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Glowing Headers???

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Old Jun 19, 2009 | 01:33 PM
  #11  
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Originally Posted by racklefratz
It isn't due to the slip-ons, but increased breathing from the aftermarket pipes makes the A/F mixture even leaner than it was before. These bikes will turn headers bright red when viewed in the dark, right out of the box from the Moco. It's intentional - they have to set the AFR there to meet EPA standards. That's not to say it's *good* for the longevity of the engine, which isn't EPA's concern.
I can vouch for that. Have a 2007 EGC totally stock. About 3 weeks after I bought it, brother(who had bought a 2007 SG) called me and told me next time I came home at night, look at my pipes after I turned the bike off in garage.

As luck would have it, next night I came home from work(2nd shift), turned bike off and checked the Y pipe. It was glowing orange and you could have lit a cigarette off it. H-D came out with a download(free) to help with that.
 
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Old Jun 19, 2009 | 01:35 PM
  #12  
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Glowing headers IMO means trouble.
Never, ever let a bike sit and run for 10 minutes. Ouch!
 
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Old Jun 19, 2009 | 02:35 PM
  #13  
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Originally Posted by matrix5
Except for the burned exhaust valve, right???
Exactly right. Burned exhaust valves are actually a symptom of a too-lean mixture.
 
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Old Jun 19, 2009 | 02:42 PM
  #14  
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Originally Posted by matrix5
Except for the burned exhaust valve, right???
exactly what I was thinkin!
 
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Old Jun 19, 2009 | 03:50 PM
  #15  
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A cracked Y pipe is also a symptom of this condition. The metal gets brittle from the heat.
 
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Old Jun 19, 2009 | 07:11 PM
  #16  
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Mine did it stock, so I don't think it is because of the slip ons.

I do agree with SSN711 on one thing, just putting on a set of slip ons should not lean out your fuel mixture. The O2 sensors on the bike should have enough range, that with just slip ons, the EFI would still keep the bike at the stock AFR.

I do disagree with a "richer" mixture making it hotter. I built a set of IEDs, the designs are on the internet, they are easy to make, cost me like 18 bucks I think. The richer mixture feels cooler on my "butt-ometer", the pipes don't glow any more, but I did lose a few MPGs.
 
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Old Jun 20, 2009 | 08:06 AM
  #17  
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I'm not saying you shouldn't go with something to enrichen the AFR. Your bike could do nothing but benefit from it. I wanted to clear up the impression that adding slip on mufflers will lean your bike out enough to require some sort of down load or fuel management system.

I am going for a long ride today (96 deg weather out) and when it gets dark, I am going to have to look at my headers. As stated, I have never seen my headers glow, but will look again just because others have said they have seen it on their stock bikes. It will be interesting.
 
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Old Jun 20, 2009 | 08:25 AM
  #18  
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My buddy also has an 08 Street Glide so I had him start his up to see. His also started to glow after about 4-5 minutes.
 
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Old Jun 20, 2009 | 08:35 AM
  #19  
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Originally Posted by bigskyhd
Simple, it's an air and oil cooled engine. If it ain't moving, it ain't coolin'. Ten minutes just sitting still and idling is too long. Even a little movement, like when in slow traffic helps.... But it's not good just to sit and idle for long periods of time.
I cant believe it even took 4 posts to tell you not to let an air cooled anything sit and idle for 10 minutes.. Thats just wrong..
 
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