We are waiting for parts. Cleaning up muffler. It's coming along. WHAT is this spark arrestor supposed to look like? Do I need a new one? Recommendations?

Also I am getting a new gasket  is it just wrap er up and snug it in?  Is there an inner gasket? Factory manual pretty quiet on exhaust.  See photos.  

Innards   

There is the standard "crush" type circular gasket that sits in the barrel and there is also a string gasket that sits in the manifold. Both are shown in the parts diagram (items 13 and 15) and I have attached a copy of this below, pinched from the CMSNL website.

If the exhaust wasn't blowing from the manifold, I'd be tempted to leave alone. However, if it was, or if you just want to clean it up anyway, note that the manifold is actually two piece and will come apart. I supported the backside between two pieces of wood and used a wooden mallet on another piece of wood to knock out the centre section. It is just a press fit, so reverse this procedure to re-assemble. Photos of my dis-assembled parts are attached.

I fitted the string gasket (between the manifold and exhaust) after fitting the exhaust - hopefully this was correct! 

     

 

Excellent thank you!!
other reading here last night showed how the string gasket goes in that gap like you have it.  Almost hate to undo the manifold part because the leak is on the edge and what if those studs break...lol
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And I did get the manifold apart with success...cleaned up and ready for gaskets. Pipe getting high temp black this weekend. 

That's a good trick for the spark arrestor. Are you going to spot weld the wires to each part.

I don't have access to a welder. It seems very solid. It's a stiff wire...the other option is to have the local welder spot weld a little spacer in there.

"And I did get the manifold apart with success...cleaned up and ready for gaskets. Pipe getting high temp black this weekend. "

And hopefully no broken studs/bolts! 

Your previous posts suggest that you have been doing your research. However, just in case you missed this detail, the string gasket will be supplied in a fixed length and you cut this to the size required - some folks have used enough for one circumference and others for two, the choice is yours!