just got back from the Lone Star Rally in Galveston and noticed my exhaust popping a lot and I experience a loss of power from 3000 to 4500 RPM when I open the throttle wide open but only in 5th gear. I looked at the exhaust manifold and both nuts that secure the headers to the Heads are missing and the ring is just spinning and bouncing around when the bike is running. I know I have an exhaust leak, but can that also cause the loss of power issue I have been noticing? I have a 2012 street glide with Rineheart true dual exhaust system and S&S high flow air cleaner.

 

Yes. Exhaust leaks can mess up readings from the O2 sensors causing the problems you described.

 

A leak of any kind will affect performance, throughout the rev range, on any vehicle, regardless of whether it has O2 sensors or not. Get yours fixed ASAP! It sounds as if your leak has been going on for some time, so buy yourself a pair of new exhaust gaskets, remove the system replace both and carefully refit.

 

When I replace the nuts should I use some locktite on those bolts? I know the bolts are secured to the heads and I don't want to booger them up, but I don't want them to rattle off there again and I know I should just torque them down to specs.

 

Personally, that is one location I don't use loctite. Some may use it but the risk of jacking up the threads in the event of a take off of those nuts at some point isn't worth the potential repair. Yes the studs can be replaced, but on the bike has the risk of being a chore.

I run the bike up to temp, after instal. Then go back and retourqe the nuts. You should be okay. It's not a bad idea to check for tight at scheduled maitanance times also.

 

I don't use any thread locker on those nuts either.

 

Yeah and those studs are prone to breaking to begin with, even without locktite.