One can on my wagon...

[ehasler]

I've just got back from a drive, and noticed that the left hand can was drooping down so much it was almost touching the ground! I initially thought it had worked itself loose, so ducked underneath the car to tighten the clamp up. I then noticed that the outlet pipe from the silencer just by the left rear wheel had fractured at the weld, and was on the verge of breaking off completely, along with one of my new CCC cans!

Is this common? Does anyone know whether it's simply a case of getting the rear pipe welded up again, or does this mean I need a new silencer?

ETA: I'm assuming it's OK to drive with just one can fitted (apart from it being even noisier than usual! ) but if anyone knows differently, then please let me know!

>>> Edited by ehasler on Saturday 17th July 16:46

[Alf Essex]

Ed,

mmm sorry to hear about this...very odd! You called Castle yet before they close?

Alan.

[ehasler]

I think the service part closes early on Saturdays, so will give them a bell in the week.

[Alf Essex]

Not good though is it....take the other can off and se how loud they are then

Alan.

[NCE 61]

Seems a common problem and can be re-welded,

[diver]

It happened to me on a drive through Spain (also have CCC cans). I just wiggled it until the weld snapped completely, put the can in the boot, and carried on for another 150 miles. Had it welded back on the next day and got them to beef up the other side at the same time. All has been well since then so nothing to worry about I think.

[chim_girl]

Same thing happened to Chim450 on a run out a few weeks ago. OMG did it make some noise when it had one can less. He thoroughly enjoyed setting of my car alarm everytime he started up.....!

AFAIK a simple welding job sorted it out a few days later. Seems to be a common problem with CCC.

[Alf Essex]

mmm better check my cans before I set off in 10mins time!!

Alan.

[ehasler]

Thanks for the info everyone! I've just driven home with just one can fitted, and it doesn't sound any louder to be honest!

I'm not sure why this should happen to CCC cans, as they appear to be lighter than the originals. Maybe it weakens the weld if you have to give the olds ones a tug to get them off?

Hmm - maybe I should rephrase that...

Looking at the way it's all mounted though, it does seem like a weak point, so I'll try to get an extra flange welded to the outlet pipe when it's fixed.

[simon-c]

chim_girl said:

Same thing happened to Chim450 on a run out a few weeks ago. OMG did it make some noise when it had one can less. He thoroughly enjoyed setting of my car alarm everytime he started up.....! AFAIK a simple welding job sorted it out a few days later. Seems to be a common problem with CCC.

I think you'll find it's a common problem even without CCC cans.

The standard cans weigh more than ours when the wadding inside the cans gets full of moisture.

Simon
CCC

[Chim450]

As Jo said one of my cans came adrift. It was also the side where it was a complete bitch to get the standard can off (required a pneumatic chisel!). I guess the weld from the back box is the weak point as I have heard of quite a few people losing their cans from here.

[chim_girl]

simon-c said:

chim_girl said: Same thing happened to Chim450 on a run out a few weeks ago. OMG did it make some noise when it had one can less. He thoroughly enjoyed setting of my car alarm everytime he started up.....! AFAIK a simple welding job sorted it out a few days later. Seems to be a common problem. I think you'll find it's a common problem even without CCC cans. The standard cans weigh more than ours when the wadding inside the cans gets full of moisture. Simon CCC

Apologies, having re-read my post it seems to suggest that CCC were the problem, it genuinely wasn't intened that way. Sorry.

[Podie]

ehasler said:

...you have to give the olds ones a tug to get them off?

ehasler said:

...extra flange..

stop.. you're killing me...

[andyvdg]

One of mine went just like yours Ed, shortly after I put my CCC cans on Obviously the straw blah blah

Dealer did something to fix it that didn't cost me much.

>> Edited by andyvdg on Monday 19th July 15:39

[Delvard]

diver said:

It happened to me on a drive through Spain (also have CCC cans). I just wiggled it until the weld snapped completely, put the can in the boot, and carried on for another 150 miles. Had it welded back on the next day and got them to beef up the other side at the same time. All has been well since then so nothing to worry about I think.

I'm quite sure it's worked out well for you, but members should take note that the MINIMUM amount of weld is always the correct amount of weld. Over doing, placing weld on top of weld, is only establishing residual stresses that could lead to fractures along the side of the weld. It is not making the join stronger. One of the reasons many welds fracture in the first place is because of poor procedure and/or over welding.

Remember,less is more.

[ehasler]

Delvard said:

diver said: It happened to me on a drive through Spain (also have CCC cans). I just wiggled it until the weld snapped completely, put the can in the boot, and carried on for another 150 miles. Had it welded back on the next day and got them to beef up the other side at the same time. All has been well since then so nothing to worry about I think. I'm quite sure it's worked out well for you, but members should take note that the MINIMUM amount of weld is always the correct amount of weld. Over doing, placing weld on top of weld, is only establishing residual stresses that could lead to fractures along the side of the weld. It is not making the join stronger. One of the reasons many welds fracture in the first place is because of poor procedure and/or over welding. Remember,less is more.

It depends of course on how the tube is beefed up - the inlet pipe on the silencer fitted to my Westfield is a weak point, and it's common for these to fracture in the same way as my Tuscan silencer. So, when I had my new manifold made, the engineer welded a flange (I love that word! ) around the base of the tube at 45 degrees which has increased the strength hugely.

[TimW]

*sing*
Two cans on my wagon,
And I’m still popin and banging along.
The Cherokees are chasing me
Arrows fly, right on by
But I’m singing a happy song

one cans on my wagon,
And I’m still popin and banging along.
The Cherokees are chasing me
Arrows fly, right on by
But I’m singing a happy song

None cans on my wagon,
And I’m still popin and banging along.
The Cherokees are chasing me
Arrows fly, right on by
But I’m singing a happy song