Exhaust questions (Maxim-X or all?)

Short version: are the header pipes from different XJ's cross compatible? They seem to be the same ...

Second, in what order do they go:
Pipe 1: short distance to bolt kind of angled to the left side (facing from rider position)
Pipe 2: long distance to bolt kind of angled to left side (...)
Pipe 3: short distance to bolt kind of angled to the right side (facing from rider position)
Pipe 4: long distance to bolt kind of angled to right side (...)

Using those numbers, to which cylinder does each go: (from rider position, A on left through D on right).

Finally, what is the trick/sequence to getting the pipes on and properly connected to the collector? ... This is being a real pain. Pipes and collector are connected but loose, and trying to add headers. Do I need to put on the header pipes then connect the collector before bolting on the pipes?

Long story ...
Okay, so I had to remove the exhaust from my X in order to drop the engine and install the replacement air box. In addition, moron PO had put on Harley Sportster pipes (anybody want some? They are like new).

Now OEM replacements I purchased came with the collector but not the header pipes. I expect that was because they couldn't get them apart to sell them separately ... I tried for a while using various penetrating oils and such,. allowing it to sit for long periods of time, just no way to get them apart, at least with it not on the bike to hold everything steady ... so am using collector which came with exhaust and old header pipes. It appeared to me that Pipe 1 went to A, 2 to B, 4 to C and 3 to D (using 1, 2, 3, 4 as listed above) but am wondering if it is 2 to A, 1 to B, 3 to C and 4 to D? Can someone tell me which?

I kept the header pipes carefully in order not knowing what the differences were or that there even were differences, and, of course, promptly mixed them up. Now I need to figure out which goes where, and I also have some nicer looking pipes from another bike (don't recall which model) that look to be identical ... are they interchangeable between bikes?


Thanks,

 

If you don't have the answers you are looking for by tomorrow I'll go out to the garage and get down my fully assembled exhaust off my 85 Maxim-X. I took it off as a single assembly years ago when I installed my Hindle four into one.
I'll take a buch of picture from several angles including how and where they are bolted together from the top down and bottom up.
I hope that will help you out. But I'm bushed tonight, I've been getting a house ready to rent and it's more work than I had envisioned.
So, until tomorrow, goodnight.


Cheers, Graham

 

Ok
So I went and got a bunch of pics, hope they help.

 

Thank you very much.

It is the opposite of what I thought for left and right, but the same for inner and outer. It seems illogical to point those drainage(?) bolts facing inward. I thought that they pointed out for ease of access.

Now I have to figure out how to mount the danged thing. Bulk, weight, balance and manueverability are sending me over the edge. It might be possible if I had a second set of hands and/or if I could get the mufflers off of the collector ...