Mismatched exhaust pipes

nc_rider · Post by **nc_rider** » Wed Dec 22, 2010 9:03 pm

I bought a nice set of pipes off Craigslist and one pipe had the old style flange (where the header goes into the exhaust pipe) and the other had the newer style. Someone else on here said they had the same setup.. which led me to believe that for some reason dealers got "pairs" that way. .. well..

check out eBay auction 200557164303.. it's a set of NOS pipes that are mismatched.

Is it just a coincidence that these things somehow got mismatched, or was there some reason for dealers to get in an "old" pipe for one side and a "new" one for the other side? ...

jensen · Post by **jensen** » Thu Dec 23, 2010 2:04 am

Hi,

No, different years of production.
The straight one without the packing is an earlier one (I Think, or was it later ?)

Jensen

G-Man · Post by **G-Man** » Thu Dec 23, 2010 2:40 am

The straight one is the earlier one. From the small sample of new/used mufflers I have bought it seems that the right side muffler is the first to get damaged. If you buy a used 'pair' the RHS one seems to sustain more damage. I think that this may be due to the kick stand being on the left.

If the bike topples, it's more likely to damage the RHS pipe.

If a dealer gets replacement stock the mufflers for the RHS will be replenished first. That's my personal theory. If you see a Right Side Muffler in good condition - buy it.

I have similar NOS 'sets' - they're like odd socks.

G

nc_rider · Post by **nc_rider** » Thu Dec 23, 2010 2:57 am

"odd sock" mufflers. I like that.

LOUD MOUSE · Post by **LOUD MOUSE** » Thu Dec 23, 2010 9:05 am

I've tried to make since of the fiche for the CA/CB/72/77 and the parts books for them.
As I compare the part numbers I find them inconsistent as they are shown from the early books to the fiche and through the different issues (years) of the fiche.
The different parts issue I find are 259/254/268 and as I know it the early sock issue was red rubber/neoprene followed by black/rubber/neoprene then the "O" Ring was issued (red/then black) which changed the design of the front area of the muffler.
This change was made due to the fact that when the sock issue became hot and over time when the engine was running at high revs (lots of exhaust pressure) the pressure would cause the sock to come out of the muffler and up the header pipe.
From what I can tell this change was sometime in 1963 but like I said the numbers don't agree at times.
Use caution when ya see the sock issue for sale as after market ones were made and the metal was very thin and they are light and they didn't last long.
My experience with the damaged mufflers is a little different to what was offered earlier.
Here in the US it was the left side issue which was damaged most often. The side stand was an issue also folks would loose balance as they attempted to lift the bike on the center stand. (reason HONDA later issued the hand grip)
Another cause was the design at the area where there is a depression in the bottom for the center stand foot lever to fit into.
Ya would see passengers put their left foot on the long end and step up to get on the seat. This would cause the muffler to split/crack above the depression. (especially the stainless issues)
Well that's as I know it. ............lm

nc_rider wrote:"odd sock" mufflers. I like that.

nc_rider · Post by **nc_rider** » Thu Dec 23, 2010 12:55 pm

LM - one additional bit of info that I find interesting.. my "odd sock" pair both have the emissions stamp on them that says the bike was made "prior to 1983" (meaning both mufflers were made after 1983) and the pair on eBay don't have that stamp.

So Honda continued making the "sock" style (pre 1963) mufflers well into the 1980s despite the change to a better design.. and for some reason dealers (who should have known better) continued ordering them, or at least one side of them.

LOUD MOUSE · Post by **LOUD MOUSE** » Thu Dec 23, 2010 2:12 pm

Sort of like when HONDA reproduced the CB72/77 seat.
It was the early Short Frame issue.
Ya got ta wonder. .......lm

nc_rider wrote:LM - one additional bit of info that I find interesting.. my "odd sock" pair both have the emissions stamp on them that says the bike was made "prior to 1983" (meaning both mufflers were made after 1983) and the pair on eBay don't have that stamp.

So Honda continued making the "sock" style (pre 1963) mufflers well into the 1980s despite the change to a better design.. and for some reason dealers (who should have known better) continued ordering them, or at least one side of them.