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Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 12:57 am
by sunnbobb
I looked long and hard at my sporty mufflers, and I cannot see any difference between the two?

Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 11:01 am
by Roady
Likewise. I've been running mine for a year and sound and pressure seem identical.

I wonder if this is a recent development.

Both yours and mine are older, '02 or '03 pipes. Later Sporty pipes have a crossover.

Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 4:30 pm
by Whiskerfish
Got this here:
http://www.hdatlanta.com/en/harley-davidson_101.cfm

I really do not know when/if the king mufflers were changed to a "un-ballanced" system. They may have always been like this???

F-head, also known as JD, pocket valve and IOE (intake over exhaust), 1914-29 (1,000 cc), and 1922-29 (1,200 cc)
Flathead, 1930–1948 (1,200 cc) and 1935-41 (1,300 cc).
Knucklehead, 1936-47 61 cubic inches (1,000 cc), and 1941-47 74 cubic inches (1,200 cc)
Panhead, 1948-52 61 cubic inches (1,000 cc), and 1948-65, 74 cubic inches (1,200 cc)
Shovelhead, 1966-85, 74 cubic inches (1,200 cc) and 82 cubic inches (1,345 ccm) since late 1978
Evolution (aka "Evo" and "Blockhead"), 1984-99, 80 cubic inches (1,340 cc)
Twin Cam 88 (aka "Fathead") 1999–2006, 88 cubic inches (1,443 cc)
Twin Cam 88B (counter balanced version of the Twin Cam 88) 2000–2006, 88 cubic inches (1,443 cc)
Twin Cam 96, 2007–present, 96 cubic inches (1,584 cc)
Twin Cam 103, 1999–2006, 2009, 103 cubic inches (1690 cc) (engines for C.V.O. models)
Twin Cam 110, 2007–present, 110 cubic inches (1802 cc) (engines for C.V.O. models)

Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 9:04 pm
by rocknturtle
I heard this year that hd had the engine designed for the back jug to stop firing at idle and just pull air like a compressor and then start firing as engine rpm increased. in order to keep the back jug cooler. Maybe that is why the mufflers would be different. don't know just a guess. I am glad I ride a metric now dragbike turtle

Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2009 8:10 am
by Whiskerfish
rocknturtle wrote:I heard this year that hd had the engine designed for the back jug to stop firing at idle and just pull air like a compressor and then start firing as engine rpm increased. in order to keep the back jug cooler. Maybe that is why the mufflers would be different. don't know just a guess. I am glad I ride a metric now dragbike turtle
I wannna say that happened in 07 when they went 100% EFI? We need Rodger or one of the other "Closet" HD guys to straighten us out here :lol: :lol: :lol:

Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2009 9:53 am
by cycleman
From what I've found it is the design of the internals of the Harley mufflers that give them their unique sound. One article I read referred to it as a potato, potato, potato sound. If you say that fast it's an accurate way to describe the Harley sound.

The difference in sound between the left & right muffler on the Sporster is very sutle at idle but it is there. If you put your hand over a stock exhaust it flows smoothly. If you put your hand over the right Sporster muffler there is a very slight pulse feel/sound to it. This is not present on the left side. I do run mine with a crossover pipe so this may affect the result.

With the stainless extensions that I'd welded onto the Sporsters it actually looks very much like the stock muffler and works fairly well. If & when I can find a stock exhaust for the right price & shape I'd probably put that back on. Getting too old for noisy stuff. Until then this works fine for me and gives the bike a different exhaust note.

Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2009 12:02 pm
by Victour
Wow love the sound on the Video.... I purchased a complete set of Sportster Ehaust system .. from a local HD repairman shop for $20 older set but like the say the Chrome on all of it still looks new... So now I have shields clamps and whatever else I need.. New inspiration to get busy on my Engine.. Thanks for the Tips..

Harley Muffler/Sound

Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2009 10:09 am
by Missourimike
Been reading the threads on the use of Harley mufflers and thought I'd let you know I have had a pair of Sportster's on my '75 for the past 4K miles. Not too loud, just right for my old ears. I detest LOUD PIPES.
NO cross-over needed with Sportsters. My adapters are only about 3 inches long from header to muffler, keeping the angle horizontal with the ground and same as the OEM Hondas. I carry saddlebags and didn't want to melt them. Also, I can remove the rear wheel without removing exhaust. As for the center stand hitting the right side muffler, I cut off the offending part of the stand...half of the "loop" that rests on the ground. For a "stop" to keep the whole center stand off the pipes, I bolted a flat peice of iron 6 inches long across the two clamping bolts on the pivot of the center stand.
Now as for the unique sound that Harley has, the potato...potato...potato as some call it, this comes not from the design of the mufflers but from it's firing order. If I remember right, the Harley motor fires at a 139 degree rotation rather than 180, as most twins do. That gives it the ka-thump, ka-thump, rather than thump-thump.

Re: How-To Mount Harley Mufflers - GL1100

Posted: Tue Mar 16, 2010 9:34 am
by Kman9
Roady,
Sure appreciate your article as the mufflers look great and they are available relatively cheaply. I am going to put a set on a 76 1000 that would be too expensive to bring back to original condition. My only question is whether you or anyone else doing this, had to modify carb jets?
I see yours is an 1100 but I wouldn't think there would not be a big difference between the 1100 and 1000 when it comes to scavenging. I would sure appreciate the benefit of your opinion and will try to post a picture when I am done.
Thanks,
Kman9

Re: How-To Mount Harley Mufflers - GL1100

Posted: Wed Mar 17, 2010 11:20 pm
by Roady
We do love the pictures around this place. Set yourself up an album and start sharing.

GLs are very tolerant of exhaust changes. Mine has a touch of backfire when I let off hard but other than that she runs like a scalded dog. No need to rejet at all. Now, if you start messing with the intake you will probably have to go there.

Good luck and thanks for the nice compliments.

Re: How-To Mount Harley Mufflers - GL1100

Posted: Wed May 05, 2010 9:16 pm
by mdsco
was staring down a set of stock 1998 ultra classic mufflers. The baffle on the left muffler (as if you are sitting on the bike)is closer to the front of the muffler. On the right side it is more toward the rear. My guess for this is the left side exhaust header pipe is longer since it wraps around the right side of the motor and meets at the crossover. I think they made the baffles the same distance from each respective cylinder. Still gonna try mounting them on my bagger

Re: How-To Mount Harley Mufflers - GL1100

Posted: Wed May 05, 2010 10:40 pm
by Roady
I wouldn't expect the position of the baffle to make much difference, as long as they are the same baffle. I'd be interested in seeing how it looks with those on it.

Re: How-To Mount Harley Mufflers - GL1100

Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2010 2:47 pm
by Bigphillip79
Well I scored my Sportster mufflers off ebay for $30 to the door. Before I go ahead with the install do I have to worry about jetting? I plan on putting them on a 76 1000. Any performance gain besides they just sound and look good?

Re: How-To Mount Harley Mufflers - GL1100

Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2010 5:15 pm
by drumgod
Bigphillip79 wrote:Well I scored my Sportster mufflers off ebay for $30 to the door. Before I go ahead with the install do I have to worry about jetting? I plan on putting them on a 76 1000. Any performance gain besides they just sound and look good?
See three posts up ^

:mrgreen:

Re:

Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2010 5:33 pm
by rcmatt007
Whiskerfish wrote:
rocknturtle wrote:I heard this year that hd had the engine designed for the back jug to stop firing at idle and just pull air like a compressor and then start firing as engine rpm increased. in order to keep the back jug cooler. Maybe that is why the mufflers would be different. don't know just a guess. I am glad I ride a metric now dragbike turtle
I wannna say that happened in 07 when they went 100% EFI? We need Rodger or one of the other "Closet" HD guys to straighten us out here :lol: :lol: :lol:
all of our HD's have been EFI (2000, 05 & 08)

hadn't been following this thread. What I can tell you is that on my 2000 road king the electronic ignition was set so that as the bike was idleing and getting hot, the bike would alternate which jug was firing alternating which one had a little chance to cool down. What I can tell you is that the bike definately idles rougher when this happens. It seems my 05 runs the same way. Once you give it some gas, it smooths right out.

as for one side being more open than the other.... I cannot tell you. They do cross over and connect behind the rear jug. The twin cam 96 has a different pipe lay out, but they still interconnect. the newer pipes have moved so that the passengers legs are not as close os they were on the 88