Tail Pipe Expander

I've had this Tail Pipe Expander in my tool box for a decade or better but never had need of it till today. I was trying to assemble one good exhaust system from two partial systems I have for a KZ550.

Have you ever tried to reuse the gaskets that go over the head pipes where they enter the fittings upstream of the muffler? I've never had much success with opening the female end enough to get the headpipe, with a gasket on it, in. At first I tried using the pipe expander with it only into the female fitting the one inch that's available. It didn't work as the back end of the expander opened readily, leaving the front end the same size I started with. Then I noticed that the rear wedge would fit onto the bolt backward. With no taper against the wedges I only needed a hose clamp to keep them in place while I tightened the bolt expanding the front end easily. Not only did it open the female fitting it also rounded it out nicely.

Here's a pic of the expander with the rear wedge on backward:




Not exactly rocket science but it got my project done.

Bill