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[f18spanky]

Posted this is Road Glide Forum as well. Any assistance is appreciated.

First, apologize if this is a dumba$$ question.

Bike: 2016 CVO Road Glide

BLUF: Asked dealer about removing Catalytic Converter to dissipate some heat. Service manager informed me that the tech said there is no cat converter on this bike. Is that so? If so, news to me.

Background:

2016 CVO Road Glide with CFR slip-ons (dealer installed), bought in Sep 2015 and currently has 16,500 miles. Has been running awesome until the other day. Just got back from a 3K mile trip. Bike ran great....but warm....well, VERY warm.

Local and very reputable shop owner told me about H-D failure to enrich the fuel with slip-ons. The tech told me they were supposed to reflash ECM for slip-ons....not sure if they did.

The other day engine light came on and I pulled a bunch of basic diagnostic codes, all under ECM. Took to dealer and they are replacing ECM under warrantee.

In discussion with dealer service manager, I asked about removing cat and keeping warrantee. That's when he reported that tech said there was no cat on this bike.

Any insight is appreciated.

[Scott7d]

Are you the first owner? Does it have the Screamin Eagle headers where you are "supposed" to run slip on that have the cat? Unless it doesn't have stock headers, I don't see why the cat wouldn't be in. I think it's kinda the law on a new stock bike but I could be wrong.

[f18spanky]

Yes, first owner.  All stock except slip-ons.  Did not change headers.

Thanks

[glens]

Hell, it's "the law" on any vehicle which came with one, regardless of new/used.

No need to reflash the ECM with just slip-on mufflers.  Anything done to enrich the mixture that isn't totally pertinent will just make the cat get hotter as it burns off the extra fuel anyway.  Will decrease the life of the cat, too.

There is no dealer "flash" for just slip-ons, so that advice was ill.

The dealer cannot remove the cat and keep the bike under warranty.  Not legitimately in any case.  Plus they'd be exposing themselves to the possibility of a Federal fine worth near the cost of the bike if they did so.

I suspect your problem (which just started, right?) is with the ECM and will be cured by the replacement.  It was running fine in all respects before and it will again.  The mufflers had nothing to do with it.

[f18spanky]

thanks

[grc]

The bike has a catalytic converter, and it's located in the collector section of the head pipe assembly.  Either the tech is dumber than a box of rocks, or he has been instructed by his boss to not remove any cats or encourage any customers to do so.

Removing the catalytic convertor is a violation of EPA regulations.  At this point in time they don't exactly enforce this even with dealers or the folks selling all those pipes that have no cats.  If you really want the cat removed, I'd suggest you buy an aftermarket set of head pipes without cats, and then keep the original pipes stored away somewhere, just in case they decide to do emission testing on in-use bikes in the future.  Once you've changed the pipes, you will need to have the bike tuned by a competent person.  There are no Harley downloads that would cover this modification.  And yes, technically you would be opening the door for Harley to refuse to cover powertrain related defects under the factory warranty.

Jerry

[f18spanky]

Thank you all for the responses.

Dealer called back to clarify what I told him was a worrisome statement about catalytic con.  His words agree with what is being posted here.

FWIW, dealer stated they will honor all warrantee work if they install non-cat header pipes.

There is no emission tests for motorcycles in VA...at least not in my area.  There is even a chance some counties may stop emission inspection requirements due to the overwhelming number of vehicles that pass, coupled with, more importantly, it is not a money maker for the government.
 
Thanks again for all your responses.....now back on me to decide which way to go.  Right now am leaning towards true duals with ceramic coating.

Unfortunately, I have time to think about what I want on the bike now that it's in the shop.  Little bit under 200,000 miles on touring H-D bikes in the past 14 years.  Total of about one month "in the shop" during that time.

Thanks again all.

[FLSTFI Dave]

1.  Yes, your bike has a cat in the head pipe where the front and rear cylinder pipes meet.

2.  Fullsac makes a DX head pipe that fits under the factory heat shields with no cat, its very popular with people on this site.  I have it on both my bikes and on my wife's bike.

3.  Slip-ons with the head pipe with a cat in it does not need a flash.  Change the head pipe to no cat and slip ons, then the fuel mixture needs to be enriched.

4. These bikes are stupid lean from the factory to meet emissions.

5.  The best solution is to get a no cat head pipe, and good tuner such as TTS, SE Race tuner or others that enable you to really tune the bike properly.  No head pipe helps with heat, a good tune, though all RPM ranges also helps with the heat.