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Hey guys, I just picked up a new Vance and Hines 4-into-1 exhaust from Z1 to replace my strange Frankenstein system that the PO had on. I believe it was MAC headers with a different muffler. Anyways, I can't for the life of me figure out how to get the headers on. They only came with these half tube pieces and no instructions. I had assumed that you just put the two halves around the part of the pipe that connects to the block and tighten but it's not really working and the headers falling out. I wrapped them with tape to hold them in place and tried putting them on and hand tightening the bolts to hold it in place but the headers just end up moving and dropping off. Am I doing something wrong or am I just an idiot?

After a bunch of research, it looks like these are just the shims, I don't have the exhaust collars. Is that something I was supposed to order separately or was mine sent without?

Assuming the V&H headers mount the same as stock be sure you have those split keepers facing the right way. The end of the header pipes should have a small lip all the way around and protruding out. The end of the split keepers that has no lip should seat against that header lip. The end of the split keepers that has the lip should go against the header collar (exhaust pipe holder). When the header collar is bolted to the cylinder head is presses against the split keeper's lip which then presses the other end of the split keepers against the lip on the header. This then pushes the header tight against the copper header gaskets and presses them against the cylinder head. Also, don’t forget to install the copper gaskets.

If it still doesn’t work you may have the wrong length split keepers. Ed

Hey Ed, thanks for the speedy reply. It turns out that I don't have the exhaust pipe holders seen in that picture. I've got the split keepers and new copper gaskets in but the pipes never came with the pipe holders, just the split keepers so there's nothing to actually connect the pipes to the cylinder head. Is that something that I should have ordered separately or do you think mine were forgotten?

I would contact V&H before doing anything else. Their website (see link below) shows their exhaust systems with the exhaust pipe holders already in place. Maybe someone at the factory forgot to install them. Ed

products.vanceandhines.com/store/13029/

You're right, they definitely should be installed already. Looks like they don't have a phone number to call, so I guess I'll just be sending them an email. I'll update back here once I find out what's up.

Well, I looked around at other websites that sell the V&H and it looks like from all of the other pictures, they don't come with the flanges installed on them. I guess I'm going to have to order a set from somewhere.

I've never seen a Vance & Hines street pipe that has the holders built in. You are basically just expected to re-use your factory ones. I have a V&H pipe and a MAC pipe, and on both I had to use the holders I had.

It seems a bit like bait and switch when V&H shows nice, shiny new holders on the pipes on their website but then don't supply them.

I found a couple phone numbers for them that might be worth trying. Ed

CALIFORNIA LOCATION (562) 921-7461
INDIANA LOCATION (317) 852-9057

Thanks ed! Yeah, whatever pipes I had on beforehand had them built in so I had just assumed that they were there. I haven't had the separate collars so I never even thought about them being a separate piece, I just thought they always came on them. Z1 has exhaust flanges, I'll probably just have to order four from them. Seems they're on backorder, but what can you do?

Go on KZ650 info forum I'm sure you can ask and get a stock set.

Correct me if I'm wrong here, but in general the holders are lose pieces in order to install the manifolds. Otherwise getting the pipes on and securing them would be a pain (they already are sometimes).

I'll be updating to this exhaust next year and starting to take notes.