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[2BAGGR]

Does anybody have instructions for decatting a head pipe?









                                                 

[RGlideKid]

I'm no expert, and I'm no naysayer, but I remember reading from at least one of the vendor on this site and elsewhere on the web who said (my words) you're way better off not to do it on your own and many won't recommend that course of action.

I don't know if that's true or even best policy, all I'm saying is do the research on it to make sure this is what you want to do.  You have a very expensive and performance-centered bike in your CVO.  A few hundred more for proven aftermarket headers might be a better way to go in the long run.
 
Just my .02 worth.

[fastfreddy]

if you have a zip disc,grinder and can weld its easy. just cut a opening (door) in the cat. area of the pipe remove the media then welded it back on, i gutted my stock pipe for a buddy thats lives on a budget and he is happy happy. tip if you make your cut on the heat shield side of the pipe no one will ever see it

[ACfixer]

I'm with Harry, I'd buy a pipe and put your stock exhaust up in the attic.

[ultrarider123]

Does anybody have instructions for decatting a head pipe?

I do not but I know a dealer that can hook you up with one for $150 exchanged with your stock pipe.  I know there are naysayers in the group preaching against the decatted header.  I, for one, liked the sound and the performance of the one had on my '12.  It's pretty easy to do if you have the basic tools (grinder and welder) as Fast Freddy mentioned.  I was looking at all options (including fulsac) when I went de-catted.  At the low cost, if I wasn't happy I wasn't out much.  The Fulsac option was my choice if de-cat did not work.  And yes, I did get it tuned after the swap to the de-catted header.

[owl893]

check this out, it explains the process includes pix.

http://www.v-twinforum.com/forums/harley-davidson-touring/212140-easy-catalytic-converter-removal-writeup.html

OWL

[TNCarters]

You can also buy stock takeoffs and decatted pipes on line if you do not want to modify your stock pipe.  At one time on a prior bike I toyed with buying a 2009 takeoff(which had no cats but different O2 sensors) and add narrow band O2 bungs to the pipe.  Lots of people will tell you the narrow band O2 sensors do not read properly with a decatted collector.  I borrowed a wire feed welder from a friend to experiment and discovered real quick I'm not a welder.

[2BAGGR]

Thanks....  OWL893    I have Rinehart True Duals, and very happy with them.     I'm gonna do it for a friend...

[Dan_Lockwood]

I used my plasma torch and cut the hole in the shield side and then air chiseled out the media.  Be forewarned, the media is very hard to remove and it not just a bunch of beads etc.  It took all of my air chisel to cut it out.  I then just MIG welded back in the piece I had just cut out.

I have an '09 SERG and the o2 sensors are way up in the header pipes by the heads, so any cross talk because of the cat being removed is not an issue.  I have heard the "some" years with the o2 sensors just up stream of the cat can get confused afterwards, so read up on that based on the year of the bike.

There is a difference in exhaust coming out of the left and the right pipe.  With the de-catted header, the right pipe is line of sight and tends to have a bit more exhaust than the left side.  But that's not been an issue that bothers me.

I have the de-catted header and I'm running stock mufflers with Fullsac 2.5" baffles.  I had 2" and wanted a bit more sound.  I got it and I do NOT notice any drop in performance, but I'm sure the numbers would prove me wrong.

All in all my exhaust sounds great and I have just over $100 invested.  I bought the TTS system from Fullsac as well back in '09.  They had just come off a very busy year with the new '09 SERG's and had done tons of dyno tunes with varying de-catted header pipes and a wide range of his baffle sizes.  When you buy the TTS from Fullsac you get their dyno "proven" map.  I've been VERY pleased with the setup, no decel popping, 45 to 48 mpg and sounds GREAT!!!

Since then there are so many other options available, even from Fullsac, but the most bang for the buck goes to de-catting the header and a fine set of Fullsac baffles.  Don't forget to retune afterwards.

Good luck with your friends bike.

Have a great weekend too...