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Stebro exhaust insert is STUCK HALFWAY IN!! (too big)

Discussion in 'Technical Q&A' started by greg328, Dec 4, 2007.

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  1. greg328

    greg328 F1 Rookie

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    #1 greg328, Dec 4, 2007
    Advice needed:

    Car is a 1977 GTB w/ Stebro exhaust. One of the tip inserts fell out recently, so I ordered a new one.

    It came in today, so I go to install it, and it's a bit snug going in. So, in a moment of brilliance, I get my rubber mallet and tap it in a bit further, until it stops.
    This is about halfway in. Well, it's stuck. I call Dan at Stebro, he'll send another one a bit smaller (different gauge steel, I think), but I need to get this one out!

    I drove the car in hopes of warming up the chrome exhaust tip, hoping maybe heat expansion would help it out. No luck. I can get pliers around one edge of it, but that baby ain't budging.
    I don't want to keep yanking on it for fear of pulling the whole pipe off the muffler!!

    SO, my question is: should I go ahead and put my propane torch on the tip, to try to expand it a bit? What other options do I have? Cutting off the whole pipe and tapping it out from the inside?

    Any ideas welcome!

    Frustrated,
    Greg
     
  2. dm_n_stuff

    dm_n_stuff Four Time F1 World Champ
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    #2 dm_n_stuff, Dec 4, 2007
    Dry ice?

    Fill the tip with dry ice, see if it will contract a little from the cold and loosen up? I can get dry ice here at the food store, might be worth a go.

    Also, if the tip is half out, you can't drill through it, shove something through the hole to get a better grip on? Or is it simply in as far as it could go, leaving no exposed section?

    Rost off ice from wurth might do the trick, too.

    Maybe a photo would help with the visualization for us.

    Dave
     
  3. greg328

    greg328 F1 Rookie

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    #3 greg328, Dec 4, 2007
    The insert is pretty solid steel, so I don't think cold would shrink it any. I think maybe there's a better chance I could expand the outer tailpipe with heat..

    I'll try to take a photo and post it here.

    Greg
     
  4. f355spider

    f355spider F1 World Champ
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    #4 f355spider, Dec 4, 2007
    If it is halfway in, grab it with two vicegrips and yank it out.
     
  5. greg328

    greg328 F1 Rookie

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    #5 greg328, Dec 4, 2007
    Hugh,
    Man, I've put the gorilla grip on it with some pliers, and if I pull any harder it may separate the pipe from the muffler! Or the tailpipe extension from the pipe..

    I can try some vise grips, but the thing is TIGHT in there, and I don't want to risk further damage..

    Pretty silly situation, actually.. :)

    Greg
     
  6. 285ferrari

    285ferrari Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #6 285ferrari, Dec 4, 2007
    I remember with my 328 the tips were very tight after I tryed to put one in I noticed how tight it was and pulled it out. Took sandpaper to them enough to get all the metal burs off and it fit tight, but good enough to get the screw in it...
     
  7. Jdubbya

    Jdubbya The $10 Trillion Man
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    #7 Jdubbya, Dec 4, 2007
    Put a little lube of your choice on. Next pull with vise grips and try tapping it from side to side and up and down with a hammer. Most likely it's a little crooked and has jammed up.
     
  8. fatbillybob

    fatbillybob Two Time F1 World Champ
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    #8 fatbillybob, Dec 4, 2007
    2 vise grips 180 degrees apart. WD40 lite heat to draw wd40 between parts. twist tip out do not pull it.
     
  9. greg328

    greg328 F1 Rookie

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    #9 greg328, Dec 5, 2007
    Great tips guys, I'll try them all and report back.

    Much appreciated,
    Greg
     
  10. ferraridriver

    ferraridriver F1 Rookie

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    #10 ferraridriver, Dec 5, 2007
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Could you use a small slide hammer with a hook on the end that would catch the end of the inserted pipe? I have one that would probably work. It’s called a “Light Duty Slide Hammer” by Snap-On

    Another trick is to screw the slide hammer into the back of a pair of vice grips, there are adaptors available for that.
    Image Unavailable, Please Login
     
  11. greg328

    greg328 F1 Rookie

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    #11 greg328, Dec 5, 2007
    Dave,
    Your solution sounds the most likely so far. I need a way to grab it and pull it out, but I'm unable to get enough bite from the outer lip with 2 pliers ( I can get one set on)--pushed in too far.
    If I could use a "pull" of some sort to grab the rear lip, through the opening, it might exert enough force. Problem is, what will I brace the "pull" tool against? There's nothing readily obvious..

    I'll research the slide hammer. Never heard of one before..

    Greg

    PS--I did (wisely?) lube the insert up a bit with white lithium grease before I inserted it, so I have that going for me!

    PPS--How exactly does a slide hammer work? Does it need a brace like a bearing puller?
     
  12. ferraridriver

    ferraridriver F1 Rookie

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    #12 ferraridriver, Dec 5, 2007
    Well ya can always improvise. :)

    I’m thinking a steel rod that you can grind a relief on one end so as to form a hook that will hook behind the end of the inserted tube.

    Make the rod long enough so that you can put a vise grip on it and hit the vice grip with a hammer. Or bend the rod, anything, so that it can be smitten with a mighty blow. :)

    The whole object is to hit the inside pipe from the opposite end.
     
  13. greg328

    greg328 F1 Rookie

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    #13 greg328, Dec 5, 2007
    Gothca.

    I was able to insert a couple jaws (180 degrees apart) from my small bearing puller, and run a thick screwdriver through both holes. This method grips the rear lip no problem, but I can't exert enough force, because the jaws are too short to give it a good whack...

    Just pulling on that assembly with all my 230 pounds of bodyweight ain't doin' it, and if I keep doing that it may break the pipe loose...

    Maybe I'll try to find some longer bearing pull jaws...

    Greg
     
  14. ferraridriver

    ferraridriver F1 Rookie

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    #14 ferraridriver, Dec 5, 2007
    I think you're on the right track, but I think hitting instead of pulling is going to be the answer.

    Ya just gotta figure a way to get an impact force on the inside end on the inner tube driving it out.

    Good luck,
    Dave
     
  15. ferraridriver

    ferraridriver F1 Rookie

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    #15 ferraridriver, Dec 5, 2007
    Just had another thought

    Can you get a helper to rap on the outer pipe lightly all around with a small hammer while you are pulling, maybe hit straight in on the outer pipe edge with a hammer and screwdriver?
     
  16. greg328

    greg328 F1 Rookie

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    #16 greg328, Dec 5, 2007
    Dave,
    Good thoughts, much appreciated. I'll try these things tomorrow afternoon and report back..

    Wish me luck!

    Greg
     
  17. greg328

    greg328 F1 Rookie

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    #17 greg328, Dec 6, 2007
    Dave's idea worked. I was able to rig a hook device on the rear edge inside the pipe, and then tap it out with a hammer. Pulling would have never worked, but tapping outward was the key.

    Many thanks Dave!

    Greg
     
  18. ferraridriver

    ferraridriver F1 Rookie

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    #18 ferraridriver, Dec 6, 2007
    Glad to hear you got it out without any damage
     
  19. Mike C

    Mike C F1 Veteran
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    #19 Mike C, Dec 6, 2007
    Sorry I'm late to the party... the "right" way is to run your engine until it is warm-hot, and THEN pull it out via hook, slide hammer, etc. The tips themselves expand much more than the tip inserts will. Being warm-hot is also the mode for putting IN the inserts. I speak from MANY years of experience with Stebro, taking those inserts in and out for track events.
     
  20. Mike C

    Mike C F1 Veteran
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    #20 Mike C, Dec 6, 2007
    I have the one from your photo... I got that kit at Harbor Freight for $18.
     
  21. greg328

    greg328 F1 Rookie

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    #21 greg328, Dec 6, 2007
    Mike,
    Good advice, I'll do that for the next one..

    I spoke to Dan at Stebro, he's sending one that's supposedly a fraction smaller than this one. He said it's a different gauge steel.


    Greg
     

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