I read in one the Cholo install threads that the SE gasket is the best one to use when installing the Cholo's. When I ordered my Cholo's I also ordered the chrome manifold mounting hardware, of course, as well. They also came with gasket's too. The SE gasket seems to be a tad thinner then the one supplied by Samson. I also read in another thread this morning that a guy can't get his pipe up and into the manifold, that his pipe will only bolt up tight against his manifold, not up and into it and I have never seen or heard of that. Do the Samson's bolt up into the cylinder or up against it. I have seen where some have had trouble with their left pipe not mounting up tight against the oil tank and wondering if that larger gasket push's it out some, enough, to cause that "heat" issue some have wrote about because their pipe sticks out so far from their oil tank. Has anyone used the SE gasket and if so why. Has anyone else had any trouble with the stock gasket or the ones Samson supplied and if so, what kind of problem? I know I am not the one installing them but I don't want to waste my INDY's time and I don't want to have to take them back apart down the road to fix it if I have any issues. Thanks in advance for your input.

 

If I understand what you're referring to, the instructions say not to remove the 'gasket' unless you plan on replacing it. I pulled the old V&H pipes off, took off the collars and snap washers, put them on the Sampsons and bolted them right back in place. The Sampsons have a bit of a tapered/bulge to the ends of the pipes and snugged right in.

Once that left pipe is fit loosely in place, there's not a lot of adjustment. It lays where it lays (and is DAMN close to the shift linkage). Good fit though.

 

Some people use the SE gaskets because with the stock gasket it can be difficult to get the nuts started on the studs if the stock gaskets are new since the pipe hasn't crushed into them yet. The SE are smaller so that they dont block exhaust gasses like crushed stock gaskets could (possibly)

Some people also say that they have had exhaust leaks with the SE gaskets because they have almost no crush to them...what will cause this is if the face of the pipe end isn't parallel to the gasket flange in the head. With stock gaskets it wouldn't matter because they are so thick they will make up for a slight misalignment.

You should install the pipe ends in the heads and get them squared up and snugged down before moving back to the other pipes. Not a final torque but enough to hold them square in the exhaust ports.

you might also get exhaust leaks at the slip joints...some guys use hi-temp when they put them together. I did it on my last exhaust and it worked well. I'm not doing it on my Samsons yet because the clamps are so heavy duty. I might have to re-do it though if it doesn't work out.

The gaskets wont effect the pipe routing on the LH side, they just aren't thick enough to matter. I think that issue can be attributed to manufacturing and build variation by one manufacturer or both.

 

x2 PLUS, The chrome Samson Flanges you ordered are thinner then the Stock ones . So even using the stock crush gaskets you should not have a problem getting the nuts started.

Its like the best of both worlds ,better sealing (less chance of exhaust leak) easier install and better looks.

 

I had V&H pipes put on my bike before I took it from the dealer. I don't know if they reused the original gaskets or replaced them. If I switch pipes again, what I'm gathering from you guys is that I don't need to replace the gaskets if I don't foul them up or remove them?

 

IMHO you should always change the crush gaskets when changing or taking the existing exhaust system off, for what ever reason. To me they are like a one time use item. Very cheap insurance less chance for exhaust leak.

 

No guarantees but if they leak its no big deal to change them out.

 

Got a couple short rides on mine and going to stick it back on the lift to check everything out. That left pipe is a tight fit and want to make sure there is space in there and its not touching anything!

 

I replaced mine with stock HD gaskets, no issues. I would always replace the gaskets when removing and reinstalling pipes.

 

Stock and the 1 Samson sent appear to be the same thing. The SE is noticeably thinner. I am going to have the one's Samson sent put on to start with. I don't ever hear of that being an issue and I have read allot of install threads on these pipes. If they leaked I'm sure many would have spoke up about it before now.