UL Exhaust Question

[Larry T.]

Hi folks,

I have a question regarding the "squash pipe" (I don't know a better description for this section of exahaust) for a 1937 ULH... was the bracket that bolts to the frame on the original "squash pipe" section riveted to the exhaust pipe or welded?

Thanks for any help you can offer!

Larry

[Matt McManus]

I have at least 5 (none are in great shape) originals and all are brazed on. The repop ones from Corso have the fake rivets in them. The early repops are welded on and the welds are visable.

[dommi7]

Matt, you said brazed - did you mean riveted?

I have at least 5 (none are in great shape) originals and all are brazed on. The repop ones from Corso have the fake rivets in them. The early repops are welded on and the welds are visable.

[Matt McManus]

No I meant brazed. Never seen a real UL squash pipe with a riveted on bracket.

[JohnR]

http://www.technologystudent.com/joints/braz2.htm

[Matt McManus]

These are the flathead squash pipes that I have. The three to the right in the top picture came from a stash of parts that had been sitting since the late 1950's, and is also the same pipe that my 1938 UL has that has been off the road since 1957(A few pieces had been changed on that bike but there were definitely no repop parts with it when I got it). The middle pipe in the second picture is an older repop and is bent nothing like the originals that I have and the bracket is clearly welded on. The one to the left with the rivets on the bracket is from Dennis Corso. The rivets are fake as you can see in the picture, it has a small tack weld on the inside of the bracket that is not visable when the pipe is installed and the clamp is welded to the pipe on the bottom. I have never seen another style of flathead squash pipe. Does anyone else have another style that I dont have pictured? I have never seen one that has real rivets that actually hold the bracket to the pipe like the OHV squash pipes are.

[Larry T.]

Thanks for the pics Matt!

Larry

[ronald]

Hi Matt, as long as you are talking UL exhaust, I have another question for ya about the location of the front cylinder pipe support brackets. I have seen a couple pics of them with the frame half of the bracket at the top of the side car forging. All the knuckles seem to have their brackets mounted there, however I can't see the brackets on a UL in most of the pics of them. The only other place I can find is just below the side car forging forward of the foot board mount tab. ant thoughts or solid references?

[Sargehere]

It goes underneath on a UL, below the sidecar loop. Invisible that way. It's just two pipe brackets with a nut, bolt & lockwasher through both of them. It's illustrated pretty well in the 1949 Parts Catalog, Ronald.

[ronald]

Thanks Gerry, for the correct info. Ron

[ronald]

I have reproduced a nice "s" pipe for my UL so that I don't have to use that less than satisfactory one that V-Twin markets. I've looked around for a better one but wasn't able to come up with one, maybe I was looking in the wrong places. If there is enough interest, I've thought perhaps I could work with a guy that has a mandrel bender and make up about 50 or so and pass them on for cost. I'm sure i'm not the only one out there that needs one for their U bike. I'll post some pics after mine comes back from Performance Coating, Auburn, Wa., If any one's interested. Mine has no dings or dents or flat spots to make it fit. I made my prototype using 1 3/4 in diameter header bends and welded it together. I made the bracket from flat steel strap and brazed it to the pipe.

[Robert Luland]

Does anyone else have another style that I dont have pictured? I have never seen one that has real rivets that actually hold the bracket to the pipe like the OHV squash pipes are.



Matt, here's one I got recently that is supposed to be oem. I have a 50/50% doubt on this since it is spot welded but at the same time I can't see the factory brazing them into 1948. What's your take. Bob L

[Matt McManus]

I dont know if any of the crusty originals that I have arespot welded like that or not, I will try to take a look and let you know.