Any harm removing baffles?

[Kainam]

Originally Posted by Deadpool

My 03 low rider is without baffles, courtesy of the previous owner my brother-in-law. I am planning on putting on the SE slipons. Will this correct the overly lean condition? Will I have to rejet or can I just adjust the air/mix screw and be set to go?
dP

It will get you closer. Whether or not the A/F mixture is close enough after the muffler install, only testing will be able to tell.

[Nathang]

Carburetors are my nemesis.. none I ever worked on ever worked right again,
so I'm far from being an expert, but isn't air mix adjustment primarily for idle? Dave?

[brokebolt]

Get a rag and fold it over a few times, remove the muffler, put the output (exhaust output) on the rag and then punch them out. I used a 3/4 inch by 24 inch socket extension and a small 40 ounce hand driver and pounded the plug out. Looks like a freeze plug when removed. You can also use a hole saw with an extension bit on a drill but I opted for the beating and hammering method. No noticable difference except noise. Possibly worse fuel economy but really can't tell. At 55 M.P.H. I only get 50 M.P.G. and at 65-70 M.P.H. it get only 46 M.P.G.

[Kainam]

Originally Posted by Nathang

Carburetors are my nemesis.. none I ever worked on ever worked right again,
so I'm far from being an expert, but isn't air mix adjustment primarily for idle? Dave?

Yes, the air mixture screw accessable externally on a stock carburetor (after removing the aluminum plug) only affects idle mixture.... However, there are modifications available for butterfly Keihins, S&S carbs etc that allow adjustment of the main jet mixture externally just like the idle mixture.

But I'm pretty sure we are talking about a stock Keihin CV here, so the main jet mod doesn't apply.

[jywlkrs26]

I drilled the baffles out of my 07 Wide Glide and have been very pleased. My dealer said it didn't need to be remapped. I've had it that way for about 8 months now and she runs fine and sounds great. 2'' hole saw did most of the work then removed the slip on part and stood them up on a block of wood (rear exhaust down on the wood) and using a piece of re-bar, hammered the baffles out from the end that slips on the header pipe. It took considerable effort and about 30 minutes each but once you get started there is no turning back. After getting the baffles out, reinstall the pipes, fire that muther up, and watch the packing blow out and sound get loud.