Degutting the cat

[rickm]

Has anybody cut the cat out of their stock pipe ? What did it do to your proformance if anything and do you remember where the cat was located in the pipe ? Thanks Rick

[gerald martin]

Don't do it it makes no difference at all. Read kill the cat in the triglide section

[rickm]

I guess I asked the wrong question, did it help with the HEAT ? I did it on my 11TG and it helped but this is the 103 engine and I wonder if it helps with this Thanks Rick

[consitter]

I guess I asked the wrong question, did it help with the HEAT ? I did it on my 11TG and it helped but this is the 103 engine and I wonder if it helps with this Thanks Rick

I had my pipes replaced from the head back with catless pipes. What really cools the engine down is a high performance air cleaner more than anything.
Keep in mind that you will have to have a tune installed in your ECM to make it all come together. What I wish I had bought was the Power Vision Tuner from DK Customs. It's no more expensive than any other tuner, and you can change programs on the fly. There is just so much you can do with it.

[Springman2007]

I had my pipes replaced from the head back with catless pipes. What really cools the engine down is a high performance air cleaner more than anything.
Keep in mind that you will have to have a tune installed in your ECM to make it all come together. What I wish I had bought was the Power Vision Tuner from DK Customs. It's no more expensive than any other tuner, and you can change programs on the fly. There is just so much you can do with it.

I have to say that I agree with the above; but, I want to add a few words. I bought a de-cated head pipe from ebay. At the time, the pipe was just $38.00 more than the quote I got to de-cat my stock pipe. So, I just went that route and I have the original stuck up in the barn - in case...
I also must confess that I "splurged" and got the de-cated headpipe ceramic coated inside and out.
(It is the only time I done that, and I won't say it had a big impact on the heat - I can't definitively say. But, I do think it most likely will mean I never have to deal with "bluing" or the pipe ever rusting. So, lets just sort of take that off the table as a luxury and not a must do.)

I do utilize an HP air cleaner and my Freewheeler has been tuned.

I think it does run cooler, stronger and is more responsive. But it is the combination of all these factors. I just don't see any one as a solitary mod - if your going to make changes, you sort of need to figure on make all of them together - if you want the most efficient result.....

Springman

[consitter]

I have to say that I agree with the above; but, I want to add a few words. I bought a de-cated head pipe from ebay. At the time, the pipe was just $38.00 more than the quote I got to de-cat my stock pipe. So, I just went that route and I have the original stuck up in the barn - in case...
I also must confess that I "splurged" and got the de-cated headpipe ceramic coated inside and out.
(It is the only time I done that, and I won't say it had a big impact on the heat - I can't definitively say. But, I do think it most likely will mean I never have to deal with "bluing" or the pipe ever rusting. So, lets just sort of take that off the table as a luxury and not a must do.)

I do utilize an HP air cleaner and my Freewheeler has been tuned.

I think it does run cooler, stronger and is more responsive. But it is the combination of all these factors. I just don't see any one as a solitary mod - if your going to make changes, you sort of need to figure on make all of them together - if you want the most efficient result.....

Springman

What he said---and I forgot---my pipes were ceramic coated too. In fact, they were FullSac brand.

[Jack Klarich]

HD will sell you any thing you want but expect No warranty for sneakin sally thru the alley The EPA
If you r going to do it do it yourself JMO

[consitter]

HD will sell you any thing you want but expect No warranty for sneakin sally thru the alley The EPA
If you r going to do it do it yourself JMO

I got the wink-and-a-nod at my dealership when they put it on. So far, everything that's went wrong under warranty, they've taken care of for me.

[rhino 2]

I got the wink-and-a-nod at my dealership when they put it on. So far, everything that's went wrong under warranty, they've taken care of for me.

Harley won't sell you any thing that's not Legal, Some dealers might fudge it' And if they install it i'll bet that they will honor the warranty one way or another... That said i never worried about the warrtany if i was going to modify something and was worried about it, I would just leave it stock..

[HDB0B]

Buy a de-catted pipe from wildpigpipes.com
Add Nightrider FL-Vied 10s to adjust your mixture

My 2014 TG runs so much better and cooler. Also sounds better with stock pipes.

If I had planned to do more extensive mods I would have gone the TTS tuner route.

I cut my pipe open, dug out the cat, welded back closed .... and it is a lot of work.

Bob

[rickm]

HDBOB I've done a couple and it's work but I'm OK with that. I haven't put 10 miles on my FW but I know the heat I had with my 11 TG. If it's too hot I will be gutting it , I wonder about the 103 to the last engine for heat

[FLRT]

Hot? Did someone say hot? I went down to Bowling Green, KY. in the middle of Sept. this year, (2015 Freewheeler) and at one traffic light I was stopped at, the heat was burning up my right leg so bad I had to jump off the bike! After getting through the light I pulled over for a short time just to let it cool off. When I got home from that trip, I went straight to my dealer and had Cobra catless pipes and Freewheeler mufflers. Didn't get too much time with them before the bike went into winter storage so I'll have to see next year if it makes a noticeable difference.

[screwball]

The cat is under your right foot, nowhere near your right leg. The cat does not generate any heat, it only gets as hot as the exhaust gas that passes through it. Don't want to burn your legs, move them (your legs) I can guarantee you spend a couple of grand for new de-catted exhaust systems, XIDES, and whatever it sure will feel cooler. Footboard extenders are under $100, move your feet out about an inch and make all the difference in the world. don't wrap your legs tight around the gas tank, relax and enjoy the ride.

Oh, my wife and I live on the desert in So. Cal. where summer day time temps are 100*+ for weeks. We ride from here to Las Vegas and Laughlin Nv. all the time. I wear shorts. No burns, no blistering, still have the cats installed.

[Jack Klarich]

HD needs to get ahead of the game or not survive IMO

[screwball]

HD needs to get ahead of the game or not survive IMO

The problem is not Harley Davidson, or any motorcycle or car manufacturer. It is the Federal and State E.P.A. We in California had catalytic converters on our motorcycles before the Fed's adopted our clean air stuff and made it Federal. Your bike runs very lean because the EPA's limit on hydro-carbons emissions. Harleys and all cars are tuned for minimum emissions not peak performance. Pretty any change to the stock exhaust system in California is against the law.

[DK Custom Products]

The problem is not Harley Davidson, or any motorcycle or car manufacturer. It is the Federal and State E.P.A. We in California had catalytic converters on our motorcycles before the Fed's adopted our clean air stuff and made it Federal. Your bike runs very lean because the EPA's limit on hydro-carbons emissions. Harleys and all cars are tuned for minimum emissions not peak performance. Pretty any change to the stock exhaust system in California is against the law.

Hey Steve,

I enjoy reading your posts, for a variety of reason...they are certainly candid, and not lacking in opinions, but I don't ever remember you writing anything that was inaccurate...possibly a different opinion...but not inaccurate.

Not sure what you are saying above, maybe you meant "pretty much"?

I'm not picking on you...not that I think you would care ...but did not want an internet rumor to start that it is illegal to change exhaust in Cali.

It is NOT against the law to change the stock exhaust system on a Harley-Davidson in California. There are aftermarket (non stock) exhaust components for Harley's that meet the California standards and are legal to install. Rather than list them all, I will just put a link to one of them right here-

http://www.harley-davidson.com/store...ip-on-mufflers

Notice they are EPA stamped, and 50-state street legal, and if you look under fitment, they fit the Freewheeler.

There are many companies making Slip-ons that are Cali legal. There are a few companies making aftermarket headers that are Cali legal.

Kevin