes it feel on my next ride tomorrow.
If you don't remove the pipes, its a fairly easy mod, and if you get the kit, with the instructions provided, you will be fine.

[NancysToy]

Overly lean conditions are less likely in a system that has an O2 sensor in the exhaust, which will allow the injection to compensate for the higher flow. In a race system, without sensors, it is another story altogether, and you can most certainly damage components if you do not somehow richen your mixture immediately.

[aka1004]

i have mine wrapped end to end but with recommendation from my current dealer and ken from evoluzione.net i will be taking them off. wrap is keeping the heat in and may cause premature gasket damage and others and was design to be cooled by the air flow inside engine compartment, according to both of them.

[NancysToy]

i have mine wrapped end to end but with recommendation from my current dealer and ken from evoluzione.net i will be taking them off. wrap is keeping the heat in and may cause premature gasket damage and others and was design to be cooled by the air flow inside engine compartment, according to both of them.

Exhaust gasket damage?

[BajaRon]

OK, I'll ask - What are the possible consequences of an overly lean condition?

Depends on how overly lean you go. All EPA engines run lean these days. It is supposed to reduce emissions and I guess we will have to take their word on it. So Lean is a relative thing.

You can get away with a certain amount of lean.

A lot of lean and you'll destroy an engine in short order. Wrapping your exhauast isn't going to make any appreciable difference to your fuel mix and that's what is important here.

[aka1004]

Exhaust gasket damage?

i am guessing because wrap is retaining heat it can cause engine to run hotter and cause premature gasket failure? exhaust and or head.

i was hesitant take them off when one party recommended to take them off but when both recommend spyder is better off without the wrap, i will listen...

[Some Guy]

I have the Micron exhaust and am about to install the O2 modifier. After reading this threat, I'm confused about whether or not to wrap.

[BajaRon]

i have mine wrapped end to end but with recommendation from my current dealer and ken from evoluzione.net i will be taking them off. wrap is keeping the heat in and may cause premature gasket damage and others and was design to be cooled by the air flow inside engine compartment, according to both of them.

Sorry but this really does not make much sense to me. I suppose the exhaust gaskets will take a bit more heat but they should be designed to take a lot more heat than could be safely created by this engine.

From what Lamont tells me the exhaust gaskets may be a weak link but that would not be the fault of wrapping the exhaust. He's found some much better exhaust gaskets made by Honda that should work really well.

As for cooling from air flow inside the engine compartment....there just isn't nearly enough air flow to cool those pipes. Why do you think it gets so nasty hot in there?

Personally, I would rather replace an exhaust gasket once in awhile than heat dammaged soft parts like sensors, hoses, spark plug wires, fuel lines, body pannels, etc.

I've got over 13,000 miles on my Spyder and almost all of that with wrapped exhaust. We just did 2 full days of 80mph + (over 1,100 miles in 1 day) in 104 degree heat going to California. No exhaust gasket damage on my Spyder.

Lamont has, what, 35,000 miles on his Spyder. Most of that with wrapped exhaust. He has had some exhaust gasket issues but so have a lot of bone stock Spyders. Plus, Lamont changes exhaust systems more often than I change my underware! All that off and on experimentation is harder on an exhaust gasket than a few more degrees of heat.

I like my pipes wrapped. Like everything else, some will and some won't. But from everything I've seen it's a very good way to go.

[Some Guy]

Lamont changes exhaust systems more often than I change my underware!

YIKES!!! I guess it's a good thing you didn't make it to Michigan for the reunion!!!