Motorcycle Repair: 1972 cl175 exhaust removal and regulator testing, regulator rectifier, penetrating spray

Question
Hi Wayne,
    Two questions:  First; I've been trying to remove the exhaust on my wifes 1972cl175 and can't seem to figure out the puzzel.  I have everything loose or off(heat shields, brackets,and stay) that will come off easily.  The problem is that I haven't been able to figure out how to either separate the exhaust pipes, or move them far enough ahead to remove them completely(because of the converging angle of them leading into the head).  Do I have to wedge them apart as I slide them forward or is there some other trick?
Second question; is there a way to check to see if a regulator(not a combination regulator/rectifier)is good?
    Thanks very much for any help you can give me, Bill

Answer
Bill,

the regulator has 3 wires, green(ground), black(fuse)
and yellow, the yellow wire is the field coil control.

-some hondas use a pointless regulator that
runs things off the ground circuit,
it varies the ground resistance to control
the stator output. These are usually
screwed onto the battery box somewhere.

-other Hondas use a regulator with points
that controls the output by varying the
power to the stator field coil.
These will be a bit larger unit with
screws holding the cover on it.

-The first type may be tested just by
disconnecting it and see if you have
over 14 volts at the battery.
It may overcharge though if not reconnected.

The other is more difficult and is usually
just replaced with a known good one to check it.

*Image attached*

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-these are tough to remove by yourself.
do you have the split collars off where the pipes
go into the engine?

-If you look at your left pipe it goes into
the muffler through a packing material or gasket.

-You may have to loosen all the bolts and clamps
and then soak the gasket with penetrating spray
to get the pipe loose. I would suggest having
some help to get the pipe back on as well unless
you have more than 2 hands.

http://www.cmsnl.com/img/Honda_MUFFLER_PILLION_STEP_CL175_SCRAMBLER_175_K0_US-pa...

-The rectifier has a bunch of diodes that
should have continuity one way but not the other.
You may be able to check them with a multimeter
if you disconnect it.

-The power comes from the stator first,
then goes to the rectifier to be
converted to direct current by the diodes
which then charges the battery.
-Some people have used bridge rectifiers for
a replacement,
http://physiology.usouthal.edu/restore/diode/diode.html