[8ballTate]

Hey all - new here and have a question about these pro street turnouts. It seems like the exhaust flanges should be flush against the bike, correct? These are already pretty right so didn’t wanna keep cranking on em before I ask someone. Should I loosen em back up and try to reconnect em? Have a 2016 Vegas 8 ball.

 

[Vinish]

It is possible that the flanges of aftermarket exhausts are thinner than the stock pipe flange and this can cause the aftermarket flanges to bend.

 

[8ballTate]

It is possible that the flanges of aftermarket exhausts are thinner than the stock pipe flange and this can cause the aftermarket flanges to bend.

Thanks. I’ll prob pull em back off and check. Seems strange they’re that tight but not flush. Maybe I just don’t have it lined up right from the start.

 

[Vinish]

I don't think they should be flush. As you tighten the exhaust flange bolts, they compress the pipe against a crush gasket that is inside the port opening. If the flange hit the head (i.e. flush with the head), then there would be no further crushing of the crush gasket. Since it is important that this crush gasket be properly squeezed, I would think it is critical that the exhaust flanges NEVER touch the head.

 

[8ballTate]

That does make sense. This is my first time doing any of this and I’ve watched YouTube installs and read the directions but I always seem to have a question that I haven’t heard answered when I’m doing this sort of thing. Given you can make some costly mistakes with exhaust I wanted to double check. Appreciate the feedback.

 

[normthenomad]

That does make sense. This is my first time doing any of this and I’ve watched YouTube installs and read the directions but I always seem to have a question that I haven’t heard answered when I’m doing this sort of thing. Given you can make some costly mistakes with exhaust I wanted to double check. Appreciate the feedback.

No, they do not have to be flush.
Be careful, if you break an exhaust stud you're in a world of sh!t.
Shop manual says 15 ft. lbs.
All you're trying to do is compress the gasket. You did use new gaskets, right?
If you don't have a manual you can download one at mediafire.Bbob a member here and the VOG has uploaded all the manuals.

 

[normthenomad]

I don't think they should be flush. As you tighten the exhaust flange bolts, they compress the pipe against a crush gasket that is inside the port opening. If the flange hit the head (i.e. flush with the head), then there would be no further crushing of the crush gasket. Since it is important that this crush gasket be properly squeezed, I would think it is critical that the exhaust flanges NEVER touch the head.

Yes! +1^^

 

[8ballTate]

No, they do not have to be flush.
Be careful, if you break an exhaust stud you're in a world of sh!t.
Shop manual says 15 ft. lbs.
All you're trying to do is compress the gasket. You did use new gaskets, right?
If you don't have a manual you can download one at mediafire.Bbob a member here and the VOG has uploaded all the manuals.

Glad I checked in here before finishing. Yes, I did use new gaskets. May have to get another set of gaskets if I loosen these up and tighten again. There was a little smoke coming out of the front and rear exhaust connects so it’s not where it needs to be. I’ll download the manual. Thanks!

 

[normthenomad]

Glad I checked in here before finishing. Yes, I did use new gaskets. May have to get another set of gaskets if I loosen these up and tighten again. There was a little smoke coming out of the front and rear exhaust connects so it’s not where it needs to be. I’ll download the manual. Thanks!

Both the VOG and this forum are extremely helpful.
Lots of real life experience.

 

[Vinish]

When installing a new exhaust port gasket, tighten the nuts to the specified torque, ride if for a few days, and tighten again to the same specified torque. If these nuts on your bike are the fancy chrome domed nuts, make sure that the nuts are not bottoming out on the stud prior to putting proper pressure on the gasket. If they are bottoming out, put a few stainless steel washers under each domed nut.

 

[8ballTate]

Got both pipes torqued to 15 ft lbs. Look nice and sound really nice but there is still a little smoke coming off both pipes and it looks to be from the 02 plugs. After about a minute of running the smoke gets heavier but after about 3-4 mins of running it starts to die off (not completely though). I've probably only ran it for maybe 10 mins since putting them on. I also noticed the engine light is on constantly now. Will that always happen since I took the 02 sensors out and used plugs?

 

[Vinish]

Did you use any lubricant on the "plugs" used in the O2 sensor ports? If so and if the wrong kind of lubricant was used, perhaps it is just burning off as the bike heats up. If so, this smoke will go away after a long ride as all of this lubricant burns up.