Softail Models Standard, Custom, Night Train, Deuce, Springer, Heritage, Fatboy, Deluxe, Rocker and Cross Bones.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Popping sound on deceleration

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Feb 7, 2013 | 01:24 PM
  #11  
DK Custom's Avatar
DK Custom
Platinum Sponsor
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 18,685
Likes: 5,818
From: Hickory Flat, Mississippi
Default

Decel popping occurs when one of two things are present.

1. The bike is so lean the exhaust is superheated and is burning the unburnt fuel that is in the pipes (there is always some unburnt fuel in the pipes no matter how lean). This is very rare, and does not occur with the stock map and free flowing pipes being the only change.

2. The AFR IN THE pipes is just right to burn the unburnt fuel. This is quite a common occurrence when free flowing pipes are installed (whether or not a free flow A/C is installed).

To get rid of decel popping a lot of people put MORE fuel than is needed into the engine/over-richening the AFR so that more unburnt fuel goes into exhaust, changing the AFR in the exhaust so that is no longer optimum for combustion in the pipes. This is just a waste of gas. And if using decel enleanment found on most tuners it is still really hard to get rid of the popping/burbling when the injectors kick back in at about 1750 rpm.

Another way to get rid of decel popping is to change the AFR in the pipes (mufflers/Slip-ons).

The first thing to do, as mentioned above, is to make sure there are no leaks in the exhaust system letting extra air in.

If the AFR in the exhaust is still conducive to popping then you can try different baffles, a lolipop or Thunder Torque Inserts.

The benefit to the TTI's is that it will let you keep your sound, increase the low and mid range power, and reduce/eliminate the decel pop by reducing/eliminating reversion, thus changing the AFR (in the pipes) to one that is not conducive to combustion.
 
__________________
DKCustomProducts.com
Call/Text: 662-252-8828
Email: Support@DKCustomProducts.com
Open House Details














Reply
Old Feb 7, 2013 | 03:34 PM
  #12  
stailjim61's Avatar
stailjim61
Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 569
Likes: 0
From: USA
Default

Originally Posted by slim12
That's your bike running to lean and it can be bad for it over time. You'd need a remap to solve it
Popping has nothing to do with being lean. It's unburned fuel vapors igniting in the hot pipes. Stop the air from getting to it, add fuel, decrease fuel, get rid of leaks, add timing, add some restriction to the mufflers, and the popping will subside. It's basically unburned gasses combined with just the right amount of air to get the fuel to pop off. Once the fuel to air ratio is upset to the point that it won't ignite it will cure MOST popping. Some exhaust designs just pop and even the best tuners can't totally get rid of it.
 
Reply
Old Feb 8, 2013 | 09:21 AM
  #13  
oct1949's Avatar
oct1949
Club Member
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 145,895
Likes: 821
From: 40 miles Northeast of Indy..
Default

Decel Gurgling, Decel Popping are not unusual on most after-market pipes.

If U get the Ka-Boom's or gun sound explosions in the pipes then something is wrong. Usually or most of the times if it starts after a pipes change its Air leaks.

After I had the SERT installed and dyno'ed with new muffs at 1k mine had really bad decel popping and the Ka-booms.. They retuned it and got about 1/2 of it out, Then I called Rush and in two minutes the Tech told me to check for Air leaks... Surprise,, I had Air Leaks in both pipes..
Took the bike back to the dealer and they removed and re-installed the pipes and clamps the correct way and got them sealed up on the headers , then re-dynoed again. After that it took care of 98% of all of the problem and now only gurgles some times at lower rpms and has the Jake brake sound the rest on decel's.



.
 
Reply
Old Feb 8, 2013 | 12:34 PM
  #14  
Puttnik's Avatar
Puttnik
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 169
Likes: 39
From: Peoria, IL
Default

Originally Posted by oct1949
Decel Gurgling, Decel Popping are not unusual on most after-market pipes.

If U get the Ka-Boom's or gun sound explosions in the pipes then something is wrong. Usually or most of the times if it starts after a pipes change its Air leaks.

After I had the SERT installed and dyno'ed with new muffs at 1k mine had really bad decel popping and the Ka-booms.. They retuned it and got about 1/2 of it out, Then I called Rush and in two minutes the Tech told me to check for Air leaks... Surprise,, I had Air Leaks in both pipes..
Took the bike back to the dealer and they removed and re-installed the pipes and clamps the correct way and got them sealed up on the headers , then re-dynoed again. After that it took care of 98% of all of the problem and now only gurgles some times at lower rpms and has the Jake brake sound the rest on decel's.

.
Can you explain what you mean by the bolded line, above? I'm installing slipons this weekend and would appreciate if you have tips on how to correctly install (as opposed to what the dealer did) and how they 'sealed them up' I'd greatly appreciate it.
 
Reply
Old Feb 8, 2013 | 12:39 PM
  #15  
Sammydtd's Avatar
Sammydtd
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
From: Beirut
Default

Am I the only one here who actually doesn't mind the sound? I kinda even like it to be honest!

I had it on my Screaming Eagle Mufflers and Stage 1 kit, and it got even louder with the V&H Bigshot Staggered...

After reading most of the comments, seems it won't really hurt the bike either
 
Reply
Old Feb 8, 2013 | 03:02 PM
  #16  
nikonf8's Avatar
nikonf8
Supporter
15 Year Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,429
Likes: 26
Supporter
Default poping

the popping is not normal and can be eliminated when the bike is tuned properly. You would thing its normal by the likes of all the bikes you see on the road that do pop. a lot of people change there pipes and do not want to spend the extra money on a tuner or a dyno tune.The bike will run ok and if you do not mind the popping ride it.
 
Reply
Old Feb 8, 2013 | 06:05 PM
  #17  
elizer's Avatar
elizer
Road Captain
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 632
Likes: 3
From: Virginia raised, stationed in Alaska
Default

I agree with nikon. Get a tuner and find an E tuner (or local if you can) i used fuelmoto. Send logs back and forth and have them fine tune it.
 
Reply
Old Feb 8, 2013 | 06:14 PM
  #18  
Fesnl's Avatar
Fesnl
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 29
Likes: 2
From: newfoundland
Default

Any difference between cooler and warmer weather? If it's worse in cooler weather it is most definetlly running lean, Cold air is more dense, meaning you're getting more of it.
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Feb 9, 2013 | 02:02 AM
  #19  
TKDEUCE's Avatar
TKDEUCE
Novice
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
From: Franklinton
Default consider tuning

Nikon is right...Tuner or tuning is the answer. i had the exact same problem. I used the V&H 2 into 1 big radious and I had popping on decel. I went with the HD fuel pack instead of the V&H tune. My bike is EFI. I brought mine to the dyno. Once the tune was perfected...No poping! The bike did run excelent before but you know the mixture isnt right if you are experiencing poping. Good luck!
 
Reply
Old Feb 11, 2013 | 12:35 PM
  #20  
DK Custom's Avatar
DK Custom
Platinum Sponsor
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 18,685
Likes: 5,818
From: Hickory Flat, Mississippi
Default

You can tune for performance or tune for getting rid of decel pop.

If you tune for performance, it is very possible that you will get decel popping. It just depends on the configuration of your pipes.

Of course you can tune for getting rid of the decel popping, but most of the time you will be using more fuel and getting the same or less performance.

As stated above, make sure you have no exhaust leaks.
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:25 AM.

story-0
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-1
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-5
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-6
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-7
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE