| Author | Message | ||
     Save_ferris |
I purchased an '09 Uly with an aftermarket exhaust. The seller shipped me the original muffler as well. About an hour into the ride home, the CEL came on. I called the seller and he said it has done that sometimes since replacing the muffler. Give the throttle a good rap and it goes away. I did, and it did. It comes on earlier and stays on more persistently now. On the original muffler, the valve moves freely. Obviously, I need to find out what is actually causing the CEL, but I'd like input on stock vs. aftermarket mufflers. I don't know the brand, but it's stainless, with a forked outlet pipe. After reading the manual about the muffler, It does seem like midrange torque could be better. | ||
| Etennuly |
It seems to me having read about it and my personal experience, that it is all about noise. The stock muffler has proven it's overall power/torque to be better than most aftermarket mufflers. They work well. A lot of folks are used to, or just like, more noise so they change them out. Many have found that the bike lost bottom end, mid range or top end power, depending on the muffler of course. I went from stock to the Buell race pipe with it's race ECM and tune on my then new '05 City-X. It picked a lot on top and some on the bottom and middle, but the sound was amazing. But then it was truly a "tuned for this bike" application. My Uly has an all stock tune with the air box opened up and a right side, end chamber, tail pipe that I made. I did it as a heat dump when my Uly was running too hot everywhere including really hot muffler on 100 degree summer days. It relieved some heat and it really sounded great without being too loud. So it is still on there. It made no difference to performance that I can see. | ||
| Tootal |
If your CEL is coming on check the muffler valve actuator. I'm assuming the aftermarket muffler does not have a valve in it. If the PO removed the actuator then that might be causing the CEL. Remove the air box cover on top, four screws. There should be an actuator screwed to the top of the air box. If not then that's the problem. Two things you can do: 1. Replace the actuator and just don't hook up the cable. It will work but won't do anything but satisfy the ECM. 2. Find someone or purchase the latest version of ECM SPY and go in and turn the actuator off. If you replace the aftermarket muffler with the stock one then you will need the actuator to work. When the system is all connected and working the CEL won't light up. | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
The muffle vlave cable may be gunked up or frayed on the end making it sticky. I suggest unhooking the cable at the top and pulling on it to see if it's sticky. DO NOT try to turn the servo by hand! | ||
| Griffmeister |
When my actuator went bad, Froggy helped me by disabling the parameter that triggers the CEL. He was still able to leave the actual control function active so that I could install a replacement actuator when I was able to. The only downside is if this one goes bad, I won't get a CEL to warn me. You can usually hear it when it's working so that's no big deal. Besides, you can always test it if you feel like taking the air box cover off. | ||
| Froggy |
If you post a picture I can identify the muffler. The CEL is most likely the actuator like mentioned above, but it could be other things like battery voltage issues (flaky regulator). It should leave a historic code in the ECM that you can pull and see what it is. | ||
| Save_ferris |
Thanx for all the info guys. The seller told me the cable is still there, just not connected at the muffler end. The aftermarket muffler doesn't have the valve. I definitely need to get ECM Spy, from what I've read, although all the connectors I can find on eBay are for '08 and older?!? I will pull the airbox cover off a get a look under there next week. This is the only pic I have that shows the current muffler. I'll post a better one later today.  | ||
| Save_ferris |
One more thing, can someone explain "Airbox opened up", and how to tell if it's been done? Thanks. | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
2006 and earlier inner airboxes were like a solid bowl. 2007 and later were slotted for a bit more airflow. In other words, you don't have to worry about it  My friend had a 2004 XB12S and he opened his up with a holesaw. Looked like a salt shaker after he was done. Then he "loudened up" his stock muffler and had to have his ECU reprogrammed to squirt more gas. It ran really nicely after that. | ||
| Reepicheep |
I wouldn't mess with a post 06 airbox. They breathe fine. When they plugged the snorkel that went through the frame, they opened up the airbox on the top. The origional design was likely created like it was to support a turbo, which, sadly, Harley Davidson lacked the courage to release. If you do mess with it, make sure anything you do is before the air filter, not after it.  | ||
| Save_ferris |
Thanks guys. | ||
| Save_ferris |
Froggy, Here's a few close ups if it helps you ID it.   | ||
| Save_ferris |
Loving the bike by the way. I find myself looking for any excuse to go ride. I leave early for work and take roundabout routes. Kinda' silly, but what a fantastic machine. | ||
| Froggy |
Pretty sure it is a Dean Adams exhaust http://ecommerce.deanadamsdesigns.com/product_info .php?cPath=22&products_id=38 | ||
| Save_ferris |
Thanks Froggy! |
