DIY Exhaust Y Gasket replacement

[burg650]

Wacky Dan,

I have a question, changed the gaskets today but I can not get the pipe all the way up as it was with stock gasket for one the new gasket is a bit wider and it also seems a bit longer. I had help and we also had not one but two rubber mallet and we banged the hell out of it but still could not get it up as tight as the stock was, is this a problem also I do not have a torque wrench how important is it to torque it down. You write up and photos made me understand exactly what I needed to do, THANKS.

 

[WackyDan]

Wacky Dan,

I have a question, changed the gaskets today but I can not get the pipe all the way up as it was with stock gasket for one the new gasket is a bit wider and it also seems a bit longer. I had help and we also had not one but two rubber mallet and we banged the hell out of it but still could not get it up as tight as the stock was, is this a problem also I do not have a torque wrench how important is it to torque it down. You write up and photos made me understand exactly what I needed to do, THANKS.

That is where the pry bar or large wrench to pry comes in. I had to use a pry bar gingerly to get the female and male ends of the pipes to line up. Once you have both female flanges started and moving, a rubber mallet should fully seat them working one side to the other. You'll know when the pipe won't move any further.

Can you take a picture of what your install looks like now? send to: wackydan at gmail dot com

 

[Sarge707]

If the right one wears much more than the left, would it be labor saving to just replace the right one or is that an ill conceived thought?:dontknow:

 

[WackyDan]

If the right one wears much more than the left, would it be labor saving to just replace the right one or is that an ill conceived thought?:dontknow:

Kinda pointless to not do them both. I think you still risk damaging the left side during dis-assembly and re-assembly anyway.

Plus... The honda gasket is only like $3 to $5...and you'll already have that left side apart to get at the right side anyway.

 

[WackyDan]

Wacky Dan,

I have a question, changed the gaskets today but I can not get the pipe all the way up as it was with stock gasket for one the new gasket is a bit wider and it also seems a bit longer. I had help and we also had not one but two rubber mallet and we banged the hell out of it but still could not get it up as tight as the stock was, is this a problem also I do not have a torque wrench how important is it to torque it down. You write up and photos made me understand exactly what I needed to do, THANKS.

Burg... forgot about the torque wrench question... I would suggest you tighten the bolts until "stiff", and then maybe another turn more. Run her, and then give them another 1/2 turn or more depending on the resistance you feel. The torque wrench only let me know I was in the neighborhood in regard to specifications. Due to the new gaskets having some "give" to them, it was hard to know if I was accurate in regard to torque anyway.

 

[Roger]

Nice job dan you pointed out a few things that i would not be aware of. thank you. :clap::clap::clap::clap::clap:

 

[NancysToy]

Burg... forgot about the torque wrench question... I would suggest you tighten the bolts until "stiff", and then maybe another turn more. Run her, and then give them another 1/2 turn or more depending on the resistance you feel. The torque wrench only let me know I was in the neighborhood in regard to specifications. Due to the new gaskets having some "give" to them, it was hard to know if I was accurate in regard to torque anyway.

Whenever I am in this fix, with something that "gives" when it is tightened, I use a 3/8" drive ratchet, and choke up on it, putting the extension or socket between my middle and ring fingers. That way I can only get so much torque on it, like a screwdriver. Maybe it takes some experience to get the feel for it, but it has always worked for me.

 

[nudle]

:2thumbs:I am going to replace mine in the next few days.Ordered 2 y gaskets ($15.00 each )from the honda dealer

 

[WackyDan]

:2thumbs:I am going to replace mine in the next few days.Ordered 2 y gaskets ($15.00 each )from the honda dealer

$15 each? Holy crap man. I think mine were $5 bucks or so.

 

[SpyderWolf]

:2thumbs:I am going to replace mine in the next few days.Ordered 2 y gaskets ($15.00 each )from the honda dealer

Mine were $6.49 each from the Honda dealer about 1.5 hours away. At $15 you may want to double check they are getting you the right part number. Otherwise, one of us can get them and ship them to you next time to save you some money.

 

[cdem0229]

I just did this last night. Thanks for the write up. Took me 1 hour with removing the panels. My honda dealer only had them in a sealed 3 pack but they cost me $13. 10 times easier than I thought this would be.

Chuck

 

[Tom in NM]

:thumbup:

Dan, a great write up. A perfect example of what is so great about this forum, like others have mentioned, now when I do this, I know just what to expect.

Thanks,

Tom

 

[Firefly]

The exhaust wrap idea sounds intriguing. I was actually thinking of wrapping my exhaust, but was unsure about covering up the Y section. There is a part of me that thinks with the new Honda Gasket in, if I totally wrapped the exhaust everything would last a whole lot longer, and the Spyder would be cooler in the summer as well. The only down side I can see is if I have to replace the Y gaskets again all of the wrap will have to come off. Decisions, decisions. :dontknow:

I don't think I would want to weld the Y to the headers. I am assuming they did not do that for a very good reason, but I could be mistaken as well. I may also check with the local muffler guys about cutting the slots in my Hindle connection.

FWIW-- I've been told that wrapping the pipes on a fuel-injected bike is a no-no.

 

[SpyderWolf]

FWIW-- I've been told that wrapping the pipes on a fuel-injected bike is a no-no.

Now that is interesting. I wonder what the reasons for that might be? Everything I have read so far says it helps by getting the exhaust gasses to move to the muffler faster. :dontknow:

 

[nudle]

y gaskets

:2thumbs: replaced my y gaskets yesterday. may I make a suggestion that you put the gasket on the small end of the exhaust pipe as it will let the y pipe slide on easier.

 

[krb1945]

First let me say... WackyDan... "Great presentation".

Last time I bought the honda gaskets they were $8 each and I bought 20 of them. However, I have know for years that anything in Lake City FL is higher than most other places except the "gold coast". Ken krb1945

 

[Rando]

Guess what I did today? I replaced them with the Honda gaskets. Only 9,000 miles! It was uneventful, thanks to WackyDan.

 

[Capt John]

I got around to changing my "Y" gasket this morning after a 12 hr shift last night. I say gasket singular, because there was not one in the right side. No remnant of one ever being there. I didn't even have to loosen the clamp. When I took off the spring the pipe just slipped off. I wonder how long this had been that way. I'm going to have to pay more attention to the spyder when it comes back from the dealer. I had the 2nd update less than 1300 miles ago.

The whole procedure start to finish took a little over 2 1/2 hours. Working by myself. I ran into a few obstacles. Lost 1/2 trying to get the right side back on, but the KM highway bracket on that side kept getting in the way. I'm sure I missed some obvious trick. Once I removed it the procedure went like this thread indicates. If you have an extra set of hands? Use them! If not? It is not impossible, but will probably take longer.

 

[ntxYguy2009]

Add me to the Y gasket replacement team. I went with the Honda gaskets. :2thumbs:

David

 

[1VENOM]

So how many gaskets are needed to do this install? 1?, 2?, or 3?.
Y