Split Stainless Zorsts

[Simonelite501]

Does anyone know wether it is worth welding a split stainlees exhaust system, or is it likely to create weaknesses either side of the weld itself. I know this to be the case on Mild steel, but Stainless seems to be far more brittle, although I have little knowledge of Stainless. The split has occured at a 2 into 1 junction around the original weld. If the general concensus is that welding will be fine, does anyone know of a company in the Bristol/Weston area, capable of carrying out such work. Cheers Simon.

[mondeoman]

I'd say weld it, but put a re-inforcing plate over the split, then get it stress-relieved. IMHO

[cazzo]

Depending on the thickness welding should be OK but thin stainless shrinks when welded and you could end up with a bigger split so a plate may be best, I got a small dent in my Ducati pipes and trying to fill it just made it worse, it took a lot of work to make it good, but they are very thin-walled and being "on show" needed to look spot-on.

On another note, I know why they use it but, stainless really isn't well suited to exhaust pipe work as it "moves" too much when hot (ever noticed how stainless pipes "tick" more when cooling).