Exhaust gaskets

[Ron in Buffalo]

Hi have a 1997 Valkyrie. I want the boards  wisdom. Taking off a Jardine exhaust system(which will be on the classified section soon). Putting a stock exhaust system back on it. Should I replace the exhaust gaskets or use the old ones. Thanks in advance.

[98valk]

replace them.

[Chrisj CMA]

replace them.

+1 Always

[gordonv]

The stock gaskets are copper crush washers.

Not only should you replace them, you need to get under there with a bright light and a pick of some kind (small flat blade screw driver) and insure that ALL previous gaskets have been removed. I found 2 sets on my IS when I changed out the exhaust.

They where so crushed, it looked like they where part of the bike.

[MarkT]

Generally don't need to be changed if you are R&Ring the same exhaust.  If you change the exhaust, then definitely change them.  Exception - if you are installing the same exhaust after my 5 inch stacks were installed on an I/S exhaust, and you have the rear hanger mod (you will on an I/S), you need to change them as the pipe's angle is slightly changed - which is supported by fresh crush gaskets.

[Bagger John - #3785]

Generally don't need to be changed if you are R&Ring the same exhaust.  If you change the exhaust, then definitely change them.  Exception - if you are installing the same exhaust after my 5 inch stacks were installed on an I/S exhaust, and you have the rear hanger mod (you will on an I/S), you need to change them as the pipe's angle is slightly changed - which is supported by fresh crush gaskets.

+1

I haven't changed them on either of my current Valkyries since their specific sets of pipes were installed (Tourer had 6x6 Cobras, now a stock Std/Tourer exhaust with Cobra "cone" tips. I/S had an I/S exhaust which was replaced by a Std/Tourer setup with short piggies and a set of full length slash-cut tips.)

[idaida98]

I've had my original pipes on and of maybe 5 times,bought the gaskets years ago and never installed them.I never heard or felt an exhaust leak.I just put a set of pipes on that a previous owner changed at 800 miles for cobras and I put new gaskets on these   but I bet I could have gotten away withe the old gaskets. Maybe not?

[Bret SD]

How often do most people re-tighten exhaust studs? Mine seem to loosen up and need it every few months, while doing that I check the intakes, vacuum caps and clamps etc.
The bike always runs a little crisper afterwards.

[idaida98]

I put locking nuts on mine.

[Chrisj CMA]

I put locking nuts on mine.

It’s think it’s more important to have the threads covered by the acorn nuts. Once the gaskets are completely compressed the stock acorn nuts never loosen

[Bagger John - #3785]

I put a little dab of Anti-Seize on mine. Once tightened to spec and with the gaskets properly compressed, Chris's observation is accurate - though I still check them every now and then.

[Bret SD]

I put locking nuts on mine.

It’s think it’s more important to have the threads covered by the acorn nuts. Once the gaskets are completely compressed the stock acorn nuts never loosen

Hmmm.. pretty sure the gaskets are compressed from years ago, I am a little careful about over tightening the acorn nuts, don't want problems with a broken stud. Maybe I'll go a hair tighter next time.

Wouldn't double nutting the studs self seal somewhat? I mean, if you're worried about water and debris intrusion. I'd source some stainless nuts for it I think, if that's the way I decide to go.

[Bagger John - #3785]

...if you're worried about water and debris intrusion. I'd source some stainless nuts for it I think, if that's the way I decide to go.

Capillary action can still draw moisture up the studs and begin to rust them.

There's a reason why Honda's engineering team chose the fasteners they did for this bike, and not all of that has to do with the hardware looking pretty.

[Bret SD]

...if you're worried about water and debris intrusion. I'd source some stainless nuts for it I think, if that's the way I decide to go.

Capillary action can still draw moisture up the studs and begin to rust them.

There's a reason why Honda's engineering team chose the fasteners they did for this bike, and not all of that has to do with the hardware looking pretty.

Thanks, makes sense.. I suppose the same would go for lock washers of any type.

[Bagger John - #3785]

...if you're worried about water and debris intrusion. I'd source some stainless nuts for it I think, if that's the way I decide to go.

Capillary action can still draw moisture up the studs and begin to rust them.

There's a reason why Honda's engineering team chose the fasteners they did for this bike, and not all of that has to do with the hardware looking pretty.

Thanks, makes sense.. I suppose the same would go for lock washers of any type.

I say this as a previous GL1100/GL1200 owner. The exhaust studs on those models are larger in diameter than the ones used on our Valkyries, and open-ended flange nuts were used to secure them. Most of mine rusted, no matter how much attention and protectant I applied to them. I broke at least two studs across the years of ownership of 4 various GL1xxx models, as did many of my friends who had the bikes.

If the Valkyrie's exhaust studs and nuts are maintained and not torqued excessively, it's rare you'll break one or lose a nut.

[Bret SD]

...if you're worried about water and debris intrusion. I'd source some stainless nuts for it I think, if that's the way I decide to go.

Capillary action can still draw moisture up the studs and begin to rust them.

There's a reason why Honda's engineering team chose the fasteners they did for this bike, and not all of that has to do with the hardware looking pretty.

Thanks, makes sense.. I suppose the same would go for lock washers of any type.

I say this as a previous GL1100/GL1200 owner. The exhaust studs on those models are larger in diameter than the ones used on our Valkyries, and open-ended flange nuts were used to secure them. Most of mine rusted, no matter how much attention and protectant I applied to them. I broke at least two studs across the years of ownership of 4 various GL1xxx models, as did many of my friends who had the bikes.

If the Valkyrie's exhaust studs and nuts are maintained and not torqued excessively, it's rare you'll break one or lose a nut.

My GL1100 has no problems I'm aware of, occasionally I do tighten things on it but don't ride it enough to make a comparison of loosening exhaust nuts.

The 82 GL has about 10,000 less miles on her than my standard, I love riding her on the back roads, freeway speeds are too fast here and I don't like pushing her to do 80 mph. Usually if I'm on the freeway I keep it at 75 mph or less. I've pushed her closer to 100 at times, then the front end starts to lift.. and me no likey that  .

[Madmike]

replace them and then check the nuts every so often because the copper will likely crush as it is designed to do and the pipes will settle in to place and you will lose the torque.

[Bagger John - #3785]

My GL1100 has no problems I'm aware of, occasionally I do tighten things on it but don't ride it enough to make a comparison of loosening exhaust nuts.

The 82 GL has about 10,000 less miles on her than my standard, I love riding her on the back roads, freeway speeds are too fast here and I don't like pushing her to do 80 mph. Usually if I'm on the freeway I keep it at 75 mph or less. I've pushed her closer to 100 at times, then the front end starts to lift.. and me no likey that  .

Self-loosening exhaust nuts weren't a big problem with GLs I've owned (or which friends owned). It was the reverse: If you had to remove the exhaust for any reason, invariably something was rusted together and would occasionally cause stud breakage.

My favorite of the bunch was my second '83 Aspencade. I've owned several and ridden many Gold Wings...this one felt different. Even though the bike was fully accessorized, it pulled harder than any other 4 cylinder GL. Maybe a previous owner did cam and head work - I never had the top end apart other than for valve adjustments so it's hard to say.

If Honda would have made parts available for the 83s for 20 more years than they did, I probably wouldn't own Valkyries and would still be riding a close-to-stock Standard and Aspencade instead.

There's a country road west of here which I used to ride frequently with the Aspencade. This morning I had my Tourer on the route, coming back from dropping off parts at the platers. Summary: At speed, the Valkyrie is a more competent motorcycle than the 'Wing - but that bike was no slouch.

[Bret SD]

Here is my Aspencade, she does pull really well, then at the same time she says 'just chill out and enjoy the smooth ride'. I do tend to be less throttle happy with her, which is a good thing. I'm overdue to take her up into the mountains for a solo ride, been thinking about that lately. Most often I ride her as a bagger, seems to scoot and handle better that way.

I agree the Valk is just beastly on the freeway compared to the Wing, and much more stable in super windy conditions.

When I got the GL she was owned and loved on by a good dude who works as a mechanic, he wasn't confident in his strength anymore so he sold her. He and his wife would cruise often and he really dug the bike. He ended up doing all major work that could be done aside from rebuilding the rear shocks. I have the seal kit and Progressive springs for it sitting in a box, just have to get busy on it when I get some more time.

I was thinking of trading her for an AR-15, with the political climate being what it is now I'm not sure I still want to do that in Ca.

How often did the cooling fan come on in your bikes? Mine comes on often, the guy I bought it from said it was always like that. He did flush and replace coolant, it's more a curiousity thing, I'm not having any heat issues.

[Bagger John - #3785]

How often did the cooling fan come on in your bikes? Mine comes on often, the guy I bought it from said it was always like that. He did flush and replace coolant, it's more a curiousity thing, I'm not having any heat issues.

Apples-to-apples (I'll discuss the GL1100 motor):

The first '83 GL1100A usually ran with 5 out of 10 bars showing on the coolant temperature gauge in normal summertime weather, regardless of whether or not I had an air dam installed below the radiator grille. On a very long uphill climb (north or east of Mansfield, Ohio are two such routes) I'd see the 6th bar come on. If I was in stop-and-go traffic on a hot day the fan would come on until a few miles of 35MPH+ speeds had occurred.

The second '83 GL1100A almost always ran with 4 out of 10 bars showing and would infrequently show 5 in normal warm weather operation. It took a fair amount of idling and low-speed riding to make its fan come on.

The '83 Standard usually ran with its analog gauge from center to slighty right in warm weather and almost to the heavy portion of the "meter line" in hot weather and at highway speeds. Its fan would come on about as often as the first Aspencade's did, though neither ever puked coolant.

I replaced water pumps, thermostats, hoses, caps, paid careful attention to purging and burping the system but those two always seemed to run a little hotter (indicated) than the other.

[Bret SD]

How often did the cooling fan come on in your bikes? Mine comes on often, the guy I bought it from said it was always like that. He did flush and replace coolant, it's more a curiousity thing, I'm not having any heat issues.

Apples-to-apples (I'll discuss the GL1100 motor):

The first '83 GL1100A usually ran with 5 out of 10 bars showing on the coolant temperature gauge in normal summertime weather, regardless of whether or not I had an air dam installed below the radiator grille. On a very long uphill climb (north or east of Mansfield, Ohio are two such routes) I'd see the 6th bar come on. If I was in stop-and-go traffic on a hot day the fan would come on until a few miles of 35MPH+ speeds had occurred.

The second '83 GL1100A almost always ran with 4 out of 10 bars showing and would infrequently show 5 in normal warm weather operation. It took a fair amount of idling and low-speed riding to make its fan come on.

The '83 Standard usually ran with its analog gauge from center to slighty right in warm weather and almost to the heavy portion of the "meter line" in hot weather and at highway speeds. Its fan would come on about as often as the first Aspencade's did, though neither ever puked coolant.

I replaced water pumps, thermostats, hoses, caps, paid careful attention to purging and burping the system but those two always seemed to run a little hotter (indicated) than the other.

Thanks for the info, I'll be looking closer at the temp gauge next time I'm out, it's never gone even half way as far as I can remember.

[98valk]

Here is my Aspencade, she does pull really well, then at the same time she says 'just chill out and enjoy the smooth ride'. I do tend to be less throttle happy with her, which is a good thing. I'm overdue to take her up into the mountains for a solo ride, been thinking about that lately. Most often I ride her as a bagger, seems to scoot and handle better that way.

I agree the Valk is just beastly on the freeway compared to the Wing, and much more stable in super windy conditions.

When I got the GL she was owned and loved on by a good dude who works as a mechanic, he wasn't confident in his strength anymore so he sold her. He and his wife would cruise often and he really dug the bike. He ended up doing all major work that could be done aside from rebuilding the rear shocks. I have the seal kit and Progressive springs for it sitting in a box, just have to get busy on it when I get some more time.

I was thinking of trading her for an AR-15, with the political climate being what it is now I'm not sure I still want to do that in Ca.

How often did the cooling fan come on in your bikes? Mine comes on often, the guy I bought it from said it was always like that. He did flush and replace coolant, it's more a curiousity thing, I'm not having any heat issues.

get a politically correct off the radar lever action, 30-30 or 357.   they take down deer they will take down perps.  and now they have rubber tip 30-30 ammo for longer range and velocity.

[Bret SD]

Here is my Aspencade, she does pull really well, then at the same time she says 'just chill out and enjoy the smooth ride'. I do tend to be less throttle happy with her, which is a good thing. I'm overdue to take her up into the mountains for a solo ride, been thinking about that lately. Most often I ride her as a bagger, seems to scoot and handle better that way.

I agree the Valk is just beastly on the freeway compared to the Wing, and much more stable in super windy conditions.

When I got the GL she was owned and loved on by a good dude who works as a mechanic, he wasn't confident in his strength anymore so he sold her. He and his wife would cruise often and he really dug the bike. He ended up doing all major work that could be done aside from rebuilding the rear shocks. I have the seal kit and Progressive springs for it sitting in a box, just have to get busy on it when I get some more time.

I was thinking of trading her for an AR-15, with the political climate being what it is now I'm not sure I still want to do that in Ca.

How often did the cooling fan come on in your bikes? Mine comes on often, the guy I bought it from said it was always like that. He did flush and replace coolant, it's more a curiousity thing, I'm not having any heat issues.

get a politically correct off the radar lever action, 30-30 or 357.   they take down deer they will take down perps.  and now they have rubber tip 30-30 ammo for longer range and velocity.

Thanks, some good ideas here, I don't need problems.. just more fire power.