Exhaust Gaskets....how important?

[Athame57]

In the next few days I'll have (hope) finished what I'm doing and back on with the exhaust system. Last time I tried replacing the missing exhaust gaskets but hey got so chewed up in my atempts I did what someone else might have done before and gave up with them. Are they very important and is there an easy way to fit them?

[Bryanj]

Yes they are important, stick them into the head recess with a few dabs of grease but make sure the old ones are out first as they turn very hard and feel like metal.

[Laverda Dave]

I had that problem Bryan. The P/O before had fitted new copper gaskets directly in front of the existing gaskets. The originals only identified themselves when I looked closely with a torch and good see a faint line that I thought was a casting mark. Turned out it was the joint between the old gasket and the head. I don't know how the P/O managed to fit the exhaust headers back on with two gaskets!

[Nurse Julie]

Mine had the originals and a set of copper ones fitted when i got the bike. I got the originals out in the end but wow, it took some work.

[Athame57]

...now I'm not sure there really is an old pair blended/welded/merged down there. I shall seek with a dental pick or something....