Hey I know that steel wool burns and have used it to start fires before but does anyone know at what temperature it actually ignites? I just ordered the correct clamp and gasket for my KLX300 exhaust that I picked up on e-bay but in the mean time I had it cobbed together with a standard 1 3/4" exhaust clamp. I found some leaks today where the clamp doesn't quite squeeze the pipe tightly so I wrapped a band of steel wool around it and put the clamp back on and it sealed the leaks but it was 380 degrees according to my Raytek temp gun and smelled a lil funny after 10 minutes of 1st and 2nd gear riding and was concerned about it possibly igniting. So back to my question, anyone know if its safe to ride with it touching the pipe or should I live with the leak till the parts get here in ~ 10 days or so?

 

The fire thing is from heating it with a battery or mag glass. The little wires it is made of cannot dissipate away the heat as fast as the heat is transfered in so it glows hot. Ride away, the worst it will do is melt the steel wool. You won't see flames unless the steel wool has something flamable on it, or you added something flamable to it.

 

I don't know this for a fact, but I've read (maybe on this forum?) that stainless steel wool is what you want for packing. I've never seen stainless steel wool myself in the hardware stores.

 

Stainless steel wool should be at your local marine store, nothing worse than rust spots on your skiff from using regular steel wool.

 

I'm not actually using it for packing, just using it to take up space under the clamp so its snug. Rode it 15 miles to work and back today and no problems other than it smelled funny for the first 5 or so miles but all is good, no leaks presently but the parts are still on order anyway.