stock muffler question
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Tourer
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 269
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From: Eastern Ohio
stock muffler question
I know that HD makes changes to the OE mufflers from year to year. But does anyone know what years might have better flow for power? I'm thinking the older the better.
Road Master
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,143
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From: Snowflake, Arizona
RE: stock muffler question
ORIGINAL: HDDOC
The 07s seems louder than in the past, have no idea as to flow. Doc
The 07s seems louder than in the past, have no idea as to flow. Doc
Later
Hogback
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Tourer
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 269
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From: Eastern Ohio
RE: stock muffler question
More info.... I have an '07 EGC. Dealer told me that they quieted other noises from the engine so that they could beef up the exhaust note. I guess I can buy that. But I want to get away from the EPA '07 mufflers. I got a set off of a '99 that I might toss on. Might not change the sound, but I'm guessing they'd flow better. Didn't I read somewhere that the left muffer on the newer bikes doesn't flow near as much as the right?
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 302
Likes: 16
From: Cedar Rapids, Iowa
RE: stock muffler question
ORIGINAL: gwcrim
Didn't I read somewhere that the left muffer on the newer bikes doesn't flow near as much as the right?
Didn't I read somewhere that the left muffer on the newer bikes doesn't flow near as much as the right?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 6,336
Likes: 67
From: SW Minnesota
RE: stock muffler question
The '07's have fiberglass baffles, I believe. Previous years were steel baffles.
Doesn't the right one flow more, as that is how the stock exhaust is designed to work--almost like a 2 into 1, to give maximum power (as stock)? That would be why the right side only had a catalyst in '06.
Just this past Wednesday night, a group of us were discussing this, and we were down on our hands and knees with a flashlight, and shining up the different Harley pipes from different years. There is definitely a difference. Whereas the new ones had a solid center baffle plate, some of the older ones that plate only covered about half the the center tube of the muffler. The older Screamin' Eagles were like that as well. No one had any of the new Screamin' Eagles to look at.
Doesn't the right one flow more, as that is how the stock exhaust is designed to work--almost like a 2 into 1, to give maximum power (as stock)? That would be why the right side only had a catalyst in '06.
Just this past Wednesday night, a group of us were discussing this, and we were down on our hands and knees with a flashlight, and shining up the different Harley pipes from different years. There is definitely a difference. Whereas the new ones had a solid center baffle plate, some of the older ones that plate only covered about half the the center tube of the muffler. The older Screamin' Eagles were like that as well. No one had any of the new Screamin' Eagles to look at.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 6,336
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From: SW Minnesota
RE: stock muffler question
The series of articles that Joe Minton is writing in the last few issues of American Rider would indicate that the current set up produces the best of all the stock mufflers from the past few years. There was just a very slight gain in power switching to the new Screamin' Eagles.
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Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 106
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From: Albuquerque, New Mexico
RE: stock muffler question
There's a catalyst on the '06s..?? Didn't see anything like that (no wires, no O2 sensor) when I took my stock muffs off to put the V & H Ovals on. Is it a separate cat like a car or truck or is it build into the muffler?
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 6,336
Likes: 67
From: SW Minnesota
RE: stock muffler question
It's in the right side muffler, on the inletend Looks like a fine mesh honeycomb when you look into it. That muffler is also stamped catalyst, and the left side isn't.