Hitchcocks Forum

Should there be a gap between the 'lip' that runs around the exhaust, and the port?
In the picture below, the exhaust is in as far as it can go, but there's still about 10mm gap...
I have had issues with leaking from there, and have gone through numerous cement-biscuit gaskets, and useless exhaust paste... Now, thanks to advice from this forum, have moved on to crushed copper gasket and silicone, but wondering if this gap might be the root of it all?

Mines looks the same as yours. The collar does not touch the head. It's tempting to keep on tightening the nuts to close it up but I think you'd break a stud before that. Glad the copper gasket has helped.

Yes, there should be a gap.
As soon as that lip hits the alloy you've lost the ability to compress the exhaust gasket any further should it be required at any time.

Haggis, ric - many thanks. One less thing to worry about!
Onto the next thing now...!