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Showing results for tags 'first time thoughts'.
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Whilst doing some programming for the pulse trigger decoder, for my distributorless 5K, & not working directly on the engine, I decided to fit an O2 sensor mounting point on the standard exhaust pipe. I then added some fibreglass wrap on the pipe. It was more for protection, rather than good looks, as I'm working around the engine in shorts, I don't want to burn my legs accidentally (which has happened previously). The fibreglass wrapping kits are very cheap on-line, & for about $20.00, I got 15m of tape + 10 x S.S. ties, free postage, with plenty of tape left over. Now I've never done this before, nor had the need, so watched a couple of on-line videos, of how to go about it, by pre wrapping it loosely, & then dampening the tape with water, to soften, & give the tape a bit more flexibility as you wrap. That all worked out fine, but when I came to fitting the S.S. ties, I ran into trouble. They just wouldn't pull up tight, like I expected. I watched the videos again, & they made it look so simple, by just pulling it up tight, bending the end over, cutting the excess off, & pushing it back 180 deg into the clasp. I actually managed to get just one to do that, but it was a pain. Then I realised it wasn't really tight. I looked at the clamping arrangement, & it has a tiny "rough" ball inside, That grips the S.S. ties & "jams" it. I wasn't happy, & didn't know whether it was my technique, or that I had just scored some "cheapy" ties, in my cheap on-line purchase. I finished up, just buying some ordinary S.S. hose clips at SCA, which worked perfectly, as depicted below. To stop the wrap from losing tension, as I wound the tape tightly around the pipe, I used oridinary plastic zip ties to temporarily hold the wrap in place, until I got to the end, & fitted the metal hose clamps. I then thought, this is so easy, why doesn't some one make a hi temperature plastic zip tie for this application. I looked on line, & did find some rated up to 240 deg C, but that is probably not high enough. Has anyone come across some Hi Temp zip ties, in their travels ?? Anyway, I finished up spraying the installed fibreglass wrap with high temp paint (colour aluminium), for exhaust systems. I saturated the porous tape, & put it in the sun for a day. I then refitted the exhaust pipe to the engine, & ran it, until the pipe reached operating temperature. It had the effect of "baking" the wrap on, & gave what appears to be a very good reliable finish. It was only an experiment, & time will tell. If anyone, has some personal experience with wrapping exhausts, or has some tips, please add here. Cheers Banjo