Front muffler black
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Joined: Apr 2009
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From: Somers CT
Front muffler black
I have searched but could really find anything. Maybe i just don't know how to search but anyway here's my question. I have an 09 SuperGlide that I got at the end of August. After doing the 1000 mile service myself I also added some CycleShack slipons. I switched to SYN3 at the service. The bike runs great and gets great mileage but the end of the front muffler gets a very dry black. The rear one still almost looks like it came out of the package. The bike does not smoke or anything. I was just wondering if the front cylinder tends to run richer or if maybe I could have a valve seal or something going out.
The bike has a about 3600 miles on it now an is only 2.5 months old so it's under warranty but I'm afraid I'll just get the standard response that it's normal or not covered because of the exhaust change. I could put the stock exhaust back on but then they could not see that the front one is black. Any suggestions for things to check? I have torqued the all of the pipe connections from the cylinder back a couple times and found nothing loose. Could a bad gasket or leak somewhere cause this?
This is my first big twin and it could be normal so I just figured I'd ask. Thanks in advance
The bike has a about 3600 miles on it now an is only 2.5 months old so it's under warranty but I'm afraid I'll just get the standard response that it's normal or not covered because of the exhaust change. I could put the stock exhaust back on but then they could not see that the front one is black. Any suggestions for things to check? I have torqued the all of the pipe connections from the cylinder back a couple times and found nothing loose. Could a bad gasket or leak somewhere cause this?
This is my first big twin and it could be normal so I just figured I'd ask. Thanks in advance
Last edited by mxdad32; Nov 10, 2009 at 07:31 PM.
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Joined: Jun 2008
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From: Watertown, CT
If both pipes are of the same length ( and I would think they would be) I would go to any garage that has an exhaust gas analyzer and have them check the richness of both cylinders and if one is richer than the other I would go from there. Injectors etc. Just a start and maybe not how its supposed to be done but it's how I would start. Maybe other forum members have better ideas.
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Joined: Apr 2009
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From: Somers CT
Only mod so far is the slipons. Planning on adding intake and controller over the winter. Probably the PCV as I like it on my sporty.
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Joined: Oct 2007
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From: Palm Harbor fl.
by "end of the muffler" do you mean the internal tip of the pipe itself. The tip on the inside of the slipon should have black, dry, soot on it. If you have slash out this is pretty noticable. Any chance you can post a picture of this. See, if you get no soot on the tail end of your muffler, you are burning too clean (lean). I would be more concerned with the rear having a possible leak at the clamp or head gasket. It's running too lean if the rear is not producing any soot at the tail of the pipe. If you have a car with exhaust tips coming out the rear(not hidden) you will be washing black soot off the tip and possibly around the bumper area as well. The soot is normal. A perfectly clean pipe is not.
I thought of something else. The stock ecm is set up lean from the factory. It will adjust and compensate for the slipons better flow. During warmup the ecm will run more rich until the engine heats up. The rear will probably heat quicker than the front(gets less cool air while riding). If you are riding short distances and not allowing the engine to reach full operating temp., you may find that the ecm does not get off of it's warm up mode. I am not sure about this, but, if your rear heats up quicker, the ecm may drop the rear cyl. down to normal running conditions before the front, thereby the front cyl. runs a little rich for longer and produces more soot than the rear. I don't know exactly if the ecm works in this fashion during warm up, although I would suspect it does as each cylinder is adjusted individual of one another when tuning a fuel management device.
I thought of something else. The stock ecm is set up lean from the factory. It will adjust and compensate for the slipons better flow. During warmup the ecm will run more rich until the engine heats up. The rear will probably heat quicker than the front(gets less cool air while riding). If you are riding short distances and not allowing the engine to reach full operating temp., you may find that the ecm does not get off of it's warm up mode. I am not sure about this, but, if your rear heats up quicker, the ecm may drop the rear cyl. down to normal running conditions before the front, thereby the front cyl. runs a little rich for longer and produces more soot than the rear. I don't know exactly if the ecm works in this fashion during warm up, although I would suspect it does as each cylinder is adjusted individual of one another when tuning a fuel management device.
Last edited by rounder; Nov 11, 2009 at 12:22 PM.
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Joined: Sep 2005
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From: Michigan
My 01 Dyna does the same but it has a carb, the inside of the back one has soot just not enough to show up on the outside of the muffler.
I figure it is because the front cylinder runs a bit cooler than the rear. With a carb no control over fuel, they both get the same.
Had it tuned on a dyno a few years ago and the mixture was right on, so I don't worry about it.
I figure it is because the front cylinder runs a bit cooler than the rear. With a carb no control over fuel, they both get the same.
Had it tuned on a dyno a few years ago and the mixture was right on, so I don't worry about it.
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