Cat Removal Questions

[Recall]

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Thanks for the pics of the cat location and removal. Definitely didn't make it easy to get too.

[riden2low]

Thanks for the pics of the cat location and removal. Definitely didn't make it easy to get too.

Thats why most do the after market headers or buy them from some one who decats the headers. Either way, you need to get that heat down to make it a comfortable ride.

[Recall]

I guess I will just run it stock until this fall. Maybe I can hear some different slip-ons in SEP and just do the tuner, header, A/C, and slip-ons after the riding season is over. Still want to run it with that configuration then add the cam later. I just don't want to add something now to have to replace later. Rather do it once and right the first time.

Thanks for all the informative responses.

- - - Updated - - -

Thats why most do the after market headers or buy them from some one who decats the headers. Either way, you need to get that heat down to make it a comfortable ride.

Heat reduction is the primary issue for now. We were in Maggie Valley in the middle of June, when the temps were in the 90's. It wasn't bad while moving, but a little time in traffic, got uncomfortable quick.

[msocko3]

Before I did my one de cat, I thought flow was bad with them as most people do ... I actually rigged a pool flow meter to the pipe with the cat and again after removal of the cat. The difference was negligible, I'm not sure how accurate my test was, using a shop vac as a flow source ... but it looked cool ... LOL

As I understand it, it's the chemical "conversion" of toxic stuff (hydro carbons and such) to water that generates the heat, hence the material that causes the reaction, usually platinum, needs to be removed to stop the conversion.

The hardest part of the de cat process was making sure no loose "dust" left in the pipe. I took the pipe to a filter cleaning place and had them ultrasonically clean it after I got most of it out.

Your little flow test did prove it flows pretty well. A while back I bumped into a thread on another site about dyno numbers with a cat on a big engine. A mechanic had tuned a 124" S&S engine with the cat in the head pipe, he found it didn't cost much torque, and the HP difference wasn't real huge either.

The moral of the story is the cat doesn't hurt performance, it just cooks the rider.

When you talk of reaction, that is what is happening. The more active the reaction, the hotter the cat will run. If a person puts a tuner on and richens the AFR, it will cause the cat to run warmer. Richen the AFR enough and you can cause the cat to run hot enough to fuse.

[HDB0B]

2014 w/10K+ miles - I'm going to de-cat an extra new takeoff head-pipe I have. You all talk about how well the cat flows. I really don't understand why I would need a change in tune if I am keeping the stock mufflers and air cleaner. The system is designed to be able to compensate for changes in altitude (air density). I know of many people, including myself, who have made changes to their auto exhaust with no tuning ... and no ill effects.

I am considering either the nightrider FL-AF-XIED-10 http://sales.nightrider.com/fl-af-xied-10.html
or the FL-VIED-10 http://sales.nightrider.com/fl-vied-10.html

As I see them the difference is that the more expensive unit has the ability to richen from 14.6 to 13.6 where the cheaper unit is 14.6 to 14.4 to 14.0

I seriously doubt I will ever do any major mods (we are very happy with the stock performance ... just want less foot heat for the wife) .... and if I was to do major mods I would do everything correctly including a full blown tuner.

My question is .... which of the 2 units would you recommend as I've read here that most only go to the 50% setting or less.

Thanks,

Bob

[psychogramps]

I was just talking to a guy after I made my last post. he has a nephew with a welding business. He thinks that the nephew could cut a pocket in the pipe and remove the cat for me. I have to wait until Monday to find out for sure though. Might be the way for me to go and the cost will be much less than buying a cat less pipe from someone.

I had an extra head pipe from a previous TG. I just cut a window in it and dug out the cat. Made sure I got it all out using a dremel grinder, flushed it out with a water hose and welded window back. Put it on my FW. Sounds a little deeper and runs cooler.

[FuzzyWuzHe]

2014 w/10K+ miles - I'm going to de-cat an extra new takeoff head-pipe I have. You all talk about how well the cat flows. I really don't understand why I would need a change in tune if I am keeping the stock mufflers and air cleaner. The system is designed to be able to compensate for changes in altitude (air density). I know of many people, including myself, who have made changes to their auto exhaust with no tuning ... and no ill effects.

I am considering either the nightrider FL-AF-XIED-10 http://sales.nightrider.com/fl-af-xied-10.html

or the FL-VIED-10 http://sales.nightrider.com/fl-vied-10.html

As I see them the difference is that the more expensive unit has the ability to richen from 14.6 to 13.6 where the cheaper unit is 14.6 to 14.4 to 14.0

I seriously doubt I will ever do any major mods (we are very happy with the stock performance ... just want less foot heat for the wife) .... and if I was to do major mods I would do everything correctly including a full blown tuner.

My question is .... which of the 2 units would you recommend as I've read here that most only go to the 50% setting or less.

Thanks,

Bob

As I stated before ... On my 11 Ultra, I just swapped pipe ...

no further tuning ... it did sound a light bit deeper and was way cooler ... but the bike still ran great, maybe better.

[Gorilla]

2014 w/10K+ miles - I'm going to de-cat an extra new takeoff head-pipe I have. You all talk about how well the cat flows. I really don't understand why I would need a change in tune if I am keeping the stock mufflers and air cleaner. The system is designed to be able to compensate for changes in altitude (air density). I know of many people, including myself, who have made changes to their auto exhaust with no tuning ... and no ill effects. I am considering either the nightrider FL-AF-XIED-10 http://sales.nightrider.com/fl-af-xied-10.html or the FL-VIED-10 http://sales.nightrider.com/fl-vied-10.html As I see them the difference is that the more expensive unit has the ability to richen from 14.6 to 13.6 where the cheaper unit is 14.6 to 14.4 to 14.0 I seriously doubt I will ever do any major mods (we are very happy with the stock performance ... just want less foot heat for the wife) .... and if I was to do major mods I would do everything correctly including a full blown tuner. My question is ....

which of the 2 units would you recommend as I've read here that most only go to the 50% setting or less. Thanks, Bob

Bob if thats all your doing then you do not have to tune. I did the de-cat on my neighbors trike only nothing else done and he is happy with it. Runs great and like all ready mentioned a little deeper muffler sound. Have fun Ted

[Recall]

Bob if thats all your doing then you do not have to tune. I did the de-cat on my neighbors trike only nothing else done and he is happy with it. Runs great and like all ready mentioned a little deeper muffler sound. Have fun Ted

So if I understand correctly, I can just decat the header with everything else being stock and not have to tune?

[Gorilla]

So if I understand correctly, I can just decat the header with everything else being stock and not have to tune?

Yes that is correct.

[Recall]

Yes that is correct.

Excellent. *Can I also assume that the same would apply to adding just a Fullsac header pipe, all else being stock?

[FuzzyWuzHe]

Excellent. *Can I also assume that the same would apply to adding just a Fullsac header pipe, all else being stock?

The fullsac might be a little freer flowing, but I'd think you'd be okay as long as the pipe you use is a 2-1-2. Probably be cheaper to get a decatted pipe. With the fullsac you'd need the adapters right?

[Recall]

The fullsac might be a little freer flowing, but I'd think you'd be okay as long as the pipe you use is a 2-1-2. Probably be cheaper to get a decatted pipe. With the flush you'd need the adapters right?

I found the $135.00 decat'd pipe on Ebay you spoke about in a previous post. Since I am going to upgrade *more later, I can change out the header now and build off of that. *Not sure on the adapters, I will check with Fullsac.

[HDB0B]

Today the de-catting was done! Damn that thing really hangs on and does not want to come out. We ended up milling most out. Next de-cat I will get a 1" carbide ball burr with 1/4" shank and use my air powered die grinder.

Will swap pipe once I get new gaskets for heads and crossover pipe. Thanks everyone.

[FuzzyWuzHe]

I used a brake hone on a long extension and long drill bits... no welding ... yes it doesn't want to come out at all ... LOL ... took me four days.

[rcurnayn]

Dave,

If you have not already switched out your headers to get rid of the cat, and still want to do so, then check out American Custom. They have replacement headers with the cat already removed. $234 for the headers, and I think you can get a trade in value for your existing headers if you don't want to hold on to them.

I replaced mine about a month ago. In addition to a drop in heat, I and also noticed a little more low end torque (just a little). And as a bonus my stock pipes sound better

Ron

[rokodude]

Wild pigs has a de cat head pipe for tri glide for $150.$50 return your stock pipe.On Ebay

[rokodude]

Wild Pigs exhaust sells a de-cated head pipe for $150.00.They will return $50.00 when you send your stock head pipe back.Just did mine(2017Tri Glide)only hard part is the 2 bolts on the back of muffler.Welded the nuts onto the muffler,made the job much easyer

[nokkon wud]

Wild pigs has a de cat head pipe for tri glide for $150.$50 return your stock pipe.On Ebay

A buddy bought these, the chrome was in terrible shape.

[nucseal]

A buddy bought these, the chrome was in terrible shape.

Funny, I bought these and they were not chromed. I am pretty sure that Wild Pigs does not chrome header pipes, for the same reason nobody else chromes header pipes. Turns blue immediately and chrome flakes off because of the heat.