Dumb question on exhaust gaskets

[Stefnwolf]

Hi
This may seem a dumb question but its easier to ask before getting the chisel out.

After removing the exhausts on my 82 GSX750E, it appears possible there are no exhaust gaskets. Peering in there with a torch, it seems the PO sealed them with silicone. Of course they may be in there and the silicone just helped (there were no leaks) but no amount of poking with a screwdriver will dislodge anything.
It looks "stepped", so it goes in about an inch, then the diameter reduces by about 3/8th for another 1/4" then the exhaust port is about 1/8th smaller than that.

In the badly drawn cross section diagram, would the red bits be an exhaust gasket I could safely chisel out or part of the head?

[rphillips]

I've not found any that I couldn't gouge out with a screwdriver or awl.

[Larry D]

Regardless of how they are in there, they gotta come out. If there is actually some type of sealant in there, it's gotta come out.

I would try some type of pick, awl or other homemade device to get behind the gasket and pull it out rather than chiseling. It's gonna be time consuming and tedious, but it's gotta be done. Grab an adult beverage and go to work. Clean every bit of it you can get to. Crazy PO's..........

[Steve]

Regardless of how they are in there, they gotta come out. If there is actually some type of sealant in there, it's gotta come out. ... Grab an adult beverage and go to work. ...

I agree with getting it all out, but save the "adult beverage" until after it's done. You want to make sure it's done right.


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[Calvin Blackmore]

um wear safety glasses and gloves
not sure if they are all the same but arent some a winding of sharp steel

a nasty Christmas gift a shard in the hand or worse the eye.

[Nessism]

Engine side exhaust gasket donuts are made out of a soft metal that crushes down when they get pinched. This crushing action typically wedges them into the exhaust port on the head pretty good. No risk of picking up any shards in the hand but there is always risk of busted knuckles when prying and digging around with screwdrivers and such.