Suzuki 2 Strokes

HI. I've been working on a 1974 GT550 and the exhaust was not very good. Last weekend bought a 1973 donor bike which had a very nice exhaust. Question is what holds the pipes together at the crossovers. The 1974 seems to have hooks for springs the 73 has nothing. I started it up this evening and the exhaust came apart at the crossovers. Thanks for any input you all can give me.

These stock exhausts - correct ? Best you take a look at any of the on-line parts fiches available - plenty to choose from, but I usually use this one. There are o-rings and a sealant used on the cross over pipes which are a press fit. You have choices for the sealant - I use the high temperature orange silicon but if you do a search on this board you will find other solutions that also work.

Yes they are stock for the 73. I bought new o-rings but I also put some grease on the cross over pipes so they would slide together easier. That's probably where the problem lies. I'm considering drilling a small hole in each hub and using a self tapping screw to lock the cross overs together.. The only parts fiche I looked at was on Bikebandit and they don't show the spring loops on the earlier models either. So goes the fight.

If everything is stock, then you shouldn't need any additional fasteners for these. With the pipes loosely hung in place, new gaskets on the exhaust outlets and new o-rings and sealant on the crossovers, I use a regular fabric ratchet tie-down strap to cinch the pipes and cross-overs together (they sort of 'pop' together) and then tighten up everything else after. I haven't had them ever come apart.

I put new o-rings on but lubed the cross overs up and I'm thinking that is where the problem lies. I was concerned it wouldn't go together. I used a block of wood and a hammer to persuade them to move as it was.