Well, I drilled out the cat-CHECK UPDATED PICS ON PAGE 2-
Not sure if it's been mentioned here, was lurking on the hdforums (I refuse to join, totally different subject, have never seen that amount of pissing battles and 1-uping in my life, anyway), saw that someone said they drilled it out and there was a big battle whether you could or not. I picked up a set of pipes and gave it a whirl. I used a 1" 16" long wood paddle bit and went a it. It doesn't just bust apart magically and all fall out like I hoped lol. I took a SOLID 2 hours working at it until I got it all out. I'm happy with it though and confident enough that I got it all out; enough to put it on my brand new machine (which btw, is the first brand new anything I've ever owned and I'm 31). Not sure if I would do it that way again but I was into it and I'm the type that once I start something I finish it till it's done right. Anyway, that's all I got. Ride safe!
Gave mine to a friend who bought a new SG he cut it in half said it was a pain doing it that way took him a good hour to dig it out with a dygrinder hope you got it all
Yes, I got it all out but patience is your friend. You probably get 85% out in the first 10 minutes, then the next couple hours getting the rest from the sides. Harley sure does a good job adhering that stuff! A piece of all thread came in handy and so did a really long flat screwdriver.
Just had the dealer do a custom tune with SE programmer on my bike after installing a headpipe with cat removed. Sensors are sill in the pipe and Dealer said nothing about disconnecting them. I haven't checked to see if they are disconnected. When running a Power Commander V, no matter the exhaust, they disconnect the O2 sensors.
That being said, with my SE slip-on's & SEAC she was way too lean on the Stage 1 download. Spit and spudder at steady cruise. So, plan on a tuner if you have intake & exhaust on your bike and remove the cat.
Runs considerably cooler. Big plus here in the Florida heat.
i bet if you cut it open, you'll find that you did not get it all out. i cut mine in half and dug it out that way. as hard as it was to do it that way, i can't believe drilling would get it all.
Could someone let me know what are the dangers of leaving a bit in? I can see the dangers of loose pieces but as long as most of it is gone. Sorry if this has been covered before please ignore if it has been beat to death.
Just did the stock pipe yesterday to sell to a member. If he isn't satisfied with the no cut gut I'm sure I'll know about it. I used a drill, assorted long chisels and a hone when I was done to get the loose boogers. I would say i removed 98% of the cat without cutting and re-welding. My welding skills can't pay the bills, I hammer nails.
drilling out cat maybe fine,but to truely clean all the wasp nest out ,you need to cut and reweld,just finished my 5th head pipe yesterday,if you have all the tools its about an hour job but the rewards are worth it more sound and you loose that 1000degrees on you right foot!
What's the benefits of getting every last bit of it out. It's a giant wide open can afterwards either way. From what I've seen most other head pipes are smaller when they come together anyway. So what's the real difference?
If I can I will try to get a pic, not sure how it will turn out. I CAN see one tiny section that I couldn't get out all the way. It just was not happening. I figured if I can't get it off with that drill bit flying away and scraping with the long screwdriver, it ain't going anywhere. If it does, like PGR said, it's an EXHAUST. It will get blown out of the muffler. I've heard some people's theories on it getting sucked into the engine, but has anybody actually had it happen to them first hand???
I had mine done at a metal fab shop I deal with through my business, I gave him the choice of whatever worked, he got it all out by drilling, I am sure he has a lot of specialty tools to do it. One thing for sure the heat is GONE!
Kinda raspy, more pop to the exhaust note. Cruising has a nice mello but, slightly higher tone than with just the SE slip-ons. Still can hear the radio no problen. When you do pour the coal on, has a really good bark while reving up. Reminds me of a musclecar with a good street cam sound when you rev it up.
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