Header pipes: How can the brass plugs be made to stay in!
 

Brilliant ride up and back from Knockhill on Sunday BUT, half way there my bike started popping and back-firing on the over-run. Filled up with gas and it instantly became obvious why.

The stupid brass plug on the vertical header pipe had blown out and air must of be getting in and eventually igniting.

Any ideas how to keep the sodding thing in - will any locking adhesives work at such high temps?

Cheers - Frank

P.S. quite a nice way to keep ya left thigh warm !!!

The Lambda probe ones on my race system for the 955 have hex bolts in them that can be lockwired, haven't looked at a SS system to see if the same is possible

This happened to me a few times. It even rattled out when loctited in but I only used the blue stuff so the heat probably broke it down. In the end I fitted a spring washer underneath it and it's held since. I think the thread on the header got mashed a bit in the process though, as the last plug I fitted did not screw in very easily.

CHeers Zimbo - spring washer might be the way to go.

Replacement plugs just arrived this morning - might get to play this afternoon!

Ordered @ 3pm yesterday - delievered @ 10am, well done Ducati Leeds.

Frank

As it's brass and soft, can't you gently peen it with a centre punch?

Are the new plugs you received stainless ? as the latest type are and they dont seem to come loose

This used to happen to me all the time!

In the end I drilled the head of the screw at an angle to accept wirelocking, and assembled it with exhaust paste. It stayed in after that.

Jen.

The new ones are stainless. When you fit them, make sure the threads are clean in the pipes, use some v.high temp grease and make sure the copper washer is in place. That's the little bugga that keeps them in place ;)

Grrrrr....thanx for the info guy but sadly the new plugs I've just got are Brass but I'm gonna hunt down some spring / copper washers for em tomorrow.

I'd better check the front pipe plug as well I guess.

Cheers - Frank