balance pipe

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moggie
Posts: 9
Joined: 25 Mar 2011 21:31
Location: tonbridge

balance pipe

Post by moggie »

I managed to knock a rearset peg off loading the bike into my van after Cadwell (thanks for a great day everyone) and so I took the nearside exhaust off for easier access, then decided to remove the balance pipe to clean it up a bit. I then noticed that the balance pipe wasn't!! What I mean is that it vented through a hole into the nearside pipe but the offside pipe has no hole into the exhaust, despite having the welded on pipe for the balance pipe to fix to. It has not been blocked off, there has never been a hole.
I know I've not put this very well but I hope you get the picture, in effect there is no working balance pipe. This can't be right can it?
I can drill a hole through but would like to know what effect the balance pipe has.
I should mention that it is actually a 501 in 3 1/2 cycle parts.
I look forward to getting some light thrown on this.
Pete
'It must be a .....'
Posts: 422
Joined: 12 Sep 2010 12:25

Re: balance pipe

Post by 'It must be a .....' »

Hi, just do it !
The effect of the balance pipe is to make the exhaust quieter and let the engine flow better at high revs.
I removed the balance pipe from a 1973 Triumph 500 and it was much smoother with a cleaner pick up low down but very loud; vibration meant that high revs were hardly ever explored and sustained with or without the balance pipe!
I'd drill open the pipe and try it, as you can easily block it up again if you prefer it the way it was.
Enjoy, Ian
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