No felt at exhaust port : V-Twin Forum: Harley Davidson Forums

metljakt · 09-01-2009, 03:13 PM

I recently pulled the exhaust pipes off my '06 Softail Deluxe to check the cam tensioners & noticed that there were no felt gaskets for this exhaust. Instead the ends of the pipes had a welded or crimped lip on the end and bolted right up to the heads with no gasket. These are SE full exhausts that I bought May 27, 2006 - four days before Harley was forced to stop selling them. Everyone I talk to seems to think something is wrong with this setup. There is no way I can get a gasket in the heads for this config. I'd appreciate any of your thoughts on this.

Krayven Sumhead · 09-01-2009, 05:01 PM

As long as they don't leak at the heads, I don't see a problem. Any burned spots? I thunk exhaust port gaskets were made from asbestos. Asbestos felt?

axiom · 09-01-2009, 05:06 PM

there must be a gasket in there or they would certainly leak. It may appear there is no gasket there but just use a knife or small screwdriver inside the head port and try digging at it lightly. I'm sure you will see the gasket start to lift up.

claydbal · 09-01-2009, 05:06 PM

dig around in there with a pick. the gasket is probably covered in soot from the poorly fitting pipe.

moneaux · 09-01-2009, 06:30 PM

It should be one of these mesh type gaskets in there. if I'm not mistaken. They do tend to get crushed in there pretty good and soot/exhaust covered to where it can look like nothing is in there. Get in there with a small screwdriver tip, or a scribe, and you should be able to snag it and get it out.

hdmarsh77 · 09-01-2009, 08:22 PM

The first time I took my exhaust off it definatly looked like thre gasket was left out, but it was there. It gets squished in there pretty good and turns black, just like the port.

As mentioned, I used a pick and it started to lift out.

metljakt · 09-03-2009, 06:12 PM

I've dug into the exhaust port with a knife until I'm peeling aluminum. The existing lip on the exhaust pipe will not fit with a felt gasket. I'm dumbstruck.

claydbal · 09-03-2009, 06:51 PM

ya think any engineer (especially HD or whoever builds their exhaust at the moment) is good enough to design an exhaust that doesnt require a gasket on a HD? something is astray.

moneaux · 09-03-2009, 08:05 PM

Any shops nearby or dealers you could check with that may remember this exhaust setup to verify if gaskets were used for them?

metljakt · 09-04-2009, 02:31 PM

You are correct. I'm handing it over to a pro. My local Harley dealer is going out of business. Nearest other 100 miles away. (I'm in E. Washington State). There is a local indy shop nearby, & I love to get their take on this.