Motorcycle Repair: 1982 Honda cm450e exhaust, 1982 honda cm450e, header pipes

Question
Hello,
I recently removed the exhaust from my 1982 Honda cm450e to clean and paint it.  It is a 2 to one pipe single muffler exhaust. I did run it for about 3 mins without the exhaust.  I have since made several attempts to reinstall the exhaust but every time there is a leak at the head and the bike still sounds like it did with no exhaust.  it also only runs for a second then turns off, unless the choke is pulled then it stays on.  Can you please let me know in detail the proper way this is supposed to be reassembled.  also if i may have damaged anything by running with no exhaust.  Thanks.

Answer
John, maintaining a tight fitting exhaust system is a key part of a good performing machine.

http://www.cmsnl.com/honda-cm450e-82-us_model1052/partslist/F++19.html
#1  x 2 gaskets should take up the gap in the joint between the exhaust header and the cylinder head exhaust port.

Pry out the old gaskets, clean the port area where the new gasket will be seated, then install new gaskets and place the header pipes into the ports and tighten the nuts until you have a slightly loose connection at the exhaust header. Loosely fit the rest of the exhaust system to the frame.

Tighten the header pipes FIRST, a little at a time on each stud, until they are secure into the cylinder head exhaust port. Then, evaluate the fit of the rest of the muffler, shimming it where necessary, so you don't put a bind in the system, where it mounts to the frame.

These bikes do not come with a 2:1 exhaust system, so you are stuck with whatever quality that the manufacturer made. It is probably a MAC system.

Bill Silver