Yeah, I could have been resuable had I been able to get it apart! So I'll just get another and keeps it as a spare. As for the SS on the exhaust I went that route years ago and found out that SS was about the worst I could use. The exhaust fumes and water ate up the welds. Won't do that again.

I do like the idea of covering the hottest part and clamping the tape on. Once the I reach the water injection point the temp will be much more tolerable. I've ordered the tape now and friends in the states will bring it back. And I think you're right about carrying some stuff to make a spare. Hopefully I don't need to worry about that for a year or two but getting it all together is now on my list. I would like to get a bronze piece and never have to worry again but so far in sourcing bronze fittings that size, pieces here are prohibitively expensive. Maybe in Phuket! We'll see. I expect it is better to pay the expense and have piece of mind, however.

Ciao,