I broke my silencer and don't want to do it again

[Mike Sands]

Took the silencers off to change a tyre and discovered that where the lhs silencer clamps on to the pipe all the 'tines' (if that's the right word) were cracked. so I took off the clamp that I had loosened and wiggled all the tines and they all came off (must have been just held in place by rust ). I can't see how I have cracked these as the spacer/bush is properly in place. After thinking about it for a few minutes I realised that to all intents and purposes this silencer is now a dead duck. I have found a second hand one on ebay but am worried that I may make the same mistake again - what am I doing wrong ?
Mike

 

[atomsplitter]

Over-torquing comes to mind......

 

[Mike Sands]

yeah - I guess that must be it. Managed to get a virtually unused replacement off ebay and it's arrived already
Mike

 

[atomsplitter]

Exhaust Clamp torque is 22 Nm. The soft gasket should seal without too much pressure, don't over tighten and you're good to go.

 

[Mike Sands]

there doesn't seem to be a 'soft gasket' - it looks more like a solid spacer (as does the other side). There is one further forwards (part 19 on the exploded diagram) - it's not exactly soft but seems to be made of woven metal strands. The back two don't look anything like that but maybe they have just got filled in as time has passed.
Mike