What is going on here>?

Looks to me like someone put this together wrong... there is a small exhaust leak. What are the rusty metal pieces? they look like a kind of gasket but they just dont look right to me. Should they be turned around? there are 2 of them on each header.

The system is a 4 into 1 Vance & Hines.

 

They are collets. The exhaust pipe has a flange welded to it which the collets push against. The header clamp pushes against the collet to form a seal between the flange, exhaust gasket and cylinder head. The gasket is made from aluminium and some heat resisting material. If you have a leak, the gasket is likely to be missing!!

 

so are they supposed to look like that? are they in there correct? thanks

 

both have a flange, the collet and the header.

iirc exhaust gasket in the exhaust port, collet on the header, flange facing forward and then the header clamp tightened to spec

 

Just to clarifiy this a little bit.

The flange on the collet faces into the clamp ring. Away from the engine. this gives the collet a lock in the clamp ring, and clamping force against the flange on the exhaust.

Over time the collet will degrade, and loosen. Allowing the exhaust to leak. If they show any signs of rusting you are better off replacing them.

Ghost

 

thanks mighost