I have spliced pick-up tubes together by silver-soldering with no problems. I'd be afraid of a soft-solder joint thinking about engine & road vibration. I use a slip coupling, or insert one tube in the other, to give it more surface & rigidity.
For cleaning, how about putting some oil on it & burning it, followed with compressed air & carb. cleaner?
I splice/modify the tubes due to pan modifications. Doug
