Topic: Exhaust "gaskets".

[mennedy]

I was reading my Clymer manual and noticed that the schematic for the exhaust system on my 78 CB550K calls for a gasket between the exhaust pipe and the exhaust seat. I knew mine didn't have them so I ordered some and decided that today was the day.

I pulled #3 and 4 and cleaned them all up nice and shinny. I then installed the little copper gasket and started to wrench everything in. No way the exhaust would mount back in with the gasket in place.

Do any of you know about these gaskets, if you need them and if so how do you install them? Obviously, my 550 is continuing life tonight without exhaust gaskets!

[pmpski_1]

Make sure the old ones are out first. These gaskets crush as you torque the exhaust collars. Sometimes the old ones get wedged in and have to be pried out.

[cb(r)]

Make sure the old ones are out first. These gaskets crush as you torque the exhaust collars. Sometimes the old ones get wedged in and have to be pried out.

ya what he said.  even though it looks like they are gone there is a good chance they are still there.  I was caught in that trap.

[Gordon]

Don't beleive what you think you see.  The old gaskets are still in there.  They just get completely crushed and blackened so they look just like a part of the cylinder head.

[ProTeal55]

Question --->
If you dont replace the gaskets, will this cause exhaust leaks/poor performance ?
I figure it might, or maybe it isnt a big deal ?

Just wondering............

[Lumbee]

...I've rebuilt 2 750's, not to mention removing/replacing my exhaust a dozen times, and I've never replaced the gaskets.   

[ProTeal55]

That's what I wanted to hear 

[Noel]

Yabutt...

The first time I pulled the pipes from my 500, I pulled out the gnarliest copper gaskets you've ever seen in your life. Tried to reuse them but got a lot of carbon, air, and sound leakage. Tried to run it without gaskets and it was even worse.

The replacement gaskets I got from Z1 were a lot thicker than the orignals. Maybe five times thicker. Dunno how much of that had to do with the originals being squashed for 30 years, but it was plain to see that the replacements were of different construction as well. Had to really wrestle with the header to get it back in, and just about gave it up as impossible.

FWIW.

[Lumbee]

...Noel, sounds like you don't have the right gaskets...how think are we talk'n here?  The ones for a 750 can't be any more than an 1/8" or so think....pics would be nice!!!

[Noel]

If you think I'm gonna pull my exhaust to send you pics of my used exhaust gaskets, Lumbee, you're even nuttier than the typical SOHC owner!

But now that I think of it, wait a minute...


From the Z1 website where I ordered them.

Quite a bit thicker than the origninal gaskets, which appeared to be merely large copper washers. (Placed on shotcrete and pounded with a hammer for a couple of hours).

I eventually got it all together. Probably just a combo of aftermarket gaskets, aftermarket pipes, and the usual shoving match with SOHC exhaust.

[Lumbee]

...you mean you don't a few extra hours to take away from your family and your job so we'll have something to look at while at work!!! 

...the onesin the pic looks about right...

[Noel]

I'm hoping to get lucky and have a cool new old exhaust to put on my bike in a week or so. Send me a SASE and I'll mail you the old exhaust gaskets.