Looking for results of Cat removal without a Tuner
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 3,036
Likes: 65
From: Earth
Looking for results of Cat removal without a Tuner
I have acquired a take off head pipe from a 2010 bike. And I am planning to remove the cat and maybe just add a K & N filter for the stock set up air box. Without doing any other modifications to the mufflers, just running the stock ones. I am thinking of doing this to my stock 2010 Limited. I have read some threads on how to gut the cat which was very helpful and just want to get as much information as I can before attempting and or completing. So if this has been covered and I missed the thread please forgive me as I did do a search and read what I found out there.
My question is has anyone else on the forum just gutted the cat without changing anything else on the bike?
And how is the bike running? (What were the pro's and the con's)
Is the heat better? Even without a fuel management device?
And what happened to the fuel mileage?
Were the stock mufflers louder? And by how much?
Would you recommend others to do this?
My question is has anyone else on the forum just gutted the cat without changing anything else on the bike?
And how is the bike running? (What were the pro's and the con's)
Is the heat better? Even without a fuel management device?
And what happened to the fuel mileage?
Were the stock mufflers louder? And by how much?
Would you recommend others to do this?
Road Warrior
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,727
Likes: 11
From: TN
I picked up my 2011 "K" with V&H power duals already installed, but with the stock mufflers. I have three sets of slip-ons in the shop I was going to try.
Is it louder? Yup! Probably 1/2 way between stock and cat-less head pipes with free flowing mufflers. Rather quiet at idle and low pwr settings but, barks well when you whack it.
Heat? A catalytic converter requires a very high temp to function. If it is removed it has to take that heat source with it.
Just remember, this was an 88 before it was a 96 before it was a 103. Each one of those steps has to add heat.
Bwana
Is it louder? Yup! Probably 1/2 way between stock and cat-less head pipes with free flowing mufflers. Rather quiet at idle and low pwr settings but, barks well when you whack it.
Heat? A catalytic converter requires a very high temp to function. If it is removed it has to take that heat source with it.
Just remember, this was an 88 before it was a 96 before it was a 103. Each one of those steps has to add heat.
Bwana
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 10,602
Likes: 721
From: Bellevue, NE
I'm curious too, what with the new bike arriving a week from today. I'm also wondering if removing the cat causes any error codes or other problems. My plan is actually to remove the cat and keep everything else stock, muffs and all. Might not last long, but it's a plan.
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 98
Likes: 1
From: Lewisville, NC.
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 2,916
Likes: 31
From: earth
SpiderPig,
I was going to do this mod to a 2010 2:1. I got a full exhaust system off Ebay and started looking at how I would go about it. After some measuring and design assessment I decided against it for a few reasons. The area housing the catalyst is a relatively large cross section compared to the primary tubes, after removing the catalyst it would act as an expansion chamber, which is counterproductive. I noticed the outlet after the collector was an 1/8” smaller I.D. than the primary tubes, so it was actually a choke point in the system. The arrangement of the two primaries was offset in a manner that I felt would not promote complimentary scavenging. I have a fully equipped welding and machine shop at my disposal, but by the time I could correct all of these shortcomings, I would basically be building a new set of pipes, so I bought the FM 2:1 head pipe instead. I was able to use the shields and OEM muffler from the system I purchased so it wasn’t a total loss. In fact it turned out to be a very good system. I’m not sure if you are working on a 2:1 or 2:1:2, but I think they both have the same characteristics that I identified. It is doable, but after very serious consideration, I decided it wasn’t worth it. Weather it is core drilled or cut in half and completely gutted, you will probably end up with a cooler running pipe, but I doubt it will flow freely.
I was going to do this mod to a 2010 2:1. I got a full exhaust system off Ebay and started looking at how I would go about it. After some measuring and design assessment I decided against it for a few reasons. The area housing the catalyst is a relatively large cross section compared to the primary tubes, after removing the catalyst it would act as an expansion chamber, which is counterproductive. I noticed the outlet after the collector was an 1/8” smaller I.D. than the primary tubes, so it was actually a choke point in the system. The arrangement of the two primaries was offset in a manner that I felt would not promote complimentary scavenging. I have a fully equipped welding and machine shop at my disposal, but by the time I could correct all of these shortcomings, I would basically be building a new set of pipes, so I bought the FM 2:1 head pipe instead. I was able to use the shields and OEM muffler from the system I purchased so it wasn’t a total loss. In fact it turned out to be a very good system. I’m not sure if you are working on a 2:1 or 2:1:2, but I think they both have the same characteristics that I identified. It is doable, but after very serious consideration, I decided it wasn’t worth it. Weather it is core drilled or cut in half and completely gutted, you will probably end up with a cooler running pipe, but I doubt it will flow freely.
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Road Master
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 928
Likes: 1
From: Long Island NY
wELL HOW ABOUT GETTING A 2009 hEADPIPE AND USING THAT ON A 2010 ? It will keep the flow going through and you most likely will not have to change the map if you get better flowing mufflers and that headpipe(2009) ?
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
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O2 sensors are different size and location.