Silicone Exhaust Gaskets?

[GeePee]

When I removed the V&H exhausts (which were working fine) on my FXD there weren't any gaskets, I did however notice a tacky silicone where the gasket would have been, I think! When I replaced the exhaust I used the standard wire wool type exhaust gasket but don't seem to be able to tighten them up enough which seems to be the cause of popping and backfiring etc on deceleration. I have tightened the exhaust bolts up as much as I feel is safe to do so but it doesn't seem enough and I don't want to force anything over and beyond!

Is there a silicone that can be used in place of the standard gasket or are the wire wool gaskets the only option. On a sportster I owned in the past I used copper ring crush gaskets which worked well, would these be ok for a 99 FXD?


GeePee

[Dazzlin]

I'ver had a few sets of V&H pipes over the years and each set has come complete with V&H exhaust gaskets, which are a kind of mesh that shapes itself into the exhaust port recess to make a good seal. If you have silicon sealent there it sounds like a bodge to me. The V&H gaskets are slimmer than the stock Harley ones.

[Fast Lane]

If you have silicon sealent there it sounds like a bodge to me

I hate the stuff. The only place it should be used is to seal crankcase halves. Anywhere else is a bodge. Sometimes the flat exhaust gaskets are not thick enough to seal. You might need the tapered type which are thicker but they often crush into the port causing havoc with gas flow ...

[GeePee]

Thanks Darren that's useful to know. I'll look for the V&H gaskets.

[GeePee]

Thanks Alex, no straight forward 'simple' solution then? Which is what I was hoping for of course!

[howo]

i recently bought some HD screaming eagle exhaust gaskets and was given flat 2 mm thick gaskets in the standard wire mess material. As ALex said ive had the standard gaskets crush out and obstruct the pipe head. I was told they no longer make the copper ones. i couldn't get a decent seal with the SE wire mesh ones so went back to the standard Hd ones. i also have trouble getting a decent seal on the rear cylinder. bloody nuts seem to rattle loose every other week on the sporty grrrrrr.

[GeePee]

Yeah that's it, the nuts work loose!!! I've just ordered some V &H gaskets to give a try and if they don't work I might have to experimnt with a "bodge job" using silicone. Needs must as a last resort.

[harley506d]

Is there enough thread showing to put back nuts on?

[GeePee]

Yes loads! Why?

[harley506d]

Room for 2 nuts on the thread, 1 locked to the other?.