taking out the cats
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Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 1,487
Likes: 156
From: boston
taking out the cats
I was in the touring room and tried reading the thread about cat removal. WWAAYY over my head. All I want to know is if I remove the cats:
1. Do I void the warentee
2. Do I have to add a tuner or anything else, or just remove and ride.
3. How much louder is the bike going to be. It is a bit soft for my liking, but don't want to wake the family or neighbors when I head to work at 5am.
4. Hows does one go about removing the cats in question.
From what I was reading, you gain negligalbe power, if any. The engine runs cooler, which is the main reason I thinking about this. And finally, the growl gets louder.
Thoughts
1. Do I void the warentee
2. Do I have to add a tuner or anything else, or just remove and ride.
3. How much louder is the bike going to be. It is a bit soft for my liking, but don't want to wake the family or neighbors when I head to work at 5am.
4. Hows does one go about removing the cats in question.
From what I was reading, you gain negligalbe power, if any. The engine runs cooler, which is the main reason I thinking about this. And finally, the growl gets louder.
Thoughts
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 441
Likes: 52
From: Utah
1. I bought a Fat Bob a few weeks ago and I asked them that very question. "Will it void my warranty"? He looked at me kinda strange and said "the exhaust isn't covered under the warranty. Another guy said "its no different than putting on an aftermarket exhaust, which 90% do anyway". Maybe that was just them trying to sell the bike and maybe a new exhaust to go with it (which didn't happen). I guess I'll have to wait and see if I ever have any warranty work done.
2. If you still have the stock air cleaner then no, you don't have to add a tuner. The bike will run better and cooler with one tho.
3. I was concerned about this too. Best way I can describe it is on a scale of 1-10. If 100% stock is a 1 and open pipes are a 10 then I'd put it at a 2-2.5.
4. Hacksaw, chisel, beer, swear, grinder, beer, swear, wire brush, beer, swear some more, weld, ride.
This is one way to do it.
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/touri...with-pics.html
The other is to cut it in half, that's what I did.
I didn't notice any more power really but the motor does rev a little easier and there is a ton less heat coming off the pipe there.
2. If you still have the stock air cleaner then no, you don't have to add a tuner. The bike will run better and cooler with one tho.
3. I was concerned about this too. Best way I can describe it is on a scale of 1-10. If 100% stock is a 1 and open pipes are a 10 then I'd put it at a 2-2.5.
4. Hacksaw, chisel, beer, swear, grinder, beer, swear, wire brush, beer, swear some more, weld, ride.
This is one way to do it.
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/touri...with-pics.html
The other is to cut it in half, that's what I did.
I didn't notice any more power really but the motor does rev a little easier and there is a ton less heat coming off the pipe there.
I was in the touring room and tried reading the thread about cat removal. WWAAYY over my head. All I want to know is if I remove the cats:
1. Do I void the warentee
2. Do I have to add a tuner or anything else, or just remove and ride.
3. How much louder is the bike going to be. It is a bit soft for my liking, but don't want to wake the family or neighbors when I head to work at 5am.
4. Hows does one go about removing the cats in question.
From what I was reading, you gain negligalbe power, if any. The engine runs cooler, which is the main reason I thinking about this. And finally, the growl gets louder.
Thoughts
1. Do I void the warentee
2. Do I have to add a tuner or anything else, or just remove and ride.
3. How much louder is the bike going to be. It is a bit soft for my liking, but don't want to wake the family or neighbors when I head to work at 5am.
4. Hows does one go about removing the cats in question.
From what I was reading, you gain negligalbe power, if any. The engine runs cooler, which is the main reason I thinking about this. And finally, the growl gets louder.
Thoughts
2. No Tuner needed just for removal of the cat...but remember, these are running lean from the factory, so a tuner is not a bad idea anyway.
3. It is a tad louder, but not by much at all.
4. There are lots of threads on this, but short is, cut a rectangle out of the pipe, remove the cat with drill, dremel, and lots of elbow grease, vacuum ALL the particles out of the pipe, weld a 1/4 inch bead on inside of pipe at about where the back of the cat was (this helps the o2 sensors to work better now that the cat is gone), weld rectangle back on.
Engine will not run significantly cooler, but there will be far less heat coming off the headers.
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DKCustomProducts.com
DKCustomProducts.com
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 13,456
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From: Sunshine State
This just barley touches the exhaust subject but still a worthwhile read....
http://www.harley-performance.com/harley-exhaust.html
http://www.harley-performance.com/harley-exhaust.html
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 9,208
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From: Central Illinois, Between I-80 and I-74
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Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2010
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From: Badlands of ND
I had the dealership replace the pipes on my bike to get rid of the cat. I put in a tuner and have different mufflers too. It is a bit louder, and the dealer said it is still under warranty. I know another guy who cut the thing out himself, and did nothing else to the bike. Not sure about the waranty, but he said sound and power were mostly unchanged.
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Club Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 145,895
Likes: 821
From: 40 miles Northeast of Indy..
I remember when the cats was first put on cars..
There was reports of grass fires all over the place because they retained so much heat that a parked car over tall dry grass could catch fire.
Also where we parked at Dads cottage in the front Yard, the heat killed most the grass.
So they for sure must have retained a lot of heat longer than reg pipes.
.
There was reports of grass fires all over the place because they retained so much heat that a parked car over tall dry grass could catch fire.
Also where we parked at Dads cottage in the front Yard, the heat killed most the grass.
So they for sure must have retained a lot of heat longer than reg pipes.
.