For about $520 OTD I got a Python 2-into-1, SE Air Cleaner and HD/Dynojet kit.

The old stuff came off pretty easily. No need to remove the gas tank like the service manual says.
Put in the Dynojet jet holder and a 180 main (despite the instructions saying to use a 170, may revisit that) and ran the idle screw out to 3 1/5 turns (stock was 2). Also put in the Dynojet needle (e-clip at 3) but the stock slide spring. I may tune this some more too.

Maybe I ain't right in the head but this pipe is a little too loud, particularly for my 8:30 p.m. test ride.
It runs smooth, farts not at all, and pulls a little harder. Throttle response seems just a very tiny tad more soggy than before so I'm going to try the 170 in a few days. From what I've read on this board the 180 should be right so it's probably the needle adjustment and the fact that I used the stock slide spring.

The dealer was going to charge me $375 (the $295 after I turned them down once) to do this. I haven't done a project like this for 15 years so it took me 4 hours so far. The instructions with the pipe, air cleaner and jet kit are adequate but having the service manual around doesn't hurt.

Notes to others doing their own Stage 1:
Don't forget that vaccum tube on the back of the carb. It will make a weird chirp when cranking the motor with the choke on and it ain't going to start.
Don't forget the Loc-tite and get some hex-head sockets rather than allen wrenches.

 

Sounds like a good thing! I have pythons slip ons on mine and love the sound.

 

The 3.5 turns out on the low speed idle jet sounds like a lot. How did you come up with this setting? Did you tune it with a warmed up motor? I usually turn the idle adjust screw down to very slow idle, then turn the idle jet screw in to the point of stalling, then back out to a smooth idle. Then I add an additional 1/4-1/2 turn,. then return the idle adjust screwback up to proper idle speed.You may be at too rich a mixture explaining why you have this soft response in the throttle.The general rule is, poor response in low to mid range throttle: low speed jet too big or needle jet too high, poor throttle response in high range: main jet too big. Visa /versa on a lean condition (if I'm not mistaken). Any way you look at it, enjoy the new response of the improved motor.

 

dammit theres those hex head screws again. I'll put em in over the winter OK?!?! NOW STOP TALKING ABOUT THEM.

 

[sm=exactly.gif] You also didn't say what size you changed the pilot jet to. That's the most important one and may explain why you are out so many turns on the mixture screw.

 

Bigtop1,
3.5 turns came from the Harley/Dynojet instruction sheet. I'll dial it to3 before I go to work and take a screwdriver.

cHarley,
I didn't change the pilot/idle jet based on a few posts here. It seems like the 883s don't always need it.

The sleepy-head neighbors get a wake up call in about 5 minutes!

 

I would remove the pilot jet and check it's size. It should be a #45 minimum. I believe stock is a #42.
I think you may have it backwards. Some people don't change the main jet, almost everyone changes the pilot jet.

 

 

I have the same setup as you except I have a K&N filter and modded stock air box. I love the sound of the Python 2-1 and the gains were very noticable.

I am running a 175 main, 45 pilot and 1 3/4 turns on the mixture screw on my 2006 XL883.

 

The pilot/idle jet is a 42. The packing list for the HD/Dynojet kit doesn't show a pilot/idle jet of any size much less a 45, only mains.

I put in the Dynojet slide spring and adjusted the idle mixture screw to 2 3/4 (as per the procedure outlined by Bigtop1) and it seems to be running perfect now.
2 1/2 acted lean while riding it around and riding around today with it at 3 turns still seemed a tad soggy.

It sounds like I might have to get a 45 idle jet from the dealer and try the 170.

Thanks for the replies so far. It's a huge help to have to re-think things and defend technical decisions. It upsets a lot of people be second-guessed but I'd rather have a good running bike than "know" I'm right.