Mac 4 to 2 turnouts - no muffler gasket?

hey all, just wondering if anyone else has experience with the mac pipes. i'm in the middle of installing them and it seems like the mufflers that came with are pretty loose on the header pipes, is there some kind of gasket i need to get to slip in between the muffler and the header pipe to take up the slack or is the clamp meant to tighten the muffler all the way down? I'm asking because i've seen metal "gaskets" used in between for slip on mufflers before but nothing came with the pipes so just wondering what others have done.

thanks,

Trev

 

I used the orange coloured silicone on my mufflers, then after 30 minutes I tightened the clamps as far as they would go. They've been on for 3 years now and no leakage.

 

that sounds like a plan, thanks!

 

I did the same as johno8 - I "think" I have MACs 4-2 - but it sounds just like yours

 

i also posted on the mac forum and mac replied right away saying the same thing, the muffler clamp should tighten it right down to the header pipe, so there you have it right from the horses mouth. i have some of that hi heat silicone (mine's red) so i'll use that as well.

thanks again,

Trev

 

Funny how MAC insisted that the 4 - 2 would not fit on the water cooled XJs. Apparently there were clearance issues with the radiator, but trust me, there aren't. I tried to tell them it was fine and even sent some pictures but they wouldn't budge...crazy!

 

ok, i installed the mufflers with the silicone and it seemed to work ok, leaks a little even with the silicone and tightening the f*** out of it, the hangers are too short though so the mufflers angle up slightly from the end of the header pipe, not great but whatever. anyway there are two problems i am having: first the rear brake lever contacts the muffler clamp ring when depressed, second the end of the mufflers obstruct the rear axle (and i need to change the rear tire now! :roll: ).

do the rest of you guys with the macs have the same problems? how did you fix them? maybe i just need to fab some longer hangers and mount the mufflers further back to try to clear the axle & brake lever?

i'd like to rip the mufflers off and run straight headers but i don't think my neighbors or the fuzz would appreciate it :wink:

 

I have the same set up you are installing and have had none of the problems you're having. When you put the mufflers on, did you allow the silicone to tack up (30 minutes) before tightening them? I had done them the first time tightening them right away and had some leakage...then I read the instructions! My mufflers don't obstruct the axle at all. I also have my mufflers bent up to mount the tabs where the passenger footpegs are bolted. As far as the brake lever contacting the ring, if it's keeping the brake from becoming fully engaged, can you readjust the lever a little higher without screwing up the brake system?

 

hey johno, yeah i followed the instructions (i wish the macs came with those!) anyway i was just checking out your gallery, is that the mac exhaust in your pics? if so, they are actually quite different from mine, looks like you have slash cuts and are much shorter and angled up where i have the turnouts which are much longer and run straight back from the header pipes.

i guess i'll fiddle with it more tonight and see what i can come up with.

thanks for the input!

 

PS that is a sweet looking bike you have by the way!

 

Tibor:

Thanks...and yes, they are the slash cut pipes. I had to bend the exhaust after installing it so the tabs would line up. My buddy has the exact same bike as mine except totally stock and he put the same exhaust as I have...he didn't have a problem either. Possibly with the different pipes, there lies your problem. Let me know how you make out.