I'm new to Harley's and I'm trying to replace the rear exhaust gasket. I've got the front taken care of but bottom bolt on the rear flange is a PITA. There isn't enough room to get my socket in between the exhaust pipe and the bolt and I can't get a good angle to use a box wrench.

 

Dumb question , sorry , but have you removed the heat shield ? shouldn't be a problem using a deep socket and the right extension on your ratchet .

 

If you look at the rear head, the nut is slightly below and behind the exhaust pipe as it comes out and make a 90 degree turn to go to the left side of the bike.
Is there a lower profile socket that could fit in between the head and the exhaust pipe to get the nut off? There's not enough room for my regular socket and ratchet, and the pipe blocks me from getting a good angle to use an extension.

 

I see what you mean ! I have never installed a header like that so hopefully someone who has will chime in , now that you have a pic to show . I went out and had a look at mine to get a better idea of the bolt location as a reference to yours . I'm thinking that maybe it's possible to get at it from under the pipe with a shorter wrench versus the standard length .

The directions that I'm seeing call for a 1/2" socket . I find sometimes when I'm working in a tight spot I put the socket on first then attach the ratchet after ...

possibly a smaller 1/4" ratchet with a 1/2" socket will fit in that tight spot also .

Sorry I couldn't be any more help .... Just brain stormin here for yah ....

 

1/4 inch ratchet, I'll give it a try, hadn't thought of that. Thanks for the input.

 

I had the same problem fitting a set of Rinehart pipes to my 48, lower rear exhaust stud and nut hidden behind the O2 sensor boss. This 1/4 drive crowfoot ring saved the day.

 

 

The 1/4" drive with the swivel worked, thanks for the help

 

They also sell flexible socket shaft adapters.