Just a little FYI that might help someday.

[Ivan]

I recently bought a stock exhaust for my 78-80-81 special, and found that the exhaust flanges were not seating against the gasket properly. It made a terrible racket and was causing all sorts of grief. So, I thought I would pull the gaskets out of another engine I had sitting around (in pieces) and found it impossible to do without destroying the gasket. Since there is nothing terribly wrong with the gaskets in the engine, except they have been overly compressed from aftermarket exhausts, and I don't have time to order in new ones before the up coming trip, I figured out a solution.

I took some solid core wire from a bit of household electrical wire and stripped it bare in about 4" lengths. Then I wrapped this around the header pipe to get a nice even circle. Then I opened it up a bit and trimmed the ends to fit inside the collar. With the wire in place between the collar and flange, the exhaust is now fully seated and I have no more exhaust leaks. I don't imagine it will get hot enough to melt the copper, so I think I am set. Hopefully it lasts a loooooooong time.

[DGXSER]

Perhaps you have looked already Ivan, but I found my local independant bike shop had the gaskets, and plenty of them, for about $3 a piece.

[oseaghdha]

I recently bought a stock exhaust for my 78-80-81 special, and found that the exhaust flanges were not seating against the gasket properly. It made a terrible racket and was causing all sorts of grief. So, I thought I would pull the gaskets out of another engine I had sitting around (in pieces) and found it impossible to do without destroying the gasket. Since there is nothing terribly wrong with the gaskets in the engine, except they have been overly compressed from aftermarket exhausts, and I don't have time to order in new ones before the up coming trip, I figured out a solution.

I took some solid core wire from a bit of household electrical wire and stripped it bare in about 4" lengths. Then I wrapped this around the header pipe to get a nice even circle. Then I opened it up a bit and trimmed the ends to fit inside the collar. With the wire in place between the collar and flange, the exhaust is now fully seated and I have no more exhaust leaks. I don't imagine it will get hot enough to melt the copper, so I think I am set. Hopefully it lasts a loooooooong time.

I did that once, but I didn't say anything because Tod would start in with the "Cheap Azz"!

[XJOK2PLAY]

I did that once, but I didn't say anything because Tod would start in with the "Cheap Azz"!

Yeah, but wouldn't that be like the Pot calling the Kettle kinda thing?