Question about Vance and Hines

[alke46]

My question today is one of concern of the header pipes connected with and Vance and Hines 4-1 system.

If the pipes coming out of the head are blue, doesn't that indicate a lean running engine or is it simply due to the single wall construction of the header pipes?

TIA

[rphillips]

The single wall will contribute to the bluing, tho my chrome V&H lasted a few yrs with only getting gold, not blue...And I never understood why but both too lean or too rich can get the exhaust too hot & turn the pipes blue...Just my opinion.

[salty_monk]

I don't think I've ever seen a set of V&H without a bit of blue on them...

[trevor]

I don't think I've ever seen a set of V&H without a bit of blue on them...

Then you have not seen mine...lol...it is 10 years old and has 30,000kms (20,000 miles) on it...it's been great!

[alke46]

00Q0Q_cE1y4qURzDjz_0CI0t2_1200x900.jpg

how about this for bluing? Too lean?

[Nessism]

[ATTACH=CONFIG]63789[/ATTACH]

how about this for bluing? Too lean?

One of the common reasons for heavy blue like that is allowing the engine to idle too long without a fan blowing on the engine. Not good for the engine either.

[rphillips]

Oooohhhh, That's BAD, how long did it take to get that way? Not sure what it is, but something screwed for sure.

[alke46]

That's the bike listed in the road ready bikes for sale thread started by member omaharj. I've looked at it once and I am going to look at it again tomorrow but I have my doubts the seller is going to negotiate to my satisfaction. The bike also comes with the stock 4-2 exhaust.

[oldGSfan]

My V&H are pretty blued out. Seller could never get the carbs sorted out and like Ed said, maybe didn't run a fan when failing at it.

[rphillips]

To me, that looks a lot more like tooo much heat coming straight out of the cyl., through exhaust valve, than the eng getting too hot from lack of air circulation. Dang'it my memory...I remember back in the day the local shop had a customers bike down & back together, not sure what for, but when they fired it up within appx. 15 to 20 sec. the tops of all 4 pipes started glowing red. Woo, wooo, wooo, shut it off. They immediately knew what was wrong, took it back apart & corrected it, but I just can't remember what the heck it was.

[bitzz]

Stainless steel will oxidize at about 5-600 degrees F, which is an entirely acceptable exhaust gas temp for a 4 stroke