is the exhaust a difficult install?
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,566
Likes: 55
From: Londonderry, NH
Not much to worry about. Insert the gasket into the exhaust port, tighten the exhaust system, and torque to spec.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 3,824
Likes: 603
From: Myrtle Beach SC
You have your choice of two style exhaust port gaskets, the thin flat SE ones or the stock OEM cone style. The cone style seal better but are a tad bit trickier to install, I put a thin layer of anti sieze on the port edge, seems to help it slide in. Just put a set of Freedom Performance Upsweeps on my FatBoy yesterday
Easy enough that I can do it, and if I can anyone can. I used the cone style crush gaskets. I also purchased a new install kit, it came with new flanges, snap rings, nuts, and gaskets.
Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 1,342
Likes: 8
From: Milwaukee, WI
A full exhaust change is as easy as changing the fluids on a bike. The most time consuming part is installing the new gaskets and making sure the head pipes line up correct.
Please, don't pay someone to do this job for you!
Please, don't pay someone to do this job for you!
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Tourer
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 392
Likes: 12
It is a good idea to re-check exhaust nuts for torque after it reaches operating temps. The heat and cooling could loosen the nuts a little.
The hardest part I found was putting on the heat shields and it was not that tough.
The hardest part I found was putting on the heat shields and it was not that tough.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 1,879
Likes: 10
From: Jacksonville
The first (and only) time I did it, it took a while because I didn't know what I was doing or what to look for. A friend and I got it done in about 6 hours (with a good beer handicap) I had to call the dealer to ask how to pull out the gaskets because it looked like there weren't any in there. It was covered in carbon and it was flush with the port. I had no idea what an exhaust port without a gasket looked like. I ended up stabbing it with one of those floss toothpicks and pulling it out.
I'm glad I did it, but the dealer only charges $250 to do it, so I let them do it on this bike.
I'm glad I did it, but the dealer only charges $250 to do it, so I let them do it on this bike.
Last edited by Clubber; Sep 16, 2014 at 01:49 PM.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 4,762
Likes: 12
From: north jersey
I've had my exhaust off about 4 times and I have forgotten to change the gaskets every single time I take it off. I still have the stock gaskets on there and my bike still runs fine. Goes to show you there is not much you can even screw up doing this job.
Definitely don't pay anyone to do it man.
I just hope you have some sort of lift or jack otherwise you're gonna be rolling on the ground like a dog covered in fleas trying to get that thing off the bike.
Definitely don't pay anyone to do it man.
I just hope you have some sort of lift or jack otherwise you're gonna be rolling on the ground like a dog covered in fleas trying to get that thing off the bike.