Changing Exhaust Riser Gasket
 

Whats involved in changing this gasket with my setup. It is a Merc Gil Exhaust System. Is it as easy as unbolting the four bolts. Scraping off the old gasket. Putting new gasket in place and re-bolt? Is there a specific torc for those bolts? On a scale of 1-10 how difficult is this??

Re: Changing Exhaust Riser Gasket
 

I had a similar setup to yours and have done this a few times. Its pretty easy, I'd give it a 2 on the difficult scale. Just remove the water hose from the riser, loosen the clamp at the back of it, if you can get the rubber exhaust hose off it will make it easier but its not neccessary. Remove the four nuts and pry it off. If its just a gasket it shouldnt be too hard. I had high temp silicone on mine and that made it more difficult also my tailpipes were full length thru transom so I couldnt use the pipe itself to pry with but you won't have that problem if you can get the rubber hose off. When you get the riser off, tightly stuff a rag in the exhaust hole so when you scrape the gasket nothing falls down in there. Carefully use a shop vac to clean it out if anything does fall onto the rag. I'd call Gil about the torque but I would just tighten them pretty good on mine, I never thought about torque because it would be tough to get a torque wrench on the back two nuts.

Re: Changing Exhaust Riser Gasket
 

What exactly do you mean when you say "you won't have that problem if you can get the rubber hose off". What rubber hose are you talking about?

Re: Changing Exhaust Riser Gasket
 

The rubber exhaust hose that is in between the back of the riser and the transom/exhaust tips

Re: Changing Exhaust Riser Gasket
 

Ok, thats what I thought. Do I just loosen or do I remove?

Re: Changing Exhaust Riser Gasket
 

You need to loosen it but you may not absolutely need to remove it. In other words, don't spend too much time trying to remove it. Just loosen the clamp, then remove the 4 nuts that hold the riser to the manifold. See if it seperates easily. If so, your in luck, it should come right off, if not, you're going to need to pry it off with a screwdriver being careful not to mess up the aluminum manifold. If you can move the riser a little bit, by removing that exhaust hose we mentioned, it will make getting a screwdriver or pry bar between the riser and manifold easier. By the way, are you doing all four or did just one fail?

Re: Changing Exhaust Riser Gasket
 

Just one is starting to leak a little bit, but I'm going to replace all 4!! So, you just lay the gasket in place and tighten the bolts and your done?

Re: Changing Exhaust Riser Gasket
 

There are two gaskets per riser and a heat defuser in the middle. Make sure this is clean. If it has been leaking long you could have valve problems from the water leaking down the manifold??

Re: Changing Exhaust Riser Gasket
 

This is a very simple job to do but also one of the most important. Please take your time with this and make sure you have everything sealed properly when you put it all back together. If it starts leaking into the exhaust then you can eventually get water in your oil and you know what kinds of problems that brings. My suggestion is make the repair then check the oil multiple times your first time back out to make sure you are not getting the "milkshake" This is especially true if you are running synthetic oil as it will not absorb any water into the oil at all. That being said it is a simple job to do just make sure both surfaces are very clean.

Re: Changing Exhaust Riser Gasket
 

Your system should not have water passing through the manifold to the riser except through the hose right? Is it leaking water or exhaust gas? Not to make you nervous but what year is your Bullet and do you run in salt? Those manifolds last about 10-15 years in salt (I know this from the awful experience of springing an unexpected leak in one of mine)

Re: Changing Exhaust Riser Gasket
 

Its an 88 and it was leaking gas. Although I am concerned about the age and will prob change the managolds after the summer. What happened in your case and what signs should I keep an eye out for so I dont blow a motor?

Re: Changing Exhaust Riser Gasket
 

My stbd motor was running like crap one day especally at low rpm's. I thought it was a fouled plug or two because it was fine in the upper rpm's. It finally quit idling in and wouldnt start. Got home and pulled the plugs and water came out of # 6 and 8 so I figured it was a head gasket. Oil was also a milkshake. The head gasket looked OK and it was only after I had everything back together that I found out it was the exhaust. I pressure tested them and one had a small water leak into the exhaust stream of # 8 cylinder, so I replaced all 4 with Stainless Marine

Re: Changing Exhaust Riser Gasket
 

Thats exactly what I plan to do. How hard of a job is it to replace the exhaust manafolds? Whats involved in doing that?
Also, do you know where to get a good deal on Stainless Manafolds?

Re: Changing Exhaust Riser Gasket
 

Its easy to change the exhaust. Just unbolt the old ones, make sure the gaskets are completely removed from the heads and bolt the new ones on. Sometimes it's a little tricky to get the first "center" manifold unbolted because theres not much room there but if I can do it in my 28SS you really shouldnt have a problem. Be careful though, theyre pretty heavy. What is your fuel pump mounted to on your port motor? That might get in the way a little. I bought my exhaust from Fred at Trick Marine. I shoped everywhere and he has the best prices. If you switch to Stainless MArine you have to get new risers too. If you stay with Gil you can reuse your current ones.

Re: Changing Exhaust Riser Gasket
 

What is your fuel pump mounted to on your port motor? That might get in the way a little. I bought my exhaust from Fred at Trick Marine. I shoped everywhere and he has the best prices. If you switch to Stainless MArine you have to get new risers too.
If I stay with Gil you can reuse your current ones.

I'm not sure were my fuel pump is mounted, I have to check. The current setup I have is Merc/Gil exhaust. Does that mean the manafold is just a plain old Merc with the gill risers? Or did Gil make both and Mercury put their name on the manifolds? These damn things are expensive!!

Re: Changing Exhaust Riser Gasket
 

I think merc put their name on them. And yes they are expensive. Look around in the classifieds, you might find a nice set of CMI's or something. Do you have bravos? If so, theres lots of standard exhaust systems that will bolt in place of yours. Or call Gil and find out if they have a direct replacement for what you have

Re: Changing Exhaust Riser Gasket
 

No, I have TRS and want to do the easiest upgrade possible. I think the Gil would be the easiest because I get to reuse existing equiptment.

Re: Changing Exhaust Riser Gasket
 

I have TRS also and had to get custom tailpipe$$ made. I agree, use what you already own.

Re: Changing Exhaust Riser Gasket
 

Dangerous Dave, the question is when do you know when you have to replace these puppies. I dont want to wait for failure but I don't want to spaz out and replace them right away if I dont need to. Know what I mean?? Give me some advise.

Re: Changing Exhaust Riser Gasket
 

I really don't know a good way to see if they're ok or how much life is left in them. There are freeze plugs in them that if taken out you'd be able to see in there for pitting and corrosion but I've never taken one out. My best advice is call Gil and see if theres a way they inspect them. I don't want to give you any bad advice that will cost you a lot of money.

Re: Changing Exhaust Riser Gasket
 

That a good idea, I'll call Gil now and we will see what they say. Gil said to remove and pressure test them. Sounds like fun.