Cobra Pipes & Harley Gaskets, Fail!

[ragnagwar]

I know a lot of people have used the harley gaskets when replacing their pipes, but it didn't
work worth a damn for me. I put on a new set of Cobra billet tips and used the harley gaskets. Both head pipes leaked like a sieve even after repeated heat cycles and tightening. I still had the original Kaw gaskets so I just loosened the head pipes and threw them in and the whole thing sealed right up. Yes, everything was lined up and mounted carefully, and tightened in the proper sequence. Just FYI!

[ringadingh]

Ive used the HD gaskets and they've held up well for me.

[Monkeyman]

What's the advantage to using HD gaskets? Cost only? For what should be a one time deal, I'd think it would be worth the cost. MaKaw designed the OEM gaskets specifically for our bikes. Is this for Cobra only or for any aftermarket exhaust?

[ringadingh]

I can always get HD gaskets at the dealer. If I go to Kawi they never have them in stock.

[Jared]

I too have used Harley gaskets several times. They've work great with my VH exhaust.

I use them for the same reason as Ring-the dealer always has them. No need to wait a couple of days for them to order them.

I find it odd that your used, already crushed, Kawi gaskets would work better than new HD gaskets.

[ragnagwar]

That's the reason I bought the HD gaskets too, easy availability. I honestly can't explain why I had problems, but they became apparent when I rode the bike and was getting a lot of popping on decel. I have Chucksters Dual-Plate, Coasters and a TFI installed and was running the stock pipes debaffled and it ran great. After my ride and a cool down I applied some commercial leak detector around the head pipes started it up and it was foaming like a rabid dog. I let it cool down again, installed the old gaskets and started her up. Reapplied leak detector and not a bubble to be found. Just to be sure, my original gaskets were solid rings and the HD gaskets are more like a mesh material. I got the number from this site and that matched the number on the parts bag. Go figure!
PS. Thank's for the feedback.

[qfarmer]

When I installed the Roadhouse duals exhaust on my nomad I first tried the Harley gaskets. It was really hard to get them to fit so I had to crush them down to almost the size of the Kawi gaskets to get them to fit in. Since I did that I had a lot of popping noise so there must have been a leak.

I picked up the kawi gaskets at the local dealer. There was no wait because they had them in stock. I will stay with the Kawi gaskets from here on out.

[ragnagwar]

I believe I will too, although I had to order them from Ron Ayers today. Everybody I called within 30 miles all had the same story: "Oh yeah I had two in stock but I just sold them the other day". Must be an awful lot of people changing Kawi exhaust systems right at the moment!

[clayton]

Yea I too had this issue with HD gaskets. 1600 08
Did everything right but the front wouldn't stop spitting out air no matter what I did.
I ended up going to a local auto parts store and purchased a 2 foot square of head gasket material and made my own.
Now I have no leaks at all :)
Yes it was a little more expensive but the local dealers would have me wait a week for the OEM gaskets.
A couple of hole saws and 20 minutes later I was on the road again.
I have a dozen different hole saws laying around so there was no cost there.

[Monkeyman]

I think I'll order mine from Kawasaki this week. Doesn't matter if they have them in stock as it will be a few weeks until I install the exhaust anyway. Thanks to everyone who posted here. Saved me some frustration by ordering early. :)

[ragnagwar]

Monkeyman,
Good idea, don't expect anything to be in stock the day you want it! Definately order ahead. It just seems to be a fact of the present economic situation that no one wants to keep a lot of stock on hand. I have run into this situation all over, and it is not unique to Kawi dealers.

[Monkeyman]

Never thought about nobody keeping such a small part on hand til this thread. You'd think they could keep 100 of them on hand. They're not that expensive and they don't take up much room.

[macmac]

Dealers don't stock much anymore. Just too many parts. Ever part numbers have been re-used. What a mess that makes when you want old new stock for a bike and the part number has been used for something else.

With things like head pipe gaskets and swing arm seals I tend to buy 2 or more sets at a time.

I know that with some V&H set ups there is a need for 1 extra flat washer, or the acorn nuts bottom on the studs before you get tight.

I suspect that is the problem with the HD gaskets, but I don't know that.

I do know that for sure you don't want the acorn nuts to be bottomed out on studs!

[Monkeyman]

Just generic washers, right? Guess I'll pick some up while I'm at it.

[macmac]

yeah... I use ss acorns and ss washers on the exhaust. I hand polish on a buff wheel the nuts, but don't bother with the washers.

My chromed nuts cooked off, and looked ratty. The Ss is as good today as it was 4 years or so ago. This is hardware store fodder, but a fair quality. If you do be sure to antiseize these too.

I go nuts on the exhaust studs any time I have the pipes off. I plan to be the least man standing. In other words the 06 Nomad is my last bike.