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Red hot head pipe

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Old Nov 18, 2013 | 11:28 AM
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Default Red hot head pipe

I ran the moto in the garage this morning.....between idle and about 1/4, with a few blips higher.......all told about 3 or 4 minutes.

Noticed the front head pipe got glowing red hot.
Ambient temperature in the garage was mid 70ties.

I have ran it other times in the garage but never noticed the red hot issue.

The only thing different from before was some throttle cable adjustments on a grip replacement and an oil change.....filled to 4oz under a full 3 quarts.
And I really don't understand the "idle" cable adjustment?
Is that idle speed only? The shop manual is not clear.

The red hot head pipe concerns me.
Is this of any major concern? Or just normal?

2011 FXDC SuperGlide....stage 1, big shot pipes and a Xeid 60XX miles.
 
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Old Nov 18, 2013 | 11:43 AM
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It's not uncommon, but seems extreme for such a short period. I noticed you have aftermarket pipes and intake. Do you also have an appropriate tune?

Cable adjustment shouldn't have any affect on heat Vs run time.

Extra heat over a short time points to a lean mix.

I'm not sure if a mal-adjusted idle cable affects air/fuel mix, but I wouldn't think so. I'm curious to read the input from the team.
 
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Old Nov 18, 2013 | 11:46 AM
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Your cable adjustments are done to make sure the throttle snaps back closed. If it gets sticky or out of calibration your throttle can stick open causing your rpms to be higher than normal. You can easily test this just by snapping the throttle with the bike off and making sure it always returns to the closed position. If it doesnt roll back on its own, it needs to be redone.
Higher idle revs would cause a hotter engine as well as a lean running one. Never seen a glowing red hot pipe tho.
 
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Old Nov 18, 2013 | 11:59 AM
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Originally Posted by SLV
It's not uncommon, but seems extreme for such a short period. I noticed you have aftermarket pipes and intake. Do you also have an appropriate tune?
.
No tune other than the Xeid devise installed.
If your not familiar with them, they richen up the fuel/air mix.
The moto runs like a raped ape...strong throughout the RPM range.

And the cable adjustments appear to be working as normal.
I can hear the "clicks" in the throttle body when it's opened and again when it closes.
Various throttle grip replacement videos outline this check quite well.

Oil level check is right on.

I may have "blipped" the throttle a bit much, and with no air passing over the cooling fins, it got HOT.

Just trying to get a confirmation that nothing is wildly amiss.

Thank you
 
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Old Nov 18, 2013 | 12:10 PM
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Originally Posted by marcortez
No tune other than the Xeid devise installed.
If your not familiar with them, they richen up the fuel/air mix.
The moto runs like a raped ape...strong throughout the RPM range.

And the cable adjustments appear to be working as normal.
I can hear the "clicks" in the throttle body when it's opened and again when it closes.
Various throttle grip replacement videos outline this check quite well.

Oil level check is right on.

I may have "blipped" the throttle a bit much, and with no air passing over the cooling fins, it got HOT.

Just trying to get a confirmation that nothing is wildly amiss.

Thank you
Yep. Familiar with Xieds (although I've not had first hand experience.) They should give you enough of a rich mixture.

Over the past year I've seen a few red-hot pipe threads, but, if memory serves, those were extended idle times (10+ minutes.)

1. It sounds like it just ran too long without proper airflow on the cooing fins as you suggest.
2. Nothing in your cable adjustment should affect this unless it was simply idling too high.
 
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Old Nov 18, 2013 | 12:11 PM
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Yep, sounds like a rare case. If it keeps doing it, then you can look into it further...
 
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Old Nov 18, 2013 | 12:14 PM
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That is NOT common! your bike should never have pipes that glow unless it is running WAY to lean! tuner before you cause damage to your motor bud
 
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Old Nov 18, 2013 | 12:17 PM
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Originally Posted by JRK5892
That is NOT common! your bike should never have pipes that glow unless it is running WAY to lean! tuner before you cause damage to your motor bud
Agreed. My "common" statement was related to idling/running way too long. Certainly NOT common under normal circumstances.
 
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Old Nov 18, 2013 | 12:36 PM
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Originally Posted by JRK5892
That is NOT common! your bike should never have pipes that glow unless it is running WAY to lean! tuner before you cause damage to your motor bud
I am struggling with how it can change, lean/rich, just sitting in the garage and the only items that have changed are the throttle cable readjustment after a grip change out and an oil change?
 
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Old Nov 18, 2013 | 12:50 PM
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Take the xieds out of line and retest.
 
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