Help! Exhaust Repair on my "new" 80 GS450

[firsttimewrench]

I bought a GS 450 in pretty rough shape, and I'm working on the exhaust right now, and it's got some dime size holes that have been rusted through. I plan on fixing those with some of that muffler paste and maybe some flashing. But the exhaust coupler is in real bad shape, completely rusted though on one side where its welded to the exhaust. Should I try to repair it / find a new one, or is it ok to just cut it off and go without it? What does it even do anyways?

[tom203]

Look down these posts for "Scrambler exhaust for gs750"- find pic of Pete's system on his 450- beautiful!
Your exhaust sounds like a goner, so hunt on ebay for another.

[Cdnpt1]

Having a hard time picturing what you are talking about, what "coupler" are you talking about? The joint from the H pipe to the exhaust? Pics please. It does sound like either way it is time for a new exhaust, there is a set on ebay now i think. Start messing with the exhaust and you will have to get into re-jetting and tuning carbs.

[firsttimewrench]

Yes, the joint between the H pipe and the exhaust. I'm trying to avoid having to get a new exhaust if I can. Money is a tight and if I can not have to dish out the $150 for a new exhaust that would be great. If I did get rid of the H pipe, would I have to rejet the carbs?

[pete]

Look down these posts for "Scrambler exhaust for gs750"- find pic of Pete's system on his 450- beautiful!
Your exhaust sounds like a goner, so hunt on ebay for another.

Yeah full credit to Tranzac here for their absolutely awesome work on that Love that exhaust...

Firstimewrench: You can probably patch things up to get you out of trouble. I'm not 100% sure on the purpose of the balance pipe but given there shouldn't be any major change to the actual flow of the exhaust gases I can't see you'd need to rejet as such for that... maybe just a resync of the carbs and revisit the highest idle method to get the mixture screws right.

If it was me and had no budget, I'd rip the balance pipe out, patch up the holes, and give it a shot regardless. If it was me with budget... well you can see what I did already

[firsttimewrench]

Yeah, I think I'm going to rip out the H-bar and patch everything with flashing and muffler paste, then wrap everything with exhaust wrap. End cost: about $40. Theoretically the H bar adds a few horses, but with as junked up as it is the bikes gotta be better off without it. I'll try to post some pics this weekend.

[pete]

Yeah, I think I'm going to rip out the H-bar and patch everything with flashing and muffler paste, then wrap everything with exhaust wrap. End cost: about $40. Theoretically the H bar adds a few horses, but with as junked up as it is the bikes gotta be better off without it. I'll try to post some pics this weekend.

Cool, keep us up to date.

[BassCliff]

Greetings and Salutations!!

Hi Mr. firsttimewrench,

I've seen some folks fashion their own exhaust pipe and use exhaust clamps to eliminate the exhaust crossover.

Anyway, let me dump a TON of information on you and share some GS lovin'.

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Please click here for your mega-welcome, chock full of tips, suggestions, links to vendors, and other information. Then feel free to visit my little BikeCliff website where I've been collecting the wisdom of this generous community. Don't forget, we like pictures! Not you, your bike!

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Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff