exhaust baffles

[stal871]

My 81SH came with 4-1 exhaust when I bought it in 2000. I'm not sure what the brand-name or type of system it is or how to tell. Anyway, I was wondering if removing the baffle would be an OK idea to give it a little louder/meaner sound.

Has anyone got any how-to tips? Looks like there is one little rivet on the axle-side of the pipe to hold it in place.

Thanks

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Stal87,

My baffle on my 81SH with 4-1 pipes, old JCW probably under license from MAC, fell out one day due to the bolt/nut coming loose. Made a hellofalot of noise. It also reduces the backpressure considerably. It has been recently posted by knowledgable folks that you can run just headers and the pipe/muffler without the baffle without any ill effects to the engine, but most cities have ordinances against that level of noise!

THere was a discussion about how to deepen the sound, and that enlarning the diameter of the hole of the baffle outlet would help to increase and deepen the tone, but unless you've got a welding machine, grinder, etc., could be difficult to fabricate!

SO...others have taken a 1/4" drill bit, and simply drilled a few holes in the end plate that the baffle is mounted to. However, with the recent talk about the size of the hole contibuting to the tone, you may want to go with larger holes, 1/2" or so. They can always be replugged with bolt/nut combos if you don't like the sound!
T.C.

[knewsom]

*cough* *cough* JB Weld! *cough* *cough*

[stal871]

thanks for the info. i went ahead and drilled 8 evenly spaced holes around the end plate. i makes a nice difference to me cuz i know what it sounded like before, but i still wouldn't call it a head-turning growl.

i guess it never will sound like a big v-twin. oh well, it will always be faster.