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Cruiser
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Fargo, ND | Aside from removing the nuts on the flanges at the heads, what else may have to be loosened / removed in order to change the exhaust gaskets? I'm hoping just removing the nuts will give enough wiggle room to get them in. Anyone else done it themselves yet? Thanks |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | Did mine at 45,000 and it takes patience, plenty of patience. Wal-Mart has it on sale this week so you better stock up before you get started.
I minimized the stuff to pull off, but you need to get the stuff at the right front down by the brake pedal loose, I think the floorboard had to be loosen. Follow the book and pull them back in order, I tried to do it "my way" and ended up putting everything back and starting over. One has to stay on until the other one is seperated from it, that's where the book comes in. Of course you don't start pulling the front off until you've pulled the mufflers and cross-over off.
I'm just spouting from memory and as I let the joints soak I would work on other stuff.
Do me a favor, if this is the first time the headers have been pulled - check the mating surfaces on the pipes and take pictures. Mine were rough like an orange peel and was not sealing from the factory. I had a lot of blow-by that had cause my popping and even after repeated request for the tech at the dealer to check this out they never did. When I did it myself I took pictures but they didn't come out very well, and in the end I was just glad that it didn't pop anymore. I smoothed out the ends and made them mate better, but I believe this should have been warranteed, but just glad it was over with.
I've always wondered if others had this same condition on theirs or was mine the only one. Please take pictures as soons as you pull them.
Edited by varyder 2010-08-27 9:33 AM
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Cruiser
Posts: 284
mansfield, MA United States | I did my gaskets this past weekend with 38K on them. I got the "soft" gaskets from Lloydz. It was a P.I.T.A. to do. I loosen all the clamps on the exhaust then took the 4 nuts off the header. It would not move at all so I took a 2x4 and wedged it behind the pipe and the engine. Working it back and forth the pipes popped out about a inch. Just enough to change the gaskets but not enough to check the face. You will have just as much fun getting the pipe back in place after. I used a 2x4 and sludge hammer and worked it back in place.
Edited by Fastfred 2010-08-27 9:59 AM
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | whoooa Fastfred on the 2X4. I guess it is okay though, pretty tough, but for me I had to see the whole thing and clean around the engine port as well. The softer gaskets may resolve any leakage by comforming as it was rippley and not jagged. Both the ends and the port edge was black from the soot from the excessive blow-by. |
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Visionary
Posts: 1484
LaPorte,Tx. | Prior to changing the gaskets are you seeing carbon buildup at the gasket which indicates a leak? |
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Cruiser
Posts: 244
Fargo, ND | Yes I do see carbon buildup which is why I ordered the Lloyds gaskets when I bought my fuel controller. I'm not going to attempt this until I"m back from my trip in a couple of weeks, but I will definitely take pictures when I get it apart. Even with the fuel controller added, I'm still getting a little popping, although much less than before. Thanks guys.
Edited by nohawg 2010-08-27 11:31 AM
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Cruiser
Posts: 284
mansfield, MA United States | After what varyder said I wish I took the time to take the entire thing off. It?s a big job either way and I had to be very careful not to damage the O2 sensor and chrome by using my 2x4 method. Im a ?just get it done? kind of guy. Yes a hack lol but it is soooo much better with the new gaskets. |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | you're good FF, all is well. there will be a next time. Mines is come off soon but I don't expect to see nothing as bad as I id the first go round. The stock gaskets that Vic sells and puts in from the factory are too hard, lloydz is the one the next time, after that there won't be a next time. I'm just saying that because I think I got another leak, and they are tight. |
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Visionary
Posts: 4278
| Say I am just wondering what the gaskets look like. Don't get me wrong but I did look at my pipes and laying on the floor and working on the pipes makes me think of how to do this once. So with out knowing what the gasket looks like I know harley has a stainless and back in the day honda had a copper gasket that was like a hollow so when you tightened the flange down the gasket would crush where needed and not where it wasn't needed and you did them once and you were done un less you pulled the headers.
I am glade that ridding makes up for the wrenching. |
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Cruiser
Posts: 244
Fargo, ND | Here are the Lloyds ones. They're actually like a braided material that squish down and seal well unlike the stock hard copper crush gaskets that the Vic dealer carries. These should seal well, even more than once I would think.
(exhaust_gaskets.jpg)
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 exhaust_gaskets.jpg (10KB - 1 downloads)
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