exhaust baffles

[joewillybob]

Picked up a nice set of pipes for my 550 recently.They had been stored in a barn for years and, I believe critters stored their nuts etc. inside. Does anyone have any ideas on how to remove the stuck baffles? Cant' shake all of the stuff out, so, I need to remove the baffles. Tried penetrating oil for a few days but still no luck. Don't want to pull too hard on the crosspiece at the end of the baffle.Also would just install the pipe and try and vibrate the baffle loose, but I'm afraid that the debris may plug the exhaust before the baffle rattles loose. Thanks.

[H2RICK]

Joe, have you figured out which end of the baffle is stuck ??

If the rear end is stuck/not moving at all, I'd apply some heat with a small propane torch evenly around where the baffle flange fits in the muffler flange while attempting to twist the baffle with a pair of ViseGrips on the crossbar.

However, if the rear end is ALREADY loose but the front end is stuck into the bulkhead plate inside the muffler you've got a real problem.....especially if the stuck baffle is in one of the large mufflers. The large mufflers on the 550's are notorious for having very weak spot welds holding the bulkhead plate onto the interior walls of the mufflers......so be VERY careful with your twisting motion if you
have even the slightest suspicion that the baffle is stuck in that bulkhead plate. If it turns out that the front of the baffle IS stuck then the only thing I can suggest is to plug the rear end as best you can, stand the pipe up on its rear end and fill it half full of diesel fuel. Stand the pipe outside in the sun where it can get as hot as possible to help the diesel fuel work on the rust and crud on the forward end of that baffle. I would suggest letting the diesel work on the rust and crud for AT LEAST one week before pouring out the diesel and attempting to twist on the baffle again. Repeat as necessary......but I can't stress too strongly that you MUST be very careful when attempting to twist the baffle. If that bulkhead plate breaks away inside the muffler then the muffler is, basically, junk......and good ones are impossible to find.

Others may have some input on this.