Exhaust flex pipe.

[thrasher]

Replacing all three exhaust flex pipes on my 06 Vector. I noticed something perplexing to me with the new flex pipes, part #8ES-14615-01-00. The flange of the new flex pipe that seats against the engine block all seem to be reversed from the original flex pipes that I removed. The original ones have an extremely flat surface that goes against the block, and the other side that the bolts go into are slightly rounded and not perfectly flat. The new ones from Yamaha have the not flat side going against the block. The part number has changed from# 8ES-14615-00-00. Has anyone else noticed this? I'm assuming this cannot be a manufacturing error and there must be a reason for this. I went online to look at newer pictures of the flex pipes and they all seem to be reversed as well. I know there is a gasket, but it's metal and I'm sure the flatter side of the flange would seal exhaust gases better(less noise) than the other side.

 

[Mooseman]

Might want to look at these instead. I haven't used them but seem to be good and also eliminates the failure prone donuts. He's also an advertiser here.
https://www.fxgarageworks.com/

 

[thrasher]

Might want to look at these instead. I haven't used them but seem to be good and also eliminates the failure prone donuts. He's also an advertiser here.
https://www.fxgarageworks.com/

If I had a relatively new sled, knowing what I know now, the first time that I had to replace the donuts I would probably go that way. My sled has 27,000 miles on it, and with the new flex pipes and copper donuts, I think that this will be the last time that I will need to do this.

 

[Roger]

My 2012 RS Venture GT has almost 27000 km on it, and I just put on the FX garage flex pipes this summer.
I had 2 of the Yamaha flex pipes broken in there, with the copper donuts.

History of my exhaust,
replaced fiber donuts, twice, then
3 into 1 pipe broke in half, had all Yamaha welds rewelded, and installed copper donuts, then
2 Yamaha flex pipes broken.
Now, new FX garage flex pipes installed. This will be the first year on those new flex pipes.

Conclusion, the rear exhaust looks good, but that is it!
Never buy another rear exhaust Yamaha, absolutely the worst engineered exhaust system, ever!!!

 

[thrasher]

Conclusion, the rear exhaust looks good, but that is it!
Never buy another rear exhaust Yamaha, absolutely the worst engineered exhaust system, ever!!![/QUOTE]

Sounds pretty much like the history of my exhaust woes as well, but I have 43,000 kms on mine. The rear exhaust is a cool concept in theory, but the practicality leaves much to be desired. However, they do sound great!

 

[Mooseman]

Been there, done that and got TWO t-shirts.
https://ty4stroke.com/threads/can-exhaust-be-fixed-welded.135024/

I got the replacement one gusseted before it failed. I had used the copper donuts years ago. Maybe they're just too stiff? Today, I would have used those flex pipes. If my current RS Venture GT ever needs donuts, I will likely go with the flex pipes and be done with it.

 

[Roger]

If you decide to install the FX Garage flex pipes, don't bother using the bolts that come with them.
As we all know, everything is made in China these days, and their bolts are crap!
Rumour is that the bolts can come loose, so I was making them extremely tight, which results in breaking bolts!
I went to a specialty bolt store to buy the highest grade of bolt they had, and I also bought lock nuts for those bolts.
I made these new bolts as tight as I could get them, and then screwed on the lock nut on the exposed threads.
Obviously lock nuts with nylon won't work, as the nylon will melt!
So, regular nuts would work as well, since you're basically doubling up nuts.