2014-2024 Touring Models This Section Is For Rushmore and Gen 1 M8 Touring models from 2014 to 2024
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Head pipe install HELP

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Mar 8, 2015 | 07:58 AM
  #11  
BLKSHADOW666's Avatar
BLKSHADOW666
Novice
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: Maine
Talking

Just a Dumb question but have you removed the old gaskets totally?
 
Reply
Old Mar 8, 2015 | 09:34 AM
  #12  
Zoogie's Avatar
Zoogie
Thread Starter
|
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
From: IL
Default

BLKSHADOW yes I removed the old gaskets and made sure the the ports are clean
 
Reply
Old Mar 9, 2015 | 04:34 PM
  #13  
jjkrueg's Avatar
jjkrueg
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 368
Likes: 22
From: southwest Iowa
Default

Do most of you put new gaskets on or reuse the old ones? Assuming the new headers don't come with gaskets?
 
Reply
Old Mar 9, 2015 | 04:53 PM
  #14  
jb27's Avatar
jb27
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 494
Likes: 6
From: Southwestern PA
Default

Originally Posted by jjkrueg
Do most of you put new gaskets on or reuse the old ones? Assuming the new headers don't come with gaskets?
I've always used new gaskets even when replacing the stock headers that had less than 100 miles on them.
 
Reply
Old Mar 9, 2015 | 05:38 PM
  #15  
HarleyguyUltra2011's Avatar
HarleyguyUltra2011
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 276
Likes: 2
From: Parkland Florida
Default

What I do is use a small screwdriver and while the flange is out of the way I push on the side of the pipe so it goes into the exhaust port I don't really use the flange to pull the pipe into the head . Even if I have to wiggle the pipe some to get it to sit correctly . After its flush and seated I then slide the flange onto the studs then tighten them down .
 
Reply
Old Mar 9, 2015 | 05:52 PM
  #16  
woodmnctry's Avatar
woodmnctry
Tourer
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 336
Likes: 11
From: 8K' in CO
Default

Originally Posted by jb27
I've always used new gaskets even when replacing the stock headers that had less than 100 miles on them.

HD gaskets or ??
TKS
G
 
Reply
Old Mar 9, 2015 | 06:13 PM
  #17  
TcHunter's Avatar
TcHunter
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 2,452
Likes: 23
From: Michigan
Default

Always use new gaskets.

How do the flange caps on the pipe look are they good and even nice and flush with the pipe?

Are the new gaskets seated properly? and are they seated as far in as they can be?

Are you using the recommended gaskets? certain pipes seat better with certain gaskets.

Just some ideals. Good luck and keep us posted.
 
Reply
Old Mar 9, 2015 | 07:07 PM
  #18  
jb27's Avatar
jb27
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 494
Likes: 6
From: Southwestern PA
Default

Originally Posted by woodmnctry
HD gaskets or ??
TKS
G
Based on the recommendations I've seen on this forum I've always used the HD Screamin Eagle ones.
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Mar 9, 2015 | 10:42 PM
  #19  
472viper's Avatar
472viper
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,814
Likes: 11
From: USA
Default

I called fuelmoto on this very issue. I was told that when using HD tapered gaskets that there will not be much thread exposed after the nuts are torqued. (99 inch lbs is what fm recommends). Mine did not "click" into position either but they do not leak. My bike had 600 miles on it, I reused the oem gaskets, just left them in the head.
 
Reply
Old Mar 10, 2015 | 12:15 PM
  #20  
OldPhat's Avatar
OldPhat
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 3,617
Likes: 165
From: Sparks Nevada
Default

1-Are the gaskets seated all the way inside the exhaust port.

2-Some headers do not use the tapered exhaust gaskets, they use the square gaskets.

3-Make sure the Exhaust flange is fully seated into the Exhaust port

4-Call FuelMoto and ask what type of gasket do they use, maybe this should have been first.
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:44 AM.

story-0
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-1
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-5
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-6
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-7
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE