Is the a right way and wrong way to insert exhaust header gaskets?

[ohiorider]

I pulled my left header pipe when replacing the leaky o ring under the phase sensor on my 1200 Sport.  I installed a new gasket in the exhaust port of the engine before reinstalling the header pipe.  Took the bike out and gave it a good workout for 150 miles.  This evening, I noticed what looked like the soot one sees in the end of a tailpipe.  However it was on the cylinder head, just behind the clamp that pulls the header into the head.

I'd torqued it in stages to the recommended torque.  I could feel the gasket compressing as I worked from one bolt to the other to torque them in stages.

Question ..... is there a side of the gasket that is supposed to face the head and the other side facing the header pipe?  I don't feel any exhaust leak, nor do I hear one.

Bob

[Don G]

Is the flange square with the head? easy to tighten one side more than the other, scope it out. DonG

[mtiberio]

For some bikes, the exhaust gaskets are a black art. More often than not if you have an issue, it is in the clamps. Some clamps have intermediate sleeves (or split collars). Some times the collars get hung up on a machined shoulder (often seen in the port). obviously you need to tighten the pipe into the head while the aft end is loose and floating, so it doesn't drive the alignment. Often holding the pipe and making sure your header clamp is equispaced top and bottom is key.

[ohiorider]

Thanks, guys.  I brushed off the carbon (what it appeared to be), so if it is leakage that occurred since reinstalling the pipe, I'll know.  There was so much crap from the oil leak this could have been residual I missed cleaning up.  I did install the header to the engine exhaust port before tightening up the clamp that joins the left header to the rest of the exhaust system, making sure the header was square.  I have another gasket, so perhaps it's worth taking one more pass at it before hitting the road this weekend.

Bob

[Bill Havins]

All of the Guzzis I have had have used the split collars that Mike refers to, above.  As has been said, the header has to be disconnected from the rest of the exhaust to have any hope of getting the split collars to "drive" the header flange square to the machined surface of the head (with the gasket in between the two).

I always try to do this when I am feeling very calm.  It also helps if you have soothing music playing in the background and sit on a comfortable surface.  And be sure to hide all of your hammers (or anything else that makes a loud bang when thrown against the garage door).  ;)

[ohiorider]

Bill, that's my problem!  I was listening to Steppenwolf's "Magic Carpet Ride" while installing the header.    ;D

Bob-