Hey yall,

I've just taken possession of an 09 FLHT. I've got about 500 hundred miles on her now. I noticed that the inside of the left (looking at the bike from the rear) muffler is considerably darker, or blackened compared to the other muffler. Mufflers are stock....for now. I shined a flashlight in up the pipes (felt like an OB/GYN ) and noticed the insides of the mufflers are completely different from each other in the way they are made. Was thinking that this could be one reason...or....my question...is this normal? Or, did one of the rings not seat right, and now I'm blowing oil out the pipe? One other thought is that I ride my bike every day. Since I've had the bike the temps have been pretty cold when heading to work (25-35 degrees), so I let it idle for a while to warm up before heading out. I was thinking that maybe since the bike is on the kickstand, and leans to the side of the blackened muffler that it could be moisture related?

For those who might bring it up...I followed the MOCO's suggested break in. I'll try to figger out a way to post a pic so y'all can see what I'm talkin about.

I appreciate any suggestions!

 

start the bike and place your hands behind both pipes.....You will discover the right blows harder than the left....it also runs hotter.

That's due to the crossover configuration coming off rear cylinder.

It's normal.

 

Thank ya!

 

I don't think I've ever looked up the pipes of my bike....interesting.

 

always beware whenever dealer service manager sez "it's normal", but trust us who have wrenched our own scoots a few years.

 

This is almost like having your doctor stick his camera in your pooper.

 

No it's not..................and you wouldn't say that if you ever had it done.
I'm not sayin' I'm just sayin. LOL

 

Interesting, on my 08, the right pipe is darker (most of the exhaust exits on the right) not the left.

 

You are running too rich or have a fouled plug/plugs......Plugs might be fouled because running too rich....If you have added fuel managment device, then it needs remapped.

Borrow an infared thermo gun and shoot both cylinder temps at the base of the plugs immediatly after hot laps. they should both read no more than about 280 degrees and they should be close in temp to each other....If one cylinder head is running lots cooler, then that's the one fouled or running rich....

The rear cylinder is mapped to get more fuel due to it's location in the cooling air flow, so don't shoot temps if bike is just sitting while running cause a properly mapped rear cylinder should read cooler due to programed enrichment, but should equal with front when subjected to hwy airflows.

 

i asked in another thread about the exhaust bore size etc and it is normal because the exhaust either exits out of left side only or both sides when the flap valve opens for more exhaust note ,the idea being that more torque is developed when only running thru the smaller opening on the left ( looking from behind) my problem is when you put aftermarket slip-ons on that are same bore size does it affect anything ?