Soot on VFR400 NC24 rear wheel -exhaust system replacement?!

[Vanessa13688]

Hi - I've been battling with soot on my rear wheel of my VFR400 NC24 (D reg) for a while...I'm contemplating a full exhaust system replacement, however not even Honda specialists can get the parts or gaskets! How frustrating.

Until June it's restricted anyway, so I was wondering whether it might just be that its running rich from restriction, and a good blast may sort it? That would account for the sheer volume of carbon there, but the fact that its on my rear wheel (therefore coming from the vent hole on the underside of the can?) worries me...

Any help greatly appreciated before I take it in for a super expensive job! Even getting a garage to strip it and look at potential leaks would cost a fair bit

Vanessa

[Robby]

The mild steel collector boxes rust out on them, which is more likely to be the cause than the vent hole.

The silencer on my old one was very clogged when I got it, possibly with a birds nest (had been outside). Made a huge bang and filled the garage with sooty feathery dusty crap when it cleared.

Exhaust parts are hard to get hold of an expensive, mostly because the bikes are crap.

My recommendation is to give the collector and downpipes a thorough visual inspection to look for holes. If they look and feel solid, take off the can and give it a clean out. It it's steel you can use the 2-stroke trick of plugging one end with a potato and filling it with caustic soda. Do this carefully, wearing eye protection and rubber gloves. Leave it for a few hours then drain and rinse. Do not do this is the can is alloy.
I'm not sure of the best way to clean an alloy one, personally I'd try filling it with cola and see if that shifts the crap, I use cola to strip rust off parts and to clean stubborn parts. Leave to soak overnight, then rinse.

If the downpipes or collector box are shot you've got a job on your hands. You may be able to find solid second hand ones on ebay, you may be able to weld them up but you'd need a skilled welder.

[Azonicben]

Definately soot? or brake dust?
____________________
Cbt-23/09/07.....Theory-16/09/08.....Das passed 10/10/08.....
Current bike- GsxR750 K4. Broken: Cbr400rr (Nc29) Sold: Hyosung GT125R

[Vanessa13688]

Thanks - Im just about to go out and strip it down again to have a proper look. forget uni work - got my priorities right! Im seriously considering selling as parts lol...got myself a baby blade too but want to keep it low mileage.

Will get things off and have a look - im positive its soot, I did think brake dust at first but theres just too much of it too soon, especially when I went out and used hardly any back brake to see whether it could be that...