85 GL1200 Exhaust seperation

[Guest]

I have looked at my exhaust to see if I can seperate the mufflers from the headers while it is still on the bike. None of the manuals really go into exhaust removal.
I have a leak between the headers and the mufflers and did not know if I have to remove the whole exhaust system first and then seperate the headers from the mufflers. It just doesn't look like enough room to slide them back before I hit the rear tire.

Thanks

[Guest]

Remove the two rear muffler hanger bolts located at the lower rear passenger footboards. Support the mufflers with a carboard box (one on each side) so they don't bang the ground. Remove/loosen the two pinch bolts on the left side ONLY where the head pipes connect to the muffler. Remove all eight header nuts and allow the headers to drop clear of the exhaust studs. TWIST the left header right to left to loosen (repeat if necessary) and pull the pipe out of the muffler.
Now you can drop the exhaust to the floor. It gets a little tight around the center stand but it will clear. Rotate the entire muffler assy clockwise approx. 50 degrees and SLIDE the mufflers out past the rear wheel and center stand.