Dirt Bike Pipe Repair | What Works Better? Heat or Water?

[@alphaxpwaste9878]

these are some of the best tech vids i have ever seen!

[@mikebarger3563]

Excellent video as usual!

[@onthethrottle7104]

Excellent video! Love the ET3 Champ sticker, too!

[@TechEnduro]

👍 Looking forward to A1 vs Jett and Sexton

[@onthethrottle7104]

@@TechEnduro Yes sir!!!! and the Champ, Tomac, is getting ready...trust me.

[@darryl8808]

You're awesome dude, thanks for great content!

[@TechEnduro]

appreciate it

[@someonethatwatchesyoutube2953]

I have a hydraforce. It’s okay. Probably better off spending the money on a good pipe guard and just accept that you’ll need a new pipe every few years.

[@linaliu9173]

Yes

[@linaliu9173]

Take as consume items

[@xxshiftlockxx]

Sounds like the general consensus and what I've personally just recently experienced is if you run a pipe guard, better be ready to break/bend the header and crack your exhaust flange... for this reason I'm no longer running my pipe guard.

[@frontlinemedia4270]

I always throw a rag over the plugs, just in case

[@briangc1972]

The description is wrong, it is not hot pressurized air that reshapes the pipe, it is air pressure applied to metal that is heated to it's melting point. Heating the pipe to cherry at the dent and adding up to 100 psi air results in annealing the metal which makes it less likely to crack next time it get dented. The heat can easily be moved around the pipe to control the forming process and I consistently get results that are extremely difficult to see or find. The water pressure method results in the metal getting work hardened which leads to cracking later. Also the pressurized water will always expand the weakest part of the pipe which may not be the dent, it could be a seam that is weak or compromised by rust.

[@TechEnduro]

Interesting. I always thought that when I heat the same spot over and over again for repair it got weaker, great if that not the case👍

[@briangc1972]

@@TechEnduro No, annealing extends the life of the metal. Overheating can cause issues, but we aren't close to that point doing this. Gradually heat by moving the torch in a circular motion, then allow to gradually cool, never quench the metal.

[@someonethatwatchesyoutube2953]

@@briangc1972How about heating up the areas that you repaired with the hydroforce to anneal them?

[@CrazyDave556]

@@someonethatwatchesyoutube2953It depends if you already took the dent out or not. If you already got the dent out heating it won’t do much unless you melt the metal and recast it. The water method does cold work on the pipe and makes it harder but more likely to crack. Heating it after will just make it hot. Working it while it is hot is what causes the deformations that change the structure of the metal. However if you have that spot of metal hot with the water method, the water can rapidly increase the pressure applied to the pipe and rapidly cool the pipe. The heating and cooling of the pipe will cause it to crack and shoot out hot water. This is why it is advised to not use heat when using water in the pipe. Based on my knowledge I can assume the best method might be to pre heat the spots a bit before adding in the air. This is so you can continue to heat the spot more without drastically increasing the air pressure once you’ve added the air into the pipe with the heated spots at the dent locations. In other words if you expand it with the water a rock will be more likely to punch a hole through it next time while heating it and using air will just let the pipe dent again.

[@briangc1972]

@@someonethatwatchesyoutube2953 Hydro force is cold relative to the melting point of all metals. Annealing occurs when the metal is heat to near it's melting point than allowed to cool slowly. Hydro force involves liquid and liquid always cools too fast for annealing.

[@brianmartin414]

Who is dumb enough to use water? You can't control which dent is removed and it can't do small sharp dents. The whole pipe shape will distort at 400 psi and it won't fit back on the bike and the mounts won't line up. The heating method allows control of each dent and won't distort the entire pipe shape. You'll need a real torch with oxygen acetylene and a rosebud tip to do a decent job. Monitor pressure in the pipe while heating as it increases as you heat it. Work the dent from the outside in to prevent a pimple. Never exceed 75 psi when heating and keep the heat moving to prevent burn through and hot metal spraying in your face. Homemade cap jigs are a bad idea and can seriously hurt you or anything in the area. Release the pressure outside as the stink will be horrific. Videos like this are dangerous when they don't include all information but encourage people to try themselves. Best idea is to send it to a professional or just buy a new pipe. How much is your life worth?