Best way to bend headers??

[Sevans16]

I have a rigid header pipe for my DA-85 and AW Extra. The thrust angle has the header about a 1/2 inch off from the can. I am thinking about cutting a slot half way through and bending with a coupler over it, heat and bend, cold bending?? I called DA and they told me I was on my own, they would not give me advice. Funny as they sold me the set-up and I hear nothing but good about them.

[DATech]

Hello Steven
Bending thin wall stainless tubing without the correct equipment is very tricky at best, and often results in a ruined header. You may want to exchange it with us for a header with a built in flex section that allows for thrust adjustments.

If you prefer to try to bend the one you have I would bolt the flange down to something solid using the holes in the flange. Find a long round steel tube or rod to fit perfectly outside or inside of the header tube a few inches and give it a gentle nudge in the right direction.

I have used the above method with decent results, and a few screw ups. Any mistakes here can damage the flange or colapse the tubing. Heating the tubing is also unpredictable without lot's of experience.

[GMoney]

You got honest strait up advice... Pipe bending is more art than skill.. Good luck with your header..

G

[vernonf]

take it to a weld shop. notch it to thecdesired angle and tig weld it. It shouldn't be very expensive. $20.00. It's not a big deal to a weldor.

[TheTank]

I bent one of my cross over headers but I heated it up with a torch, and I was helped by a good buddy of mine that has years of experience in metal work, due to the fact that I was worried about collapsing the tube. It worked, but we were extremely careful. I would honestly exchange the one you have with DA for one with a flex section.

[zumaboster]

Jam it in a vise and give her hell

But seriousley, Don't pick one spot to make the bend in. A gentle change over the whole header is the best way.

[DKnippen]

When I got my first set of canisters you had to bend your aluminum headers to fit. I more or less used the first set of headers to learn not by choice. Cost another $65.00 before I got it. Even then it was crap. Stainless flex is the best way to go.

[Sevans16]

OK I posted pics and details on page 24 of the AW Extra 75cc thread. But what I found was my header is made out of three pieces silver soldered together. A flange and 2 pieces of tubing. I was able to melt the brass at the tubing joint and adjust. Worked fine took about 5 mins with two adjustments made.

[KIM]

im old school i fill the header with sand plug both ends deside on the bend i want make a template from a hard wood then heat header and bend to shape hope that helps

[50%plane]

	Quote: Originally Posted by KIM
	im old school i fill the header with sand plug both ends deside on the bend i want make a template from a hard wood then heat header and bend to shape hope that helps

That's not old school.

I'd do that, less the heat.

50%

[KIM]

thats the way we did our motorcycle headers in the 50s

[KIM]

ok maybe im just old

[Spaz]

instead of sand you can use soapy water, cap one end fill with soapy water (stand on capped end) and freeze solid, with it still frozen bend away.. this is how they bend trombones on "How its Made"

[Sevans16]

Thats sounds a little crazy? wouldn't the water expand when freezing and expand the tubing? I would like to know more about this method.

[aerowiz]

both ways work as good as each other(sand / soapywater). we used these ways when our million dollar pipe bending machines couldnt do the job in the airforce.