exaust plate gasket question

[K-dog]

Hope somebody can help me. I have an 89' XR4 and I am in the process of putting the powerhead back on. I have the two piece exaust plate and noticed after I put the top plate back on, that the gasket was blocking 3 ports in the exaust plate. Is it suppose to look like this? {see pic} or should I cut out the excess gasket. I already bolted the top plate down, but I could cut it out with an exacto knife if I have to. Thanks for any help. K-dog

[WATERWINGS]

lets put this back up top, I often wonder about that myself.

[WATERWINGS]

Anyone?

[T-REX]

I learned the hard way to keep the ole one(or az many pieces az Possible) to see which gasket fits the exh adapter...I don't know why, but they make a **** load of these gaskets...the exh adapters are not all the same either...And I kan tell U from experence that if U don't have the right adapter/gasket wit tuner plate, it will not kool properly!!!...It's hell to have to depend on a mercury parts book, but your best shot iz to go by the serial number/part number, and cross ya fingers....cuz wit out the original one to go by, it's a shot in the dark!!!...Oh, don't cut out the excess, because if that ain't the right one, it will block water when it ain't pozed to!!!...The one U have looks right, because they do juss have holes and shows sum excess gasket...WHY??...Ask Merc!!!...but I bet they ain't nobody there that no'z either....REX:cool:

[K-dog]

thanks for the help guys. I scraped the old gaskets off as they were baked on. Next time I will pay more attention. I guess I will just leave it the way it is and drop the powerhead on it. K-dog

[snowmanmtl]

I just put an 89 xri mid back together and it look just like that. Covered holes and all. I replaced with identical gasket.

[Talon2.5]

using a digital camera on teardown helps to so ya can go back and look at stuff to match up after cleaning and so on, sure beats trying to remember

heres a scan of the different gaskets on them mid-plates......