Question-------------------------
Followup To
Question -
I am helping to get my wife's 83 nighthawk back on the road after a "vacation" from riding. It has some after market pipes 4 into 1. After replacing a couple of broken studs on the head where the pipe conect.. and using new gaskets ( the copper ring that goes into the exhaust port, in front of the exhaust pipe flange) and new split ring seals. Two of the pipes leak and are very loose, the other two do not seem loose but also are leaking slightly? What have I done wrong? thank! John
Answer -
Hi John.
Only a few things cause exhaust leaks at the heads. Either the header pipes are not quite seated correctly, are not tightened correctly, or the seals are wrong or bad. To make sure that they are seated and tight enough, loosen them up and reseat them and tighten each pipe with a torque wrench in accordance with the specs in the repair manual.
Check those and see what you find.
Good luck.
FALCON
Follow UP... Thanks Falcon for your quick response.. however.. I have already re checked all of those things.. It seems like either the gaskets are wrong or maybe the split rings are too short? But they are new and seem the same as the old ones, both in length and diameter. I think I understand how the seal is "supposed" to work: As the outer collars are tighten by the the nuts they should press the split rings in to opening and against the pipe flange and compress the gasket. Correct? The outer collars seem to be pulling up as far as they can agains the head,and the split rings which seam to "seat" in to a recessed groove in the outer collars seem to be properly in place I am careful about over tourqueing {since I just had to remove and replace 3 broken studs)but further tightening would not seem to help the seal since the collars will not move in further with more tourque.The two "very loose" pipes move in and out about 1/16 to 1/8 of an inch and the other two you can just feel a little "play". I have taken it apart and reassebled to try and seat the pipes several times? Hope you might be of further help? as the local honda dealer just says "bring it in we'll look at it" for a handsome charge I'd bet.. and I hate to pay some one to do anything I can do myself... Thanks!
John
AnswerHi John.
It sounds, based on what you've told me, that the posts on the exhaust could be not seated deeply enough or could be reversed. On the posts, there is normally a long side and a short side.
The short side would be the one in the motor with the long side protruding. Are the loose exhausts the ones that you replaced the posts on?
It is also possible that you need thicker gaskets or you could add a couple of washers to the lockdown bolts for the loose exhausts.
As long as you have the mounting bolts in correctly as well as having the correct gaskets and seals, then it should all fit correctly.
Let me know what happens.
Good luck.
FALCON
