JDX8 exhaust problem.

[BlazinC5]

So, my first outing on the 75' X8 and the dang exhaust cracked. Rather than find a new piece, I just welded up the cracks. However, I believe what caused the crack was all the vibrating the exhaust pipe was experiencing. It's as if the springs are not holding it in place well enough. The manifold is good, and the muffler is good. But the pipe between them dances around once I get up in the RPMs. That pipe don't feel very solid, even though the manifold end is square. Has anyone else had this problem? Or has anyone replaced that pipe with something else to keep this sort of thing from happening? Very frustrated here, as I just can't get the dang thing to settle down and hold tight.

[Steven Rempel]

I personal am having a hard time understanding what you are saying. "dancing around" and visualizing how and where it cracked. Is it possible to post a pic or two, My original thoughts to your question was that the springs may be too long or to old and stretched out. but I might not be visualized this right.

A 75 that has the large tuned exhaust right, like the one found in the 800 sled too right?

[BlazinC5]

Yup. It is the tuned 800 exhaust. The pipe cracked in the center of the pipe. Directly behind the hood support. I have since welded it and were good now. I'm positive that the vibration is what caused it to crack. So, that pipe sits still while at idle, but once it's up into enough rpms to engage the clutch, it's shaking everywhere, creating alot of noise from the parts rattling against eachother. The springs are all tight. But that big pipe won't stay still.

[Cabindweller]

how good are your rubber motor mounts?

[BlazinC5]

They are certainly not in the best shape, but they seem to be snug. I was questioning that myself. I'll have to take another look at them too.

[BlazinC5]

Digging deaper again. Well, motor mounts seem ok. Engine is snug. So, checked the manifold end. Yup. Its square. Ball and socket. Yup, round and mated nicely. I put the springs on the manifold to the pipe. Socket end loose and held it by hand where it normally would sit. (Took the muffler out.) Here lies the problem. The manifold and pipe have no discernible spot that it feels solid. It's working like a ball-and-socket. That is BTW with the spring in place. Its allowing the exhaust pipe to swing all over the place. I looked as best as I could down inside the exhaust where the manifold mates up. It didn't look rite. It looked rounded and uneven. So I cut the outer ring off of the pipe and sure enough, it got pretty beat up evidently. It's rounded and very uneven. I'm going to have to put some of my welding/grinding skills to the test and make that flat again. It don't make any sense that it was not flat there when new. Good lesson for why bailing wire is not a substitute for spring. LOL