Ducati 696 - exhaust manifold gaskets needed?

[metroplex]

I had to pull the horizontal cylinder exhaust pipe to access my timing belts, and noticed that it did not have any type of gasket or seal for the exhaust cylinder/pipe interface. The parts manual states that there is a round seal, but i recall reading somewhere online that others found that Ducati did not use seals. Can anyone confirm this?

Nothing dropped out of my pipe and I inspected the cylinder head and couldn't find any sign of a gasket. One of my studs rusted with the nuts, so I temporarily snugged everything together (using the rusted stud/nut but didn't torque it to 24 N-m) to fire up the engine to ensure the timing belts are good, but could hear a very audible exhaust leak from that port.

[DarkMonster620]

I had to pull the horizontal cylinder exhaust pipe to access my timing belts, and noticed that it did not have any type of gasket or seal for the exhaust cylinder/pipe interface. The parts manual states that there is a round seal, but i recall reading somewhere online that others found that Ducati did not use seals. Can anyone confirm this?

Nothing dropped out of my pipe and I inspected the cylinder head and couldn't find any sign of a gasket. One of my studs rusted with the nuts, so I temporarily snugged everything together (using the rusted stud/nut but didn't torque it to 24 N-m) to fire up the engine to ensure the timing belts are good, but could hear a very audible exhaust leak from that port.

No worries . ..  just install again and tighten to spec

[metroplex]

So the gasket is not needed?

[ungeheuer]

I had to pull the horizontal cylinder exhaust pipe to access my timing belts, and noticed that it did not have any type of gasket or seal for the exhaust cylinder/pipe interface. The parts manual states that there is a round seal, but i recall reading somewhere online that others found that Ducati did not use seals. Can anyone confirm this?

The parts manual is correct.

Unless its been apart before and somebody pulled the original gasket and failed to replace it..... the original gasket is still up in there.  Pressed in so tight against the exhaust port that you're just not seeing it.  Like Darkmonster620 says, just refit the header and tighten to correct torque.

If you really want to get the gasket out, you will be able to dig it out of there.  But it'll be buggered by the time it's in your hand, so you better have a new one ready to go.