Best way to check for intake/exhaust leaks?
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Road Master
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 809
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From: Honduras, Central America
Best way to check for intake/exhaust leaks?
My bike sputters when I crack the throttle wide open, I want to rule out intake/exhaust leaks. What's the best way to do this? Thanks in advance!
Club Member
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 5,801
Likes: 3,800
From: Cape Cod
intake.....while engine is running, spray some brake cleaner around the intake where it connects to the heads......if the rpms change, it's an intake leak.......I like brake cleaner cause it evaporates quickly.
Exhaust.......hold a tissue around the exhaust where it connects to the head......look for movement.........or you can blow some smoke around it........or hold a candle to it.....look for movement......
Others will chime in with other ways........
Exhaust.......hold a tissue around the exhaust where it connects to the head......look for movement.........or you can blow some smoke around it........or hold a candle to it.....look for movement......
Others will chime in with other ways........
HDF Community Team
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 2,574
Likes: 1,067
From: Ohio
Get your bike in a garage first. Hold the flame of one of those long stemmed lighters right next to the intake/exhaust flange and blip the throttle. If the flame moves like your standing in outside, youre leaking.
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Club Member
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 5,801
Likes: 3,800
From: Cape Cod
Tried that, makes a mess, tends to smoke when engine gets hot.
The Starting fluid mentioned is another good way.
The reason I like the brake fluid is, as I mentioned, it evaporates......leaving no residue nor mess.
The Starting fluid mentioned is another good way.
The reason I like the brake fluid is, as I mentioned, it evaporates......leaving no residue nor mess.
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2015
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From: PA
Exhaust - this is super easy -
Take a shop vac and put the hose in the "out" so that it blows air. Stick it in a muffler, and close up the gaps with some duct tape. Take a spray bottle with some soapy water (dish liquid) and spray it around the exhaust flanges on the engine. Now turn on the vac. There will be bubbles already, but if they start getting bigger, you have a leak. I like this because you can do with the bike cold & not running.
If you end up having to replace exhaust gaskets (I did), be sure to use Permatex Copper exhaust sealant on the new ones. (This is in the FSM...)
Take a shop vac and put the hose in the "out" so that it blows air. Stick it in a muffler, and close up the gaps with some duct tape. Take a spray bottle with some soapy water (dish liquid) and spray it around the exhaust flanges on the engine. Now turn on the vac. There will be bubbles already, but if they start getting bigger, you have a leak. I like this because you can do with the bike cold & not running.
If you end up having to replace exhaust gaskets (I did), be sure to use Permatex Copper exhaust sealant on the new ones. (This is in the FSM...)