Completed the Bafflectomy

bokobob · 04-17-2010, 06:07 PM

Though born with all thumbs and no fingers, figuratively speaking, I managed to get the bafflectomy completed in just about two hours including an 18 mile round trip to Lowe's to get more "stuff" during the two hours...

I happened upon a 3/8th inch plug in drill at a garage sale for $3 adn so just tackled the job after lunch....The circular saw worked fine though plenty of patience adn WD 40 is helpful, and I got one side sawed through, then the other, but could not get the baffles to come out with the needle nose pliers...so I went to Lowe's and picked up a 1 1/8th inch dowel three feet long and a set of needle nose vise grips...After inserting the dowel into each side for a few minutes and rotatiing the baffles, I started to tug on one baffle with the vise grips and after a few minutes (seemed longer, but it wasn't), it just broke loose...the other side was more stubborn but inside of ten minutes, I had it out too..

Now, for the acid test"...start that puppy up....take her for a ride.......The sound at idle was pleasing to me...a good rumble but in no way too loud like the Vance And Hines pipes (to my ears) which I removed in favor of the stock pipes last fall...at speeds up to 40 mph, I sensed they were nice and rumbly, not Harley-like, but a pleasant subdued rumble and at highway speeds they seemed fine and very easy on the ears...overall evaluation so far is that it is a nice mod and improves my enjoyment of the bike..one would never in a million years need ear plugs with this mod..

The bafflectomy tutorial was most helpful...

AlabamaNomadRider · 04-17-2010, 09:37 PM

Congratulations on completing the debaffle. Those suckers were difficult for me to get out also. I even tore the metal using needle nose pliers. Ended up getting a slide hammer from O'Reilly Auto Parts. It worked like a charm. Glad you were able to complete it. You will really like the new sound.

ken · 04-18-2010, 02:54 AM

I'd like to perform this type of surgery on my 05 as well, but because of the strict inspections here in Germany, I would like to be able to put the baffles back in prior to the inspection...Is that possible? Anyone thought about this sort of thing before?

audiogooroo · 04-18-2010, 05:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ken

I'd like to perform this type of surgery on my 05 as well, but because of the strict inspections here in Germany, I would like to be able to put the baffles back in prior to the inspection...Is that possible? Anyone thought about this sort of thing before?

I just have a set of stock pipes set side in case I ever need to comply with yet another government intrusion into my life. :)
It would only take a few minutes to swap them out.

bokobob · 04-18-2010, 06:32 AM

Yep, you could swap the debaffled pipes for pure stocks at inspection time, and also, it seems to me the re-insertion of the baffles would be very simple for inspection as well..they fit snugly...

vincent · 04-18-2010, 06:43 AM

I really like my debaffled pipes. You are 100% right, the tutorial on this forum made it easy.

blowndodge · 04-18-2010, 09:59 AM

I'm wondering, if a very clean cut and paint touch up job, if an inspector would even notice? I already got stuck in an inspection line at the beach in California and passed both visual and sound test.

**coacha** · 04-18-2010, 06:23 PM

BD, you passed because of your snappy attire. They didn't think you were a biker dude, just a RUB. :)

redjay · 04-18-2010, 06:59 PM

If the inspector was not aware of what the mufflers looked like when stock I doubt they would even notice they were debaffled.

blowndodge · 04-19-2010, 08:55 PM

and it passed the sound test!

shuddup coach!!

cactusjack · 04-19-2010, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by audiogooroo

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ken

I'd like to perform this type of surgery on my 05 as well, but because of the strict inspections here in Germany, I would like to be able to put the baffles back in prior to the inspection...Is that possible? Anyone thought about this sort of thing before?

I just have a set of stock pipes set side in case I ever need to comply with yet another government intrusion into my life. :)
It would only take a few minutes to swap them out.

I have full stock exhaust system and full de-baffled exhaust system stored in my garage. Just in case.

landman · 04-20-2010, 10:34 AM

i kept my stock pipes also just in case.aside from the emmission
issues i hear of more and more attempts to enforce strict noise
ordances. :'(

rickyboy · 04-20-2010, 10:42 AM

We don't have any compulsory inspections here in BC, but I would highly doubt they'd be able to tell just from looking. I might get questioned if I had to rev it up. Since I did the duel Cadmann mod the bike did seem to increase in loudness/rumble/throatiness.... somewhat.

bokobob · 04-22-2010, 07:54 PM

BTW, I retained the stock muffler and goat belly system except for the debaffling as described in the lead off post in this thread.....I want to add that essentially every Harley including all with stock pipes I have ever heard is louder than the debaffled 1600 CC Nomad, so passing an inspection seems like a no brainer to me...your opinion and experience may vary.

kentc2003 · 08-05-2016, 08:24 PM

Hey I am new to the site. Excellent information. I tried clicking on the link for the bafflectomy and it doesn't go to the right spot. Am I tech challenged here?

Thaks

04-17-2010, 06:07 PM	#1
bokobob Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Gastonia, NC Posts: 294	Completed the Bafflectomy Though born with all thumbs and no fingers, figuratively speaking, I managed to get the bafflectomy completed in just about two hours including an 18 mile round trip to Lowe's to get more "stuff" during the two hours... I happened upon a 3/8th inch plug in drill at a garage sale for $3 adn so just tackled the job after lunch....The circular saw worked fine though plenty of patience adn WD 40 is helpful, and I got one side sawed through, then the other, but could not get the baffles to come out with the needle nose pliers...so I went to Lowe's and picked up a 1 1/8th inch dowel three feet long and a set of needle nose vise grips...After inserting the dowel into each side for a few minutes and rotatiing the baffles, I started to tug on one baffle with the vise grips and after a few minutes (seemed longer, but it wasn't), it just broke loose...the other side was more stubborn but inside of ten minutes, I had it out too.. Now, for the acid test"...start that puppy up....take her for a ride.......The sound at idle was pleasing to me...a good rumble but in no way too loud like the Vance And Hines pipes (to my ears) which I removed in favor of the stock pipes last fall...at speeds up to 40 mph, I sensed they were nice and rumbly, not Harley-like, but a pleasant subdued rumble and at highway speeds they seemed fine and very easy on the ears...overall evaluation so far is that it is a nice mod and improves my enjoyment of the bike..one would never in a million years need ear plugs with this mod.. The bafflectomy tutorial was most helpful... __________________ Old Bob, a 1936 Model 2007 Nomad...Sold....too heavy for me :-( 1994 Honda Magna V4...Geezer sized :-) Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

04-17-2010, 09:37 PM	#2
AlabamaNomadRider Sr. Contributor Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Boaz, Alabama Posts: 13,742	Completed the Bafflectomy Congratulations on completing the debaffle. Those suckers were difficult for me to get out also. I even tore the metal using needle nose pliers. Ended up getting a slide hammer from O'Reilly Auto Parts. It worked like a charm. Glad you were able to complete it. You will really like the new sound. __________________ Gene Cross, Jr. Boaz, Alabama KawaNOW/VBA #1181
	0

04-18-2010, 02:54 AM	#3
ken Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: North Germany Posts: 295	Completed the Bafflectomy I'd like to perform this type of surgery on my 05 as well, but because of the strict inspections here in Germany, I would like to be able to put the baffles back in prior to the inspection...Is that possible? Anyone thought about this sort of thing before? __________________ Ken in Grosshansdorf
	0

04-18-2010, 06:32 AM	#5
bokobob Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Gastonia, NC Posts: 294	Completed the Bafflectomy Yep, you could swap the debaffled pipes for pure stocks at inspection time, and also, it seems to me the re-insertion of the baffles would be very simple for inspection as well..they fit snugly... __________________ Old Bob, a 1936 Model 2007 Nomad...Sold....too heavy for me :-( 1994 Honda Magna V4...Geezer sized :-) Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

04-18-2010, 06:43 AM	#6
vincent Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 105	Completed the Bafflectomy I really like my debaffled pipes. You are 100% right, the tutorial on this forum made it easy.
	0

04-18-2010, 09:59 AM	#7
blowndodge Sr. Contributor Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Washington City, Utah Posts: 16,474	Completed the Bafflectomy I'm wondering, if a very clean cut and paint touch up job, if an inspector would even notice? I already got stuck in an inspection line at the beach in California and passed both visual and sound test. __________________ I love my Victory Cross Country Tour 106. Smells like Victory! Ultra's are Limited There are two types of Harley riders. Those that trailer them and those that push them. The most Interesting Man in the World "Find the things in life you don't do well and don't do those things" Member # 0005
	0

04-18-2010, 06:23 PM	#8
coacha Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Haysville, KS Posts: 6,259	Completed the Bafflectomy BD, you passed because of your snappy attire. They didn't think you were a biker dude, just a RUB. :) __________________ Ron "Coach" Allan, Haysville, KS 1999 Nomad Wine and Red "KawaTanker" 2009 BMW R1200RT 2003 BMW K1200LT "Magic Carpet" DOA 11/7/2015 VBA #00291 IBA # 41995 DS #320 '08 Elkins, WV; '09 Helen, GA; '09 Custer, SD; '10 Stanton, VA; '11 Maggie Valley; '12 Townsend, TN; '13 Estes Park; '13 Blairsville, GA; '15 Eureka Springs; '16 Helen; '18 Custer, SD
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04-18-2010, 06:59 PM	#9
redjay Top Contributor Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Ontario Posts: 7,017	Completed the Bafflectomy If the inspector was not aware of what the mufflers looked like when stock I doubt they would even notice they were debaffled.
	0

04-19-2010, 08:55 PM	#10
blowndodge Sr. Contributor Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Washington City, Utah Posts: 16,474	Completed the Bafflectomy and it passed the sound test! shuddup coach!! __________________ I love my Victory Cross Country Tour 106. Smells like Victory! Ultra's are Limited There are two types of Harley riders. Those that trailer them and those that push them. The most Interesting Man in the World "Find the things in life you don't do well and don't do those things" Member # 0005
	0

04-20-2010, 10:34 AM	#12
landman Sr. Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: wheatland,wy. Posts: 3,642	Completed the Bafflectomy i kept my stock pipes also just in case.aside from the emmission issues i hear of more and more attempts to enforce strict noise ordances. :'( __________________ bob wittman VBA # 745 COG #11621 wheatland,wy. rallies-custer 09,kalispell 10,crescent city 11,kanab 12,estes park 13,orifino 14.,red lodge 16 2015 ninja 1000 abs 2014 concourse 14 2012 concourse 14-sold 2011 vaquero-sold 2008 nomad-sold 2005 classic-sold
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04-20-2010, 10:42 AM	#13
rickyboy Top Contributor Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: 108 Mile Ranch B.C. Canada Posts: 5,472	Completed the Bafflectomy We don't have any compulsory inspections here in BC, but I would highly doubt they'd be able to tell just from looking. I might get questioned if I had to rev it up. Since I did the duel Cadmann mod the bike did seem to increase in loudness/rumble/throatiness.... somewhat. __________________ Nomad'a What ! "rickyboy" Richard Cole Canada West Region 108 Mile Ranch, British Columbia Canada Vulcan Bagger Assoc. #00722 Black 2006 Nomad https://cdn2.iconfinder.com/data/ico...Book_32x32.png
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04-22-2010, 07:54 PM	#14
bokobob Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Gastonia, NC Posts: 294	Completed the Bafflectomy BTW, I retained the stock muffler and goat belly system except for the debaffling as described in the lead off post in this thread.....I want to add that essentially every Harley including all with stock pipes I have ever heard is louder than the debaffled 1600 CC Nomad, so passing an inspection seems like a no brainer to me...your opinion and experience may vary. __________________ Old Bob, a 1936 Model 2007 Nomad...Sold....too heavy for me :-( 1994 Honda Magna V4...Geezer sized :-)
	0

08-05-2016, 08:24 PM	#15
kentc2003 Jr. Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Ontario Posts: 3	Hey I am new to the site. Excellent information. I tried clicking on the link for the bafflectomy and it doesn't go to the right spot. Am I tech challenged here? Thaks
	0

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