Tim's Green Bug...

[dustymojave]

I've always referred to that as a "bush break" Tim. Considering desert creosote bushes it can call for several bushes. Rock outcrops are a better choice. With either, beware of skinny guys on their bellies in need of dental work. Mud puddles in the road might need a little re-evaluation now.

[TimS]

My cheapo mufflers from Amazon started making some awful noises. I can only assume they were falling apart internally because I checked everything for leaks and whatnot.

So, I was searching the for sale sign for muffler options and kept coming across stock Harley takeoffs. There was a huge selection of matched set mufflers for $20/pair. I picked the closest one to me and picked then up.

Turns out they slid right onto my exhaust pipe after cutting off the old mufflers. They sound good and are much more compact than what I had. The ones I got are from a Sportster, not sure if they are from a 800 or 1200 model. There were others available that were from the big cruiser bikes that I may try if I'm ever passing by one for sale.

My concern will be restriction. Initial performance didn't seem hurt, but where I will notice it is in my gas milage. I will update with my findings. I figured it was worth a gamble to open up a large supply of cheap, quality, matched-set mufflers. My backup plan is to run two per side if they are restrictive.

My photo resize program was sucking my battery life and intruding upon my privacy, and Photobucket app keeps my phone awake all the time, and the Photobucket website doesn't deal well with mobile file systems, and Tapatalk kept sending me useless ads and suggested reading, so you all are without pictures... But I do have a video of marginal quality.

https://youtu.be/RMiePmf6uI8

[CentralWAbaja]

USFS Approved?

[TimS]

Yes.





















(It took me a while to consider, first, if this was a serious question and did the questioner know that zero of the dual sport highway registerable SUV's come with a USFS approved spark arrestor . Second, what would be the appropriate answer. If (option 1) I said I don't know, then my revolutionary bravado could be mistaken as ignorance when in fact I did put consideration into the muffler design before purchasing and it is more spark resistant than the majority of pass through oval mufflers I have seen off road. If (option 2) I said no, then CWA wins. So I said yes (option 3)... Because if it is in fact usfs approved, then I win. If it's not usfs approved, someone will expend the energy to do the research just to prove me wrong which is a win. Well, unless I start a forest fire, at which point every Harley will be banned from venturing off road and Harley will be forced to redesign their mufflers to appease the American public and by doing so would inadvertantly create a massive supply of cheap second hand spark arrestors, for the win! But if I just said yes without explaining my answer my friends at STF would think my actions were disrespectful given my intentions.furthermore, one could argue the philosophical definition of approval, for example, the beurocratic rendition of right/wrong vs the functional aspect of "That ranger just gave me a thumbs up, therefore he approves." )

[chuckput]

I'm getting too old to read the fine print.

[dustymojave]

I read the fine print.

In my last 50 years of offroading, I have seen precisely 2 Harleys offroad.

The 1st was really what became known as a "Cagiva". It was an Italian built works race bike ridden by Bruce Ogilvie in AMA District 37 Desert races and Baja races in the late 70s.

The 2nd was a "real" Harley that had been taken out of a motorcycle wrecking yard and modified into an offroad bike with different forks and rear shocks and swing arm with knobby tires. Custom high exhaust and muffler. No Harley in that exhaust at all.

I can't feature trouble with the USFS or BLM over offroad exhausts having ANY financial impact or political pressure for Harley Davidson.

I advocate using Thrush Turbo mufflers. Inexpensive, readily available. DEFINITELY work as a spark arrestor and are NOT pass through type. Sound good. Provide good performance. Oh yeah...NOT one of the ones with glass packing.

[TimS]

Thanks for that engaging banter, Dusty. Good points. You win

[chuckput]

Google search came up with many "Baja Harley Davidson" hits like this:
http://thekneeslider.com/baja-iron-spor ... adventure/

[no1clyde]

When I was kid I was around a couple of these LOL.

http://motocrossactionmag.com/classic-m ... -baja-100/

Ed

[TimS]

Well, I mostly welded up the exhaust today. I still wasn't convinced it was permanent, but after a test drive I believe it will be. Not sure how much life to expect out of these mufflers or what the failure scenario looks like, but as of this minute I LOVE them!! The sound is very mild and pleasing to the ear. I like that I feel the acceleration now without first hearing the engine. It feels very "electric". And they are super compact and lightweight to boot.

The dual sport Harley's have always caught my eye. Especially the old military ones.

[TimS]

But while I was installing it, I noticed my right side torsion crack has grown significantly since jackpot. I will throw some metal at it and hope for the best. Not sure if there is a permanent fix at this point, I foresee a series Band-Aids.

Live and learn.

[Ol'fogasaurus]

Tim, you might try this:

Drill a hole at each end of the crack then weld it shut. This is to stop the crack from traveling.

Then "Vee" the crack for depth of weld then weld the crack closed.

I always recommend welding a doubler over the fix as a security.

[CentralWAbaja]

Yes.





















(It took me a while to consider, first, if this was a serious question and did the questioner know that zero of the dual sport highway registerable SUV's come with a USFS approved spark arrestor . Second, what would be the appropriate answer. If (option 1) I said I don't know, then my revolutionary bravado could be mistaken as ignorance when in fact I did put consideration into the muffler design before purchasing and it is more spark resistant than the majority of pass through oval mufflers I have seen off road. If (option 2) I said no, then CWA wins. So I said yes (option 3)... Because if it is in fact usfs approved, then I win. If it's not usfs approved, someone will expend the energy to do the research just to prove me wrong which is a win. Well, unless I start a forest fire, at which point every Harley will be banned from venturing off road and Harley will be forced to redesign their mufflers to appease the American public and by doing so would inadvertantly create a massive supply of cheap second hand spark arrestors, for the win! But if I just said yes without explaining my answer my friends at STF would think my actions were disrespectful given my intentions.furthermore, one could argue the philosophical definition of approval, for example, the beurocratic rendition of right/wrong vs the functional aspect of "That ranger just gave me a thumbs up, therefore he approves." )

Damn I did not even see the fine print I must be getting old. lol

It really was a legitimate question as we get checked regularly here. A stamp on the end of my Super Trap will get them to not look any further. However anything open ended may result in a stick test. Some really do not care about the stamp and only rely on the stick test. If the stick goes in the end so far then its a fail. Anything OEM has passed through so much stuff (ie after burner, catalytic converter ect) that I guess they figure those are good? Not sure really? I know my jeep Flowmaster is approved and my buddies cherry bomb is not. His wallet proved that once after an outing where we were given some basic 101 education of which he paid our tuition.

[CentralWAbaja]

And that being said I am far more concerned about rolling my truck off into the tall grass then anything I have ever used for off road play. The stock emissions stuff on these trucks gets so freaking hot its scary.

[TimS]

All good, CWA. I really don't know and it hasn't been an issue for me as far as getting checked. Thanks for the clarification. I did redesign my exhaust a few iterations back to minimize potential for grass collection and subsequent fire risk. I'm not even sure if the Harley exhaust has a cat in it. I guess some of them do.

Ol'fog. Thanks. That is good information. I have mostly succumbed to bubble gum welds and random patches when it comes to overhead welding stuff, but I will try my best when the time comes, hope for the best when doing it, and will attempt to be happy with whatever materializes.