Order of Exhaust Installation

Good day!

I am getting ready to mount the exhaust headers on my 1974 850, and I was wondering if anyone could tell me the proper order and direction of the different parts that go on the pipes. I have the balanced pipes, the squash washers, collet, tab washer and the finned exhaust nuts. Any help would be appreciated, I just don't want to put things on in the wrong order or backwards!

davecox2 said:

Good day!

I am getting ready to mount the exhaust headers on my 1974 850, and I was wondering if anyone could tell me the proper order and direction of the different parts that go on the pipes. I have the balanced pipes, the squash washers, collet, tab washer and the finned exhaust nuts. Any help would be appreciated, I just don't want to put things on in the wrong order or backwards!

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Get rid of the balanced pipes, the partial thread engagement will fail. Have a look: engineering-compromises-leading-exhaust-threads-stripped-t14363.html

Just an opinion. :mrgreen:

"Get rid of the balanced pipes"

I don't think I agree with that - the balanced pipes add power and reduce noise and are a good thing. BUT they do seem to be prone to crack...

Step one : Antisieze / Lube at all joints . Paticularly the head .

Step middle : sitting on pretty much aligned , nip em all up . a bit .

Step End : Heat Cyle . LEAN on Ex Clamp Spanner . ( at Ea. Heat Cyle , Till it stops moveing . Lean with delicasy & consideration , rather than fall over on to it )

The odd Boot or block of wood may come in handy . Dont be shy , Jacking or Levering could be neccesary . But judiciously .

Fuuny thing is Exhausts ' walk ' . Accurately made individually flanged per cylinder extractors tend to be awkward. No matter how accuartely made .
Whowever AFTER a few hundred miles , or is that a thousand , theyve heat cyled / stess relieved - to fit exactly & all the bolt slot in nicely . Unless the lengths are horribly uneven .

MORAL of this story : if the alignments up the cacque ; a few wooden block spacers , levering / jacking . Tying ( Wire with Thick Leather pads to not chaff )
and going for a good blast or two , can make up for many a suposed defect in the fit .

I believe the mufflers should it with the correct possition or just above , mounted without the headers ( as in measure or make a template for where the front of the silencers will be sitting according to the headers . GET the mufflers so the SIT THERE unaided , or check they do . Then refit headers .

Or have a six foot waterpipe that fits in the headers to tweak em aligned . :shock: ( utillizeing above blocks ties spacers . ) :mrgreen:

mike996 said:

"Get rid of the balanced pipes"

I don't think I agree with that - the balanced pipes add power and reduce noise and are a good thing. BUT they do seem to be prone to crack...

Click to expand...

I agree, by all accounts, the crossover is a good thing.

davecox2 said:

Good day!

I am getting ready to mount the exhaust headers on my 1974 850, and I was wondering if anyone could tell me the proper order and direction of the different parts that go on the pipes. I have the balanced pipes, the squash washers, collet, tab washer and the finned exhaust nuts. Any help would be appreciated, I just don't want to put things on in the wrong order or backwards!

Click to expand...

Nut, keeper halves, gasket, make ready both sides, make ready crossover and clamps, start crossover into one side, start pipes into ports and slide together crossover simultaneously. (Swearing may be required). "Rattle rings" scorned by many elders, I agree, so far so good.

Just go at it patiently, ditto on the anti-seize; it lubricates things as you slip them into place. It also helps them find their home when they first go into service.

As you commence assembly, it helps to shake/tap the parts. Get up and move around the bike shaking the parts to bring them all into alignment as you slowly tighten things up. Tightening one part too soon is what will get you into trouble. It's kind of like torqueing a cylinder hear, go round and round, criss cross, shaking and tightening. Tapping with soft pine blocks is OK too. Shaking the headers, to help them find their happy home, as you tighten the header nuts is especially important.

When you are done be sure to wipe off all of the chrome, the headers in particular because any oil from your hands will stain the chrome finish when it first gets hot. You can't wipe it well enough.

Awesome tips. Looks like I'm tackling this today. Thanks!