What is the right locking nuts to use? The metal internal lock kind or the kind with the ridges on the back? When I look up the hd part number it looks like it's suppose to be ridged not smooth but I'm not sure

 

You don't need lock nuts... torque them once, torque them twice, and they'll be fine. Mine have not moved at all, and I check them every oil change.

 

When I got my present Heritage I took the pipes off and there were no gaskets and I needed the bike to riding so coated the tapered flange and the head at the port with Permatex never sieze and the threaded studs and put together and tightened the nuts.Started the bike up and the oil in the compound burnt off and left the metal coating to keep away corrosion.Worked fine and no leaks so now I don't bother with the gaskets.

 

I agree, torque them down and go for a ride to heat everything up; then tighten them one more time after the heat cycle.

 

Are you certain there were no gaskets? Sometimes it looks as if there are none, but they're just nicely compressed and conformed to the exhaust port...

 

That sounds a lot more likely than no gaskets.

 

thanks for the tip I'll check that next time.

 

When I first did a Harley Exhaust system, I thought the exact same thing. But the bearded guy at the Indy shop told me to poke around the exhaust port with a pick... He was right.