V85TT Broken header manifold

[GTM®]

Lifted from Google Alerts social media, because it seems more people prefer to hang out in ignorant bliss. It also makes me want to steer away from quality exhaust components, because it also seems most would rather buy the cheap stuff and replace every few years like I did 20 years ago, when there was no other options. I’ve only sold a rare few full systems that help deliver ~80 rwhp, shown below. Lifetime guarantee. Oh well… documenting this here so the small few here can see it.

hey people... bit a help here please, this header spacer is new to me... knew I had a leak but asumed its just the gasket but its not this spacer has fallen apart on the exit side.
Is it another gasket or a solid steel part, looks a bit shit on the inlet side to cant tell if its a weld or not.
do I need to replace the hole item or dig it apart and replace a gasket... cos of course I ordered the gasket that goes in the head.



GTM SS Headers, Y & FS HERE

 

[DeadEye]

Could that be carbon build up in that shim/sleeve ?
Although that would be a lot of carbon buildup for a couple of year old bike ?
That coupling/adapter seems resize the opening in the Head to the size of the exhaust ?

 

[GTM®]

Could that be carbon build up in that shim/sleeve ?

That’s not carbon, that’s the weld. Hot & fast welding = brittle and likely to fail. The mantra since the late 90s it seems.

 

[DeadEye]

The Honda used a copper tube crush washer in that spot.
“if” you could find one the right size, to just fit in the sleeve might it do the trick ?

 

[GTM®]

The Honda used a copper tube crush washer in that spot.
“if” you could find one the right size, to just fit in the sleeve might it do the trick ?

No this is a failure of materials/worksmanship. Just posting so folks here can be aware of this issue. Much like all the other models I have noted on.

 

[scottmastrocinque]

Unfortunately Todd, quality is way under appreciated these days. All people see is the price they pay RIGHT NOW, with no regard to if it will end up costing more later down the road or if the materials and workmanship are shoddy. Nobody seems to care until something breaks...

I truly blame all of this crap on the globalization of parts production. Given that Moto Guzzi is buying so much garbage from China nowadays, I'm very hesitant to want to buy any of the newer motorcycles. I've watched for the last 20 years, the ultimate destruction of the once great marque of BMW Motorcycles with their globally sourced parts nightmares, one after another. It started with the chrome on the R1200C's, followed by self-destructing gearboxes and final drives, snapping fork tubes, leaking brake calipers, etc.

There have been more "total shit" failures like this on modern motorcycles, and in every case, it is shoddy workmanship trying to get to a certain cheap price point. Most of what I have seen, it is Chinese made crap...

 

[JasonC]

I truly blame all of this crap on the globalization of parts production. Given that Moto Guzzi is buying so much garbage from China nowadays, I'm very hesitant to want to buy any of the newer motorcycles. Most of what I have seen, it is Chinese made crap...

I agree.

I'm currently rebuilding an MGB motor and have to think really hard about replacing components that are marginally worn. For instance, years ago I would not think twice about buying replacement pistons and camshafts, knowing that they were manufactured to specifications as good or better than the original components.

Not so today. That marginally worn camshaft may not be perfect, but the quality of a replacement cam is a total crap-shoot and may very well result in low-mileage failure. I have the same concern for pistons and other engine parts. So the upshot is that, unfortunately, worn enigne components may offer longer lasting service than new, cheap replacements.

Jason

 

[davethewelder]

I have seen a few exhaust like this come into my shop. They fail at the toe of the weld. Mustangs with V 6’s in the mid 2000’s had actual headers and looked just like that!

 

[GerryAZ]

Am I correct in assuming the failure shown in the original post is a cheap aftermarket part and not the OEM exhaust from a V85TT? I am still running the OEM exhaust, but will purchase replacement system only from GTM if I ever decide to eliminate the catalytic converter.

As Dave noted, I have also seen similar failures on car/SUV exhaust manifolds.

 

[GTM®]

Am I correct in assuming the failure shown in the original post is a cheap aftermarket part and not the OEM exhaust from a V85TT?

No, you can clearly tell by the exhaust flange that it is stock. My words above state that I've seen poor exhaust materials and fabrication on all stock Guzzi models for 20+ years.