Sealing Exhaust Joints

Each exhaust system consists of many gaskets and sealing surfaces all the way from the cylinder to the outlet in the belly pan. Most tuners are aware of the importance of verifying a good seal at all “hard” joints, especially at the manifold to expansion chamber joint and at the pipe to silencer junction. Some sleds use Grafoil gaskets that provide excellent durability, while many require the use of a pliable sealer, something like a high temp silicone. But how many of us actually seal the exhaust outlet hole in the belly pan?

This is something the tuners at Starting Line Products have learned can make a significant difference, especially when riding in deeper snow at slower speeds. If ANY exhaust joint is leaking, including where the silencer (muffler) exits the belly pan, exhaust gasses can leak from the system and be drawn into the airbox; a VERY BAD thing! This causes an over-rich condition and inconsistent performance, primarily due to the lack of oxygen for combustion!