Question on De-baffling the stock pipes on a Voyager

[fammdw]

I have read and read and while I get the general idea I still don't feel comfortable enough to take a hole saw to my stock pipes of my Voyager. I did this on my 2006 Nomad and was comfortable taking it on because there was multiple threads with pictures and videos on the subject. I have read enough to know that the process on the 1700 pipes is nothing like doing the 1600 pipes.

This made such a huge difference on my Nomad that I would love to get similar results in my Voyager.

Does anybody know of a picture laden set of instructions on de-baffling the 1700 pipes? Videos would be even better! Thanks for any help you can provide!

[Vulcandude]

Why waste your time ? how loud do you want it to be aftermarket v&h or cobra slip on mufflers sound great and only around 450 a pair stock replacement mufflers are 600 + ea have the v&h's on my vaquero deep rumble at idle and into the r's not to loud at cruise speeds and they look way better

[fammdw]

I know all about the available slip-ons. I also know I did the de-baffle on my Nomad for the cost of a $15 hole saw bit. I'll take $15 over $500 any day if I'm pleased with the final result. Guess I'm just cheap.

[jestephens]

I did it to my old nomad and my vaquero. IMO, it's not worth the time and energy on the 1700. ???

[redjay]

A guy in Ontario a while back was looking for a set of stock mufflers for his Voyager.
He had debaffled his and it was running like crap he told me.

[fammdw]

Hmmm... Maybe that's why you don't hear or see much about it being done on the 1700.

[cactusjack]

I think you don't hear about it on the 1700's is because you can buy slipons for the 1700. With the 1500-1600, your options were debaffle or replace the entire system.

[redjay]

If you want a noisier exhaust get some stock mufflers from an 2009 or 2010 Voyager.
They made them quieter from 2011 on.

They should be a direct replacement. There should be some around from guys who have installed slip ons ?

[jestephens]

I think you don't hear about it on the 1700's is because you can buy slipons for the 1700. With the 1500-1600, your options were debaffle or replace the entire system.

but overall costs stayed the same, didn't they

[cactusjack]

but overall costs stayed the same, didn't they

Slipons generally cost less than a complete exhaust system. Slipons are less work to install than a complete system. I wish slipons would have been an option for my 1600. There are a greater variety of slipon mufflers than there are complete system options for the 1500/1600's.

[jestephens]

Slipons generally cost less than a complete exhaust system. Slipons are less work to install than a complete system. I wish slipons would have been an option for my 1600. There are a greater variety of slipon mufflers than there are complete system options for the 1500/1600's.

But the 1700 slip ons are still pretty special (integrated mid pipe), and the price is about $100 different than the full system for the 1600. It's not half price or anything. The Mufflers are the expensive part.

From the V&H web:
1600 Nomad system $548
1700 Nomad slip on: $449

With the available full system on the 1600, once you had the new headers on, your selection of "slip on" mufflers to customize with became endless because of the standard pipe size and fitment. With a good swap meet find and some extra dough, you had endless options.

On the 1700, you have a handful of slip ons to choose from. period.

I went a custom route, but have over $1100 tied up in the exhaust (the mufflers were $800).

[cactusjack]

But the 1700 slip ons are still pretty special (integrated mid pipe), and the price is about $100 different than the full system for the 1600. It's not half price or anything. The Mufflers are the expensive part.

From the V&H web:
1600 Nomad system $548
1700 Nomad slip on: $449

With the available full system on the 1600, once you had the new headers on, your selection of "slip on" mufflers to customize with became endless because of the standard pipe size and fitment. With a good swap meet find and some extra dough, you had endless options.

On the 1700, you have a handful of slip ons to choose from. period.

I went a custom route, but have over $1100 tied up in the exhaust (the mufflers were $800).

Ah, okay...I was under the impression any slipon would work. Thanks for enlightening me.

[Damo222]

Go to GADGETS page and look at the heading GUTTING 1600 mufflers, the cross section pic is identical to 1700 mufflers, EXCEPT that the 1700 mufflers have 2 baffles, not 3 as shown in the pic.
I've done my 1700 and it does the job nicely, saved me 500 bucks too.

Thats what Australian delivered mufflers look like anyway, unsure whether other countries have different designed mufflers and CAT convertors.
On my bike the CATs are inside each pipe.

[chuckster131]

Yes 2 thin plates to hole saw through and I really liked the new sound from the debaffle on the Voyager. Had the v-h slip ons and went the debaffled stockers, the v-h were on the loud side especially puling the trailer.

[BC RED VAQ]

If you want to tradeout the exhaust off my 2011 vaquero for your voyager we can I have all ready drilled out the two baffle plates on both pipes. Or if you want to pay shipping both ways I'll send you my drilled out stock exhaust off my vaquero. And you can try them to see if you like the sound of them let me know. Its not hard to drille them out. Thanks their just laying arond the grage collecting dust.

[fammdw]

Okay... I drilled out both of the rear baffle plates on each of the mufflers. I had to buy another 12" arbor extension because I was bottoming out the drill trying to reach the second plate with only one.

Question: Has anyone that has done this experienced a chirping sound on final decel when you roll off the throttle? When I roll on the throttle standing beside the bike, I hear some strange chirping like sound just as the pipes settle down back to idle. For the life of me, I can't tell if this sound is coming from the pipes themselves or I have a mount rattling somewhere near the rear of the bike. Never heard this sound before drilling out the baffle plates.

[redjay]

Something loose in the mufflers ?

[fammdw]

That's what I'm thinking maybe. Could have vibrated something loose with the drilling. I'm either going to find it or new pipes may be in my future well before planned.

[redjay]

See if you can put a broom handle up the muffler and stop the chirping while standing beside the bike. My guess is when you removed the baffles you left something unsupported in the muffler ?

[fammdw]

I'm not sure I know what you mean by something unsupported in the muffler. How would you go about fixing it if there was something like this? Please explain...

See if you can put a broom handle up the muffler and stop the chirping while standing beside the bike. My guess is when you removed the baffles you left something unsupported in the muffler ?

[redjay]

Presumable the baffles were supported in something in the front part of the muffler as well as the rear, which you drilled out. With out the baffle in place this part could now be unsupported and rattling ? Dont know how you could fix that without reversing what you have done. Get a flashlight and take a look down the muffler ?

[fammdw]

Presumable the baffles were supported in something in the front part of the muffler as well as the rear, which you drilled out. With out the baffle in place this part could now be unsupported and rattling ? Dont know how you could fix that without reversing what you have done. Get a flashlight and take a look down the muffler ?

I've already done that. Clean as a whistle down the tube to the catalytic material.

[redjay]

Maybe there is no fix for the chirping. Maybe the baffles you removed were muffling the chirp. The catalytic material is like a honeycomb, correct ? Maybe they are acting like a reed, causing the chirp ? Knock out the catalytic material ?

[fammdw]

Maybe there is no fix for the chirping. Maybe the baffles you removed were muffling the chirp. The catalytic material is like a honeycomb, correct ? Maybe they are acting like a reed, causing the chirp ? Knock out the catalytic material ?

I'm going to take a closer look at it when the temp rises above single digits. Like to have froze my butt off drilling them out today. Maybe I need to sell my Corbin seat and buy a set of V&Hs. That will fix it!

[redjay]

Or get a set of 2009/2010 Voyager mufflers. They are noisier than the 2011/2012's.

[ponch]

But the 1700 slip ons are still pretty special (integrated mid pipe), and the price is about $100 different than the full system for the 1600. It's not half price or anything. The Mufflers are the expensive part.

From the V&H web:
1600 Nomad system $548
1700 Nomad slip on: $449

With the available full system on the 1600, once you had the new headers on, your selection of "slip on" mufflers to customize with became endless because of the standard pipe size and fitment. With a good swap meet find and some extra dough, you had endless options.

On the 1700, you have a handful of slip ons to choose from. period.

I went a custom route, but have over $1100 tied up in the exhaust (the mufflers were $800).

Yeah, but with Vance and Hines reputation with the header pipes on the 1600, getting slip-ons would be a plus.

[RVR]

I debaffled the pipes on my vaquero, same noise. Checked all the bolts and mounts, no luck, I think it has to do with how the air is now flowing through the mufflers.

[fammdw]

I debaffled the pipes on my vaquero, same noise. Checked all the bolts and mounts, no luck, I think it has to do with how the air is now flowing through the mufflers.

Interesting... I can't find anything loose either. It's not bad and I don't hear it unless I'm cranking the throttle in neutral. I know... "Then don't do that". It doesn't do it at all until the bike warms up and the idle drops back down around 9000 RPMs.

I think the benefit will outweigh this small inconvenience. I can tell the bike is running cleaner with them out. I'm not getting any popping either. Everything else is stock (intake, no fuel processor, no marble). Seems to climb through the power band smoother and quicker just like my Nomad did when I removed the baffles from it.

Also noticed that the bike temperature gauge didn't go as high as it normally does when idling.

[redjay]

"Idle drops back to 9,000 RPM's". Holy Mackerel ! No wonder the bike sounds different !

[fammdw]

I meant 900

"Idle drops back to 9,000 RPM's". Holy Mackerel ! No wonder the bike sounds different !

[redjay]

Just pulling your chain. I knew you meant 900 (g).

[fammdw]

Just pulling your chain. I knew you meant 900 (g).

When is your seat supposed to be done?

[redjay]

Build date is Jan 15th.

[Gonzo]

Okay... I drilled out both of the rear baffle plates on each of the mufflers. I had to buy another 12" arbor extension because I was bottoming out the drill trying to reach the second plate with only one.

Question: Has anyone that has done this experienced a chirping sound on final decel when you roll off the throttle? When I roll on the throttle standing beside the bike, I hear some strange chirping like sound just as the pipes settle down back to idle. For the life of me, I can't tell if this sound is coming from the pipes themselves or I have a mount rattling somewhere near the rear of the bike. Never heard this sound before drilling out the baffle plates.

Drilled both the back plates on mine. No chirping.

[fammdw]

Well that didn't last long...

I ran across a guy selling a pair of Vance & Hines Slash Cuts on another forum. He said he didn't like them because they were too loud. Picked them up for half what a new pair would cost. They came in yesterday and I installed them on the bike. The sound of the stock pipes with the baffles drilled out was okay and if not for running across this deal I would have been satisfied (for a while). The sound of the V&Hs are night and day better though in my opinion.

[Rotoman40]

So is this done like the videos I've seen on you tube? And should I wait till warranty is up? Cause I want louder and I think the price of slip ons is a rip off. U paid same price for whole system on my other bike.

[fammdw]

Looks like you have a 2012 Vaquero, so no it's not done like the YouTube videos. All of the YouTube videos I've seen is for the 1600 Nomads. If you follow those instructions on the 1700, you will ruin your pipes.

You have to get a 1 1/4 inch hole saw and at least one 12 inch arbor extension (on mine, it took 2 extensions fastened together). You have to drill through two baffle plates and stop shy of drilling into the catalytic material behind the second baffle.

So is this done like the videos I've seen on you tube? And should I wait till warranty is up? Cause I want louder and I think the price of slip ons is a rip off. U paid same price for whole system on my other bike.

[Rotoman40]

It seems to hard and I'm afraid I'll ruin the pipes. Thanks for the information.

[fammdw]

It's really not though. If you read this entire thread you can see how weirded out I was thinking about taking the drill to my pipes. It was simply a matter of drilling through two thin plates inside each pipe though.

You go through them a lot quicker and easier than drilling out the weld of the baffle tube on the 1600. I've done them both now. 1700 was easier. I guess I was nervous about it because the 1700 was new when I did it.

Somebody posted a link in this thread to gadget's page showing a three baffle exhaust. It's just like that, only there's just two baffle plates to go through.

It seems to hard and I'm afraid I'll ruin the pipes. Thanks for the information.

[Rotoman40]

That page was very helpful. Thanks may try now.

[fammdw]

You will find the first baffle plate about 5" inside the pipe. When I did mine I missed having enough reach by about a half inch getting through the second plate with a 12" arbor extension. I had to run back to Home Depot and buy another one to have the reach to get through number two. Only $9 more though.

May very well have been the shape of my drill though. Most people say they can get through both with one 12" extension.

Shine a flashlight inside the tail pipe. You can see the plates you will be drilling through.

[Rotoman40]

Ok I did it sounds great but one of the plugs didn't come out. I don't see it in the pipe so not sure were it went. There isn't a place it could fall into is there?

[fammdw]

That's pretty normal. The second baffle on both my pipes fell in under the cat material when I drilled them out. Most people on here say they don't get the second baffles out.

I don't believe it will hurt anything. When I pulled my stock pipes off I could hear them sliding around inside the pipe. I couldn't even shake them out.

Ok I did it sounds great but one of the plugs didn't come out. I don't see it in the pipe so not sure were it went. There isn't a place it could fall into is there?

[Rotoman40]

Ok thanks for all the help. Took me all of 15 minutes. Sounds great.

[fammdw]

No problem! Glad you got the result you were looking for. Now that nice green machine will sound as good as it looks!

Ride safe...

[chuckster131]

Yup lost mine in there as well.. No harm No foul tho