Newbie needs silencer input.

[boardrider]

So I just bought an old 1985 rm250 and I am fixing it up to start riding. I took my seat off in order to put the rear shock on. I noticed that my silencer was connected to the pipe in what seems to me to be a janky way. It has some sort of tape wrapped around it with a wire around that. When mounted, the play isn't noticeab;e, but with the seat off it wiggles when I move it...is this normal. How are silencers normally attached to pipes? BTW the pipe and silencer are both "DG." Thanks for replies in advance.

 

[chaostheory]

sounds odd, shouldnt be any tape and it should be pretty tight without the seat, a picture would help if you have one

 

[boardrider]

I'll try to get a pic tonight when I get home. So how do silcencers normally mount
?

 

[chaostheory]

usually they bolt to the subframe and on older models ther is a spring the hlds the pipe and silencer butted tight together.

 

[vindict]

2 stroke pipes usually just have a rubber tube an inch or 2 long sealing the 2 together

 

[RM_guy]

Sounds like a home made joint. In a pinch I've used an old innertube and hose clamps.

 

[boardrider]

I asked the previous owner about it and he said:

"that's an exhaust wrap. it's supposed to heat up and mold to one piece around the pipe. or you can go and get a rubber wrap from cycle gear or somewhere and clamp it on with hose clamps."

I looked around at other sites about it, and didn't really see it described for this particular purpose, but I don't think it is as whack as a solution as I thought. I will probably leave it the way it is for now and if there seems to be problems from it, I will go from there.

Thanks all!

 

[RM_guy]

Go to your dealer and get the rubber adapter piece the gives you a nice seal between the pipes. You can also add some high temp silicone seal to make the seal even better. That muffler tape wrap stuff will never give you a good enough seal and it looks like a POS.

Here's a link to show the rubber gasket.
Link