I picked up a 2-1 exhaust system that came off a '94/5 ultra for my '96 Road King, this thing does not want to stay tight. The flanges and nuts are tight and stay tight but the pipes themselves still move around. Mounted them with new exhaust gaskets, still move around. What am I missing? Would new retainer clips help? Thanks.

 

What kind of headers are you using, and more important, are the header ends that bolts against the cylinder head flat or conical? If they are flat, you can use the James style flat gaskets as well, if they are conical, flat gaskets have too less meat on them to get things tight. In that case use the original conical gaskets.

New retainer clips would help indeed. Look for stainless ones, as they as much more durable than the steel ones. And last but not least, have a look at the flanges if they as bend or not. If they are, get new ones, or try to hammer them back straight again.

 

Thanks for the tips. I'm running the flat gaskets so I'll pick up some cone shaped ones and new retainer clips.

 

Just one more tip, as these things are fragile

 

Cone gaskets fixed this. Tightened them right up.