Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Occam]

OK, I don't mean to   but I have been receiving conflicting opinions, and I wonder if any of the Experts in here have empirical data.
The opinions have come from a variety of sources ranging from dealerships through other riders I've encountered, to people on this very board who make a living with Intake/Exhaust/ECM upgrades.

The question is: Where is the cat in a 2009 FXDFSE stock exhaust system?
Some say in the cross piece a la the FL series, in the head pipes.
Others say it's in the mufflers and not the head pipes.
This makes me wonder if perhaps the location (just as the O2 sensors) changed from 2009 to 2010, and is confusing folks.
Is there anyone in here who has actually, physically seen the material in place inside the exhaust system of this year and model CVO?
You didn't heard a friend say they saw it, or hear someone they consider a guru make a statement, but you laid your very own educated eyes on it?

I am on the cusp of making changes that would benefit from good intel in the initial parts planning stage, and I'm not the only Fat Bob guy here, so others would benefit from this as well. And of course I made copious use of the search function - either there is not much to be found on it, or I used bad keywords...?

[JP]

Head pipe. someone correct me if I'm wrong. but i think i am correct.

[grc]

Haven't had the parts in my hands, so all I can offer is a conclusion based on review of the 110 kit for the '09 Dyna as listed in the SE catalog.  The 110 kit for the '09 FXDF includes "Heavy Breather Air Cleaner and Catalytic Header Pipe".  Based on that, I'd hazard a guess that your cat is in your headpipe, similar to the Touring models.

Easy enough to pull the mufflers on a Dyna to verify if you don't trust my logic.


Jerry

[Occam]

Thanks for the responses, I'll be doing just that - pulling the mufflers. I'll be modifying or replacing the baffles, not that I don't trust your logic.
Out come the calipers and we'll see what's what.
I'm on a strict budget - as usual - and I'm looking for all the free power I can add to my meager purchases.


Thanks for enduring another new guy.
First new bike in a long time, last one was '98 so this cat/fuel mapping stuff is new territory to me.

[ryr8828dj]

The tuner on my bike said the CAT was in the 1 part of the 2 into 1 into 2 part of the exhaust.  When sticking the sensor in the exhaust he said he could feel it.  Local MoCo shop says same. 

[dartman]

I believe that if your bike is not made for the purchase in the state of California you do not have a cat. In 2009 the cat was only installed for California bikes. That changed in 2010 to all 50 states. Hope this helps. Scotr

That was true of the 96 cu in Standard production bikes But all of the 09 110 CVO,s were manufactured with cats.

[grc]

That was true of the 96 cu in Standard production bikes But all of the 09 110 CVO,s were manufactured with cats.

 


Jerry

[Occam]

Thanks again for all the responses guys!
I can see that dealers have differing opinions as mine said "it's in the mufflers" and I've heard the opinion that it's in the crosspipe of the 2-1-2 before as well. I'd just hoped someone had seen it in person so I could plan ahead with confidence. Personally, I would tend to believe it's in the x-pipe since there was a reason to do FLs that way, but the only way to be sure now is surgery. I'm also guessing right off that bat that the majority of CVO owners in here are bagger folk. I miss my RK, but the performance of this Dyna makes up for it. Sure did like that 09 SERG though...

I'll try to find time to get the mufflers off tonight and measure pipe dimensions.
Pics too, but also as time allows.

[REHAB]

OCCAM,
I owned this same bike last year. (2009 FXDFSE) and can tell you it has a cat in it. It's in the "one" part of the 2into"1"into2 header pipe.
The best way to rid yourself of this Heat Makin' Flow Stopper is to purchase the same header pipe from a 2008 or 2009 regular FXDF.

 If you need to have it black like the original, just spray it with a can of Motor (HEAT) Black Paint. Auto Zone $5.95. Other than color it will bolt right on.

The 08-09 FatBob (FXDF) Header (cat-less) can be found on ebay for less than $50+Shipping. 
Hope this helps.
MrGPD

[Occam]

OCCAM,
I owned this same bike last year. (2009 FXDFSE) and can tell you it has a cat in it. It's in the "one" part of the 2into"1"into2 header pipe.
The best way to rid yourself of this Heat Makin' Flow Stopper is to purchase the same header pipe from a 2008 or 2009 regular FXDF.

 If you need to have it black like the original, just spray it with a can of Motor (HEAT) Black Paint. Auto Zone $5.95. Other than color it will bolt right on.

The 08-09 FatBob (FXDF) Header (cat-less) can be found on ebay for less than $50+Shipping. 
Hope this helps.
MrGPD

Great tip, thanks for that!
I'll keep my eyes open for one of those deals. Might paint a different color to show through the Tommy Gun heatshields.
BTW, why the past tense reference to the Dyna? Didn't like it?
Just curious...

[Occam]

I found a few minutes to pull the mufflers and drag out a flashlight and my cameraphone. At night.


Here's what I found:
Cat crap visible from the bottom pipe-


Cat crap also visible (barely) through the convoluted top pipe-


Oddly, I could not get a single sliver of light from my powerful Maglight through the mufflers, nor could I get a stiff wire probe to navigate the mysterious baffle.
I think I need new baffles, as I enjoy the appearance of the stock stuff enough to take my time and save for a better system.

I must admit, I did fire it up for 10 seconds in cold condition (rich AFR) just to guage the sound and it was surprisingly QUIET. Proof positive to me that the EPA is practically plugging our bikes up to cause failure.

[REHAB]

Great tip, thanks for that!
I'll keep my eyes open for one of those deals. Might paint a different color to show through the Tommy Gun heatshields.
BTW, why the past tense reference to the Dyna? Didn't like it?
Just curious...

Actually I loved the bike, but, Saw the new Convertible and liked it so much for other reasons I just traded my FXDFSE in with only 2485 miles on it.
MrGPD

[ryr8828dj]

Looks like to me the CAT could be cut out.  Think I'll give it a try!

[REHAB]

Looks like to me the CAT could be cut out.  Think I'll give it a try!

I was once told "all things are possible"
The question would be "could you put the Cat back if you had to or wanted to" ?

Don't forget, to remove the cat completely you must cut the collector in half.
If you don't you'll never get all the pieces of cat out.
Then you'll have to weld the collector back together (straight). TOO much work for a few bucks.

Let's say you wanted to sell the bike to someone in California.
Or, you wanted to trade the bike to a dealer that wants it to sell it as stock.

That Header with Cat is about $400 the Header without the Cat is a lot less.
Used.......less than $50.

"Money is Cheaper than Work".

MrGPD

[ryr8828dj]

Are you positive that the '09 FXDF header doesn't have a CAT in it?  Or is it the '08 or both?