I fit a whole new exhaust just before the national and while it worked okay on the way down, there are little blows everywhere. Not knowing any better, I used exhaust paste but seeing as, well, EVERYONE seemed to tell me I should have used copper grease, I'm going to take it off and re-fit it, along with the new burton clamps I sold a kidney to get.

I vaguely remember reading something on here many moons ago by Ken saying to wrap the male joints either side of the torpedo with insulating tape, then smear over with copper grease to help it seal, and I figured i might try it as the Walker system I have seems a bit ill-fitting in that area.

Does this work? Doesn't the tape just melt into a plastic-y mess? I assume he was meaning the PVC electrical insulating stuff...

Found it!

Martin,
I forgot to mention that it's advisable not to over-tighten the U clamps.
If the pipes have been indented, that kinda limits the chances of them separating easily...

Ken

when u fit the burton clamps loosen the 2 fixing nuts either side of the front silencer first

Thanks for the replies, guys. Ken, when you said insulating tape, did you mean the pvc electrical stuff?

Also, did the grips turn up?

Hi Martin,
yes, to both questions.
Common or garden insulating tape is enough to provide a 'slip' surface and seems to survive the heat of the exhaust well.
Ken
(My favourite Facom grips are now back in the toolbox, so many thanks... )

Stainless Swan necks last 20 years at least !!!

The whole stainless system lasts at least 26 years [IME] ....except for the cross-box,which was'nt available at the time I fitted a S.S. stystem on my [then,brand new] '88 2CV ...
The main prob is the heater to cross box joints .....and the cross boxes available these days just dont seem to fit "quite right" .
btw ......a lot of guys on my motorctcle club are using B&Q "BBQ paint" on the exhaust pipes .....I dunno if it'll work on a 2CV cross box [s'posedly,they rot from from the inside too] ....but theres been no complaints so far from the guys in the M/C club.....I've given it "a go" on my 2CV anyway ...
best regards
T.

I recently fitted a complete new exhaust, Followed the instructions, fitted everything losely and then tightened up progressively. I did use the paste but not the tape and managed to eliminate the blows.
The handbrake hits the crossbox pipe when released and I can't see any way of positioning it to avoid the problem. I bought the expensive clamps last time but didn't think they were worth the money as the regular ones worked better. The flanges on the pipes were too big to allow them to grip properly, they only really fitted the manifold to heater joint nicely.
Don

Don,
Walker crossbox?
See below...



Exhaust & handbrake lever contact by slcchassis, on Flickr

&

Walker crossboxes, old and new style. by slcchassis, on Flickr