'95 FLHTCU Project - Cracked Header then Next steps

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Mar 19, 2008 | 01:18 PM

buddabelch

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'95 FLHTCU Project - Cracked Header then Next steps

Hello All,

I started out this past winter looking at my exhaust as it was rather loud. Well when I took a good look I have a break in the header pipe...No Biggie...I will just take it off, weld it and all will be back to where it should be...Well by the time I took of the heat shields and found all the other cracks, I said the hell with it..Ripped off the whole exhuast and decided to purchase a new one...I chose the Reinhart True Dual system and it should be arriving any day now...Got it thru Eastern Perfomance Cycles....They said 2 days, so I am looking at tomorrow hopefully...Great price also...

Now I figure I will get much better sound and performance out of this unit, but I need to add one more piece and needs some advice and recommendations...The stock air cleaner on this bike is one original, and 2 a piece of junk. HD does alot of things right, but then at times seem to loose thier minds for simple things like this. If you look at the attached picture on the top right and left corners, you will see to tabs/breathers....This is the only places air can get into the carb....They are about the size of a nickel....After having it tuned at the Dealer twice, it still backfires quite a bit, especially on the down shift or when I just let off the gas.....So my take on this is that the system is not getting the airflow it needs.

Now here is where I am looking for some help, advice and recommendation on what to do next....I know I need a new air cleaner.....I have heard different folks say different things...Eastern is recommending the Arlen Ness Big Sucker setup... Any thought on this? Or do you have a better recommendation...Let me know....I would appreciate any help I can get and have looked through HD Forums for answers before and am pleased with what I read and hear...

Thanks,

BuddaBelch

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Mar 19, 2008 | 01:25 PM

buddabelch

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RE: '95 FLHTCU Project - Cracked Header then Next steps

Here is what I have heard thus far:

jwe226

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Alot of the backfiring through the exhaust was probally caused by the cracks in the exhaust header. If you want to replace the air filter anyways the big sucker is a popular choice among many and seams to work well. If your replacing just because of the backfire then I would wait until you put on the new exhaust and see if the issue resolves itself. You might get more responces if you put this in the evo classic section.

Any other thoughts from folks? Also id I just put the new exhaust on..DO I need to have it re-tuned? I was considering a dyno-tune at a local shop...

Mar 21, 2008 | 09:58 AM

4x4Given

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RE: '95 FLHTCU Project - Cracked Header then Next steps

buddabelch, just to clear things up a bit for you, those two "tabs" are not the only place that air gets into the carb. Those are the crankcase breather ports from the tops of the rocker covers. On the bottom of your air filter base, there is a rectangular section that sticks down toward the engine. It's about an inch or so long and two inches wide. It has slots in it that feed fresh air up both sides of the filter base, through a baffle (to keep out water) then into the filter plenum and on through the filter.

Typically backfiring as you've described is the result of unburned fuel entering the exhaust and then igniting. This is usually cause by excessively retarded timing, or an overly rich mixture. Since you change your exhaust, it is like that the resulting changes in backpressure and exhaust pulse tuning is the culprit and rejetting / adjusting the carb (and possibly somewhat on the timing) should corrrect this issue.

Installing a better (read that as increase flow) air cleaner system will most liekly change, but doubtfully correct your issue. Installing it should provide some performance benefit, but you should expect that carb jetting / adjustments (and again, possibly timing adjustments) will be needed for bot optimal performance and eliminating bogging or backfiring (lean / rich) conditions.

Mar 22, 2008 | 09:42 PM

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RE: '95 FLHTCU Project - Cracked Header then Next steps

If you can still get the Sceamin' Eagle air cleaner for your bike, they were a good deal. Ness has used some cheapo filters at times.

Mar 24, 2008 | 07:27 AM

buddabelch

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RE: '95 FLHTCU Project - Cracked Header then Next steps

OK..I have not changed anything yet...The new exhaust system came friday...So I need to now find some time to install it. I plan on cleaning the carb as well and then will fire her up.....The problem may be do to poor jetting or a rich mixture....This was done by my local HD shop...I may just do the Dyno tune and have this all done right....Thanks for the tips...I may just leave the air cleaner the way it is for now and see how she runs.....

Can't wait to hear her fire up with the new pipes!