I have an 03 Sportsman 700 with the stock exhaust. The header comes out of the head and is immediately joined with another pipe by springs. This joint has become sloppy after only 900 miles and is leaking a lot of exhaust. Has anybody ever welded that joint up solid? I don't see why that wouldn't be a possible solution to my problem. I don't know why Polaris has to join exhaust pipes like this - I've owned a lot of rice in my life and NEVER seen any of those machines with exhaust springs. Polairis.... What gives???

 

If it is leaking I would try a new donut or tighter springs. I have never done it or wouldn't try it. Does your pipe mount near the engine, in the middle of the pipe? My MV has the springs like you describe, but the other mount uses a spring too. If, there isn't a rigid mount(other thans springs) on the pipe, you could put excessive stress on the weld,flange, or cylinder head, if you weld it.