Topic: How do I tighten my exhaust???

[djb25]

Okay, I'm officially out of ideas now. Someone seriously needs to help me!

I have a '74 CB750, and it apparently has the later-style exhaust system (no spigots). Well, actually, the exhaust system is some aftermarket 2-into-2 system. The problem is that I can't get the exhaust to tighten up to the head. No matter what I do, it remains loose.

Any advice on this? Any idea how these things are supposed to work?

Thanks!
Damion

[Sam Green Racing]

Damion, how about some pictures of the head and exhaust headers, then maybe someone can help.

Sam.

[puppytrax]

No matter what I do, it remains loose.

Do you have all new crushable exhaust gaskets installed?? # 4 below -



If you're trying to use old gaskets, they are all crushed out...I usually have to dig the old gaskets out with an ice pick...

[KB02]

And do you have the spacers that fit in between the end of the pipe and the exhaust clamp?

I have an old kawasaki that I am working on as well, and the previous owner had hacked on an old Yamaha exhaust and he had taken some of those spacers and cut them in half to make the fit the different exhaust to hold it in place. It's an idea if you get desperate.

[eurban]

Sounds like your exhaust has been adapted to the later style stud arrangement rather than spiggots and bolts? First remove any old crush gaskets from the exhaust ports and install new ones.   With the stud setup the stock pipes have a sealing flange welded onto the end.  To install, you slide the "flowers" onto the pipe,  push the pipe's flange into the port in the head, install two curved metal spacers around the pipe just where it meets the flange,  slide the flowers up to the spacers and over the exhaust studs,  and then nut and tighten.  The spacers when installed correctly allow the flowers to push on the exhaust flange when the nuts are tightened. . . .Perhaps you are missing your spacers or have them installed incorrecty?  If you have an aftermarket exhaust that uses simple flanges rather than the flowers and spacers then you should just have to tighten down the nuts . . .unless some sort of spacers are supposed to be used with the aftermarket parts.  A picture might be helpful.

[Lumbee]

...heres a pic of the later style flages with the "shims".  Sounds like maybe u'r trying to install the pipes without the shims...

[djb25]

It looks like I have everything but the gaskets (there's probably some old gaskets in there, but there's definitely nothing being "crushed" when I try to put the headers on).

Thanks for the advice, everyone. I'll look for some crush gaskets and see if that helps!

- Damion

[scondon]

    I had a friend with the same problem, header was "loose in the hole". In his case he had installed the shims improperly. The shims need to push against the flared tip of the header and the collar pushes the shims and header against the cylinder head. He had installed the shims first and slipped the header in after so there was nothing pushing the header against the cylinder head.

    If you already have old gaskets in there you should be able to tighten up the exhaust. New gaskets are a good idea to avoid exhaust leaks.

[jtb]

Hey djb25,  I also had a friend (read "Me") who installed the shims backward.  Once I turned them around, I could tighten the clamps on my 750 F model.  the crush gaskets are copper and fit between the flange and the head.  Hope this helps.

John

[Lumbee]

dj, your pipes should really fit tight with or without the crush gaskets...the gaskets are only 1/8" or so thick, so if your pipes are that loose they really won't help much...be sure u'r installing the shims right.

[seaweb11]

I am another one who will tell you to make sure you have the shims in correctly.
 One way they work, the other way they don't.  "How do I know this???

My guess is that is your issue.
Re-read the above posts carfully and give er another shot