Anyone else struggle with Eliminator 300 install?
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 415
Likes: 125
From: London, England
Quiet baffles arrived today... as per usual a simple job turns into a nightmare.
Got the lower muffler baffle done no problem.
Upper end cap came out and I discovered the clear wrap around the fabric packing had perished inside (its like shrink-wrap to keep the fabric tight) as the baffle came out which led to the packing coming loose and stopping the existing baffle from sliding back in. It only needs to come out a few inches to install the quiet baffle but there was no way it was going back in.
Fortunately the replacement muffler V&H sent due to the original one rusting is arriving tomorrow so Ill install the quiet baffle before I install the muffler.
Fingers crossed Ill be able to report back on performance tomorrow.
EDIT: Just repacked the muffler, so Ive got a spare, but Ill wait for the new one to show up.
Got the lower muffler baffle done no problem.
Upper end cap came out and I discovered the clear wrap around the fabric packing had perished inside (its like shrink-wrap to keep the fabric tight) as the baffle came out which led to the packing coming loose and stopping the existing baffle from sliding back in. It only needs to come out a few inches to install the quiet baffle but there was no way it was going back in.
Fortunately the replacement muffler V&H sent due to the original one rusting is arriving tomorrow so Ill install the quiet baffle before I install the muffler.
Fingers crossed Ill be able to report back on performance tomorrow.
EDIT: Just repacked the muffler, so Ive got a spare, but Ill wait for the new one to show up.
Last edited by TeeJayEe; Oct 13, 2020 at 10:47 AM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 10,070
Likes: 5,321
Quiet baffles arrived today... as per usual a simple job turns into a nightmare.
Got the lower muffler baffle done no problem.
Upper end cap came out and I discovered the clear wrap around the fabric packing had perished inside (its like shrink-wrap to keep the fabric tight) as the baffle came out which led to the packing coming loose and stopping the existing baffle from sliding back in. It only needs to come out a few inches to install the quiet baffle but there was no way it was going back in.
Fortunately the replacement muffler V&H sent due to the original one rusting is arriving tomorrow so Ill install the quiet baffle before I install the muffler.
Fingers crossed Ill be able to report back on performance tomorrow.
EDIT: Just repacked the muffler, so Ive got a spare, but Ill wait for the new one to show up.
Got the lower muffler baffle done no problem.
Upper end cap came out and I discovered the clear wrap around the fabric packing had perished inside (its like shrink-wrap to keep the fabric tight) as the baffle came out which led to the packing coming loose and stopping the existing baffle from sliding back in. It only needs to come out a few inches to install the quiet baffle but there was no way it was going back in.
Fortunately the replacement muffler V&H sent due to the original one rusting is arriving tomorrow so Ill install the quiet baffle before I install the muffler.
Fingers crossed Ill be able to report back on performance tomorrow.
EDIT: Just repacked the muffler, so Ive got a spare, but Ill wait for the new one to show up.
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 415
Likes: 125
From: London, England
Its made harder by the fact the finish on the end caps (mine are black) is incredibly fragile so you cant use any kind of prying tool to help ease the caps off, the slightest scrape will mark the end caps.
The reason its tight is partly the cap inside the end of the muffler body, but mostly because the baffle wadding is very tight around the main baffle.
I used the rubber handle of a big hammer to help grip the inside of the baffle tube and carefully pull the assembly out.
To save yourself the hassle of having to repack the baffle with the fibreglass, only pull the baffle out as far as you need to remove the three bolts in the back. Also only rotate it in the direction the baffle is wrapped, if you feel resistance then it may be the wrong way.
I also needed to use a board wrapped in a towel with a mallet to get them fully reseated.
Id say its probably a lot easier to do it with the mufflers removed, but as per the beginning of this thread, theres no way I was going to do that.
If the end caps came out easy its a 15 minute job. Your mileage may vary!
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 2,773
Likes: 2,261
From: Ft. Wayne IN
Quiet baffles arrived late yesterday for my Eliminator 300s on my 2018 FLHCS (Heritage 114). Did a quick try to get the end cap loose on the rear one. No luck after removing the two crews and trying a piece of wood and a hammer to tap out the end cap. Saw a video that mentioned a slide hammer. Any other suggestions or do I have to buy yet another tool that I'll use once?
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 415
Likes: 125
From: London, England
I think a strap wrench of some kind could work, the issue is its not like it just loosens when the cap moves as the baffle packing keeps it tight too. I used some dish soap and water in the joint and that helped although I heard the salt in that can be slightly risky. By that point I was willing to take that risk.
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 415
Likes: 125
From: London, England
So Ive installed the baffles and I have two observations...
Firstly, they are definitely quieter, probably somewhere between stock and no baffles. I dont mind it as Id warmed to the stock pipes anyway.
Secondly... its transformed the performance of the bike, especially with the FuelPak map. Honestly I was expecting a minor improvement, but the low-mid range torque difference is huge.
Im not just saying it, the difference is incredibly noticeable.
Firstly, they are definitely quieter, probably somewhere between stock and no baffles. I dont mind it as Id warmed to the stock pipes anyway.
Secondly... its transformed the performance of the bike, especially with the FuelPak map. Honestly I was expecting a minor improvement, but the low-mid range torque difference is huge.
Im not just saying it, the difference is incredibly noticeable.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 10,070
Likes: 5,321
So I’ve installed the baffles and I have two observations...
Firstly, they are definitely quieter, probably somewhere between stock and no baffles. I don’t mind it as I’d warmed to the stock pipes anyway.
Secondly... it’s transformed the performance of the bike, especially with the FuelPak map. Honestly I was expecting a minor improvement, but the low-mid range torque difference is huge.
I’m not just saying it, the difference is incredibly noticeable.
Firstly, they are definitely quieter, probably somewhere between stock and no baffles. I don’t mind it as I’d warmed to the stock pipes anyway.
Secondly... it’s transformed the performance of the bike, especially with the FuelPak map. Honestly I was expecting a minor improvement, but the low-mid range torque difference is huge.
I’m not just saying it, the difference is incredibly noticeable.
However, like a dumb *** I ***umed if you order baffles for specific mufflers, in this case Eliminator 300s, which there are TWO of them, you'd get TWO baffles. Wrong!
My other baffle won't be in until Monday, so I wait...
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Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 415
Likes: 125
From: London, England
That's good to hear. I was hoping to report the same thing this afternoon after getting my package from Dennis Kirk.
However, like a dumb *** I ***umed if you order baffles for specific mufflers, in this case Eliminator 300s, which there are TWO of them, you'd get TWO baffles. Wrong!
My other baffle won't be in until Monday, so I wait...
However, like a dumb *** I ***umed if you order baffles for specific mufflers, in this case Eliminator 300s, which there are TWO of them, you'd get TWO baffles. Wrong!
My other baffle won't be in until Monday, so I wait...
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 2,773
Likes: 2,261
From: Ft. Wayne IN
Installing the Eliminator 300 "quiet baffles" was a PITA, but I got it done today. DO NOT REMOVE THE ORIGINAL BAFFLE. Just pull it out enough to get the "quiet baffle" installed. Ask me how I know.
I used a hammer and a screw driver (with black electrical tape over the blade) to loosen and remove the end cap from the chrome over tube. Minimized damage to the end cap. Getting the end cap and and new "quiet baffle" back in required a lot of hammering with a piece of wood actually contacting the end cap.
I'd love to tell you how it sounds, but I can't. Tried to start the bike up and run it, but the FP3 I put on last night is messed up, and now the bike (2018 FLHCS, Heritage 114) will not start. Spent over an hour with Vance & Hines Tech Support to no avail. They are overnight shipping me another FP3. We'll see how that goes tomorrow.
The saga continues...
I used a hammer and a screw driver (with black electrical tape over the blade) to loosen and remove the end cap from the chrome over tube. Minimized damage to the end cap. Getting the end cap and and new "quiet baffle" back in required a lot of hammering with a piece of wood actually contacting the end cap.
I'd love to tell you how it sounds, but I can't. Tried to start the bike up and run it, but the FP3 I put on last night is messed up, and now the bike (2018 FLHCS, Heritage 114) will not start. Spent over an hour with Vance & Hines Tech Support to no avail. They are overnight shipping me another FP3. We'll see how that goes tomorrow.
The saga continues...