Anyone changing out the head pipes without cat?

[Amkimber]

I have a 17 RG with Rinehart slip on's and SE Breather tuned with the street tuner.  I have done the 'custom tune' thing and feel like I have a much better than stock running bike, I am happy with the ride.  I do have some breather noise at 1/3 to 2/3 throttle that isn't too anoying but I have considered changing the head pipes to hopefully get a little deeper/louder exhaust note to ?maybe? distract my ears from the intake noise. With 4k miles on the bike, fellow riders said it is not loud at all but has a good sound to it from behind, so I'm not annoying anyone behind me. The warranty deal is a concern but my dealer is very good about aftermarket stuff and warranty claims. The fuelmoto ones would look stock so maybe I would be the only one to know, but 500 bucks for pipes and using the stock heat shields, dang. 

[joe_lyons]

Could just decat your stock headpipe

[NCTURBOS]

Could just decat your stock headpipe

I'm seeing quite a few doing just that... An easy "free upgrade"!

K.

[kd]

Isn't the 2017 head pipe already cat free?

[NCTURBOS]

Isn't the 2017 head pipe already cat free?

Meow yes, emissions no...

K.

[spook]

Help me understand...so if the head pipe is cat free what needs to be changed to eliminate the restrictions? It is my understanding the HD Street Cannons are a straight through pipe without baffles. If that is the case then what does one have to purchase to make a free flow exhaust system?  Thank you in advance for any clarification.

[Ancient]

Cat is right at the aft end of the header, just forward of the rh muffler.

[Amkimber]

Could just decat your stock headpipe

with hole saw or cutting open and weld back up?

[spook]

Thanks for the clarification.

[joe_lyons]

This area has the cat in it.

[BUBBIE]

Joe,

Did you CUT out that whole area where the cat was and re-weld in a Pipe for continuation of the area removed?
That would be a lot easier in my Book AND a good repair...

THINKING here....     You Could go Back cutting out the pipe length and putting the whole converter section Back In and RE-Weld  IF wanted n you saved it...

Say it is SO Joe...

signed....BUBBIE

[ready2ride]

Saw away

[PoorUB]

Most guys just cut and but it out and weld it back together. Some cut the pipe in two, some cut an opening on one side. One the earlier pipes some guys would take a big drill or hole saw and run it up the pipe and chew out what they can. Not a recommended method as you can not get all the cat removed.

[mikehess43]

Here's the simple; not the cheap way: buy the new Road King SE exhaust system PN 64800062 for $1,400 and you have the header free of the catalytic converter and two cannon exhausts with the converters--to sell to a unsuspecting person. Or I think if you find a silly person with a 2017 CVO that took off the stock header, buy it off of them...here is the H-D link to the new exhaust, note that the 2014-16 CVOs also had the converters in the slip-ons thus a header converter free: http://www.harley-davidson.com/store/high-flow-exhaust-system-with-street-cannon-mufflers-pa-18-64800062--1 Mike

[BUBBIE]

Saw away

That is the way it is done for Quality and Looks... A Very Professional Welding Job Too... + a good wire machine and a accomplished welder running it to Boot...

Very Professional ready2ride...

signed....BUBBIE

[joe_lyons]

With the 10-16 headpipes we cut the whole cat section out and just press out the cat material and reweld back in.  Much much cleaner process.

[joe_lyons]

Saw away

Any issues with the mild steel and stainless when welding?

[PoorUB]

Most guys just cut and but gut it out and weld it back together. Some cut the pipe in two, some cut an opening on one side. One the earlier pipes some guys would take a big drill or hole saw and run it up the pipe and chew out what they can. Not a recommended method as you can not get all the cat removed.

[PoorUB]

Saw away

Any issues with the mild steel and stainless when welding?

When in a jam I have MIG'd stainless with normal steel filler wire, or welded stainless to carbon steel using steel or stainless wire. I don't know about the strength of the weld, but the part held for our application. I would not think there would be an issue with a HD exhaust.

[ready2ride]

No issues at all , I tig stainless to mild steel daily at work here, this is stainless to stainless btw...

[joe_lyons]

No issues at all , I tig stainless to mild steel daily at work here, this is stainless to stainless btw...

Cool