Exhaust Pipe Expander ?

super99 · May 17, 2009

Exhaust pipe on my Dakota pickup rusted off where it had been welded together. I need a connector that is 2 1/4 to 2 3/8 to repair it. Only ones I can find are 2 1/4 to 2 1/2. So I bought a exhaust tube expander at Farm & Fleet and a piece of 2 1/4 in exhaust pipe. I put it in the pipe vise and tightened it up until it won't move with a impact wrench and it barely moved it at all. I have used a different type of expander before and got along alright. Is this tool junk or am I going about it all wrong? It's supposed to work from 1 1/2 to 2 7/8 pipe. When you tighten it up, the small end expands and the large end doesn't hardly move. If I heat the pipe first, it will probably melt the o-rings that hold it together before it does any thing else. I wondered about cutting slots in the pipe, but it wouldn't be round. Any suggestions, or do I need to get a better tool? Chris

Anonymous-0 · May 17, 2009

I took my pipe to a muffer shop and let them expand it. Didn't cost anything.

omahagreg · May 17, 2009

Ditto on taking it to an exhaust shop. I have never been charged for that either! Greg

Anonymous-0 · May 17, 2009

Mine is from Sears.No country of origin on package.Looks like Chinese style platic and cardboard it came in and wont do it either.I think they are overating the capability on these.I made a solid stepped, internal piece on my lathe then pressed the piece I had to expand onto it.It came back off pretty easy.It only works on short pieces.So for the length you have go to exhaust shop.I dont think youll find a good exhaust expander any more.

greenbeanman in Kansas · May 17, 2009

Well---a few decades ago when I needed to expand a piece of exhaust system (can't remember what it was now) I didn't have the proper tool so I used a rubber mallet and a soda pop bottle. The taper of the bottle worked nicely to expand the metal.

When you don't have what you need you can sometimes make do.

IaGary · May 17, 2009

Remove them orings, put a lite wire around it or a rubber band that you don't care if it burns up. Get it all in there and lined up. Put some heat to it and see what happens.

Nothing to loose.

After the expander cools off put the orings back on.

Gary

evilboweviel · May 17, 2009

back the tool back out until it just is started in the pipe
tighten as much as you can
drive it into the pipe until it is far enough
loosen, pull back
repeat until it is the size you want
good luck
Ron

Old Roy · May 17, 2009

Really, all that tool was intended to do was after removing clamps off and chiseling out another pipe . This tool was used to open, and make the pipe round by pushing out the crease the clamp had made, so another replacement pipe could be inserted.

I think you are asking too much without cutting relief slots to make it larger than factory size.

2x4 · May 17, 2009

that doesn't look like any of my expanders. That seems to be a special use tool. The "pads" are too short; they should be full length.

Anonymous-0 · May 17, 2009

fleet farms pipe is rigid type not meant to be bent or expanded

Harold Hubbard · May 17, 2009

Like Old Roy says, that rig is just for rounding up and smoothing damaged pie. If you really need something that will actually expand pipe, most of the tool truck brands (Snap-On, Mac, etc.) have one that will work. You better sit down when they tell you the price, though.

toolz · May 18, 2009

The only expander I've seen that actually works (without being hydraulic) is sold by Matco Tools (and probably others) part number TPS344. Sells for $124, but is on sale for $108 now. Lots of money to spend if you don't use it much, but it works great. You can probably see it at matcotools.com

Exhaust Pipe Expander ?

super99

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Anonymous-0

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omahagreg

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Anonymous-0

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greenbeanman in Kansas

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IaGary

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evilboweviel

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Old Roy

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2x4

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Anonymous-0

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Harold Hubbard

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toolz

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