FLD Baffle
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Tourer
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 337
Likes: 0
From: Marana, Arizona
FLD Baffle
I have drilled out baffles before with no ill effect. I want to drill my baffle out of my Switchback for a little more sound. I don't really want to buy a slip on. Some folks say that drilling out the baffle would loose low end. But there is a big, nasty CAT right behind the headers that would seem to me to create plenty of back pressure. Has anyone else done this mod to their FLD? Just curious before I take the plunge. Thanks.
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Tourer
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 337
Likes: 0
From: Marana, Arizona
I dig it but I want to keep my scoot in emission specs so the CAT has to stay. I just want more sound. I just don't want to dick any balance up. I could always run a lollipop to create any back pressure lost.
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 104
Likes: 0
From: Springfield, TN
I messed with my FLD SLip-on - what a nightmare. First I knocked the + sign looking thing that you see if you look in the muffler out. It gave it a little more sound, not much, and I didn't notice any performance difference.
Next I decided I'd try and pull out the "short baffle" at the end of the muffler (the one I had knocked the piece out of). I ground off all of the weld ... and it turns out these mufflers are constructed differently that the touring ones. That "short baffle" piece at the end is connected somewhere to the "long baffle" that goes most of the length of the pipe. So then I tried to knock all of the baffle out ... it wouldn't come so I gave up and now I have a junk muffler.
I ended up buying the Bassani Slip-on. I've always been a V&H fan but I think their FLD muffler is Ugly. I was very impressed with the performance of the Bassani, the sound wasn't to great though (to quiet in my opinion). And also, I learned you need to buy a tuner with their muffler - my pipe is turning yellow where it connects to the head pipe. I'm assuming the bike is running to hot with that muffler and no tune.
Next I decided I'd try and pull out the "short baffle" at the end of the muffler (the one I had knocked the piece out of). I ground off all of the weld ... and it turns out these mufflers are constructed differently that the touring ones. That "short baffle" piece at the end is connected somewhere to the "long baffle" that goes most of the length of the pipe. So then I tried to knock all of the baffle out ... it wouldn't come so I gave up and now I have a junk muffler.
I ended up buying the Bassani Slip-on. I've always been a V&H fan but I think their FLD muffler is Ugly. I was very impressed with the performance of the Bassani, the sound wasn't to great though (to quiet in my opinion). And also, I learned you need to buy a tuner with their muffler - my pipe is turning yellow where it connects to the head pipe. I'm assuming the bike is running to hot with that muffler and no tune.
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Tourer
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 337
Likes: 0
From: Marana, Arizona
I decided not to mess with it. After talking to one of the Stealer employees, even changing out the exhaust will screw up your warranty. I've never worried about the warranty on any of my other HDs but now that I'm older I'm not gonna risk it. It's a quiet bike for me! No problem, I'm mellowing out these days.
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 3,428
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From: northeast
what dealer told you this???? please let us know so we can stay away from these morons
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