Removed my catalytic converter today

Devilbear750

The ST I just bought had all the bells and whistles for heat reduction (header wrap, inner fairing cut out, I guess that's it), but I got to thinking about that damn cat clogging up the exhaust and heating up the place. I like the volume so I didn't want to buy new cans. I knew where it was located, so I just cut the pipe right after the weld where the pipe transitions up to the larger diameter, but not all the way through. I left a little bit to bend the tube down so it would go back in the same place and line up properly. Then I just went to town with my Bosch Bulldog hammer drill. 1/2" bit around the perimeter, than the chisel to get it all the way out. Worked like a charm. Then I bent the tube back in place and TIG welded it back together. A passing glance won't notice, but if you're familiar with ST's and actually stare at the exhaust tube you'll see the new bead.

Now if this snow would just melt I can ride the darn thing! :p:
 
You DO know there is a transmitter chip that when uninstalled...the Federal E.P.A. is notified. Hey....they are on the way...hear those sirens blaring? RUN...hide.....
 
They're gonna bust me for my S-10 than as well :policeST: Of course I sold that a while ago.

I can take pics tomorrow. I was wearing gloves all day because it was only 35 in my garage so I wasn't thinking about my camera.

I'll post audio when I run it. We just got 6" of snow. It's supposed to be in the high 40's this week so I might fire it up for a spin.
 
Great tip - you say you used a tig to weld it - did you use the conventional wire, or is there a stainless wire available? I've welded stainless with steel wire before but the weld rusts later. I'd try this for sure if I knew it wouldn't rust.
I'm not clear where you cut - was it just after the weld just before the transition, or just after the weld just after the transition?
Also, how thick is the exhaust pipe; I usually use .035 wire - will that work?

Thanks in advance for your answers.
 
Here's the passing glance shot:

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Close up (I'm not a welder by any stretch, but it doesn't look bad)

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And the crap that came out.

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Sorry I didn't take any during pics but I think you can get the idea from my weld bead.

I told a friend who had an R1 about this. He said his R1 had TWO cats in the pipe, and when he went to an Arkapovic exhaust it really brought the temps down so I'm hoping this will help as well.
 
Art Franz said:
Great tip - you say you used a tig to weld it - did you use the conventional wire, or is there a stainless wire available? I've welded stainless with steel wire before but the weld rusts later. I'd try this for sure if I knew it wouldn't rust.
I'm not clear where you cut - was it just after the weld just before the transition, or just after the weld just after the transition?
Also, how thick is the exhaust pipe; I usually use .035 wire - will that work?

Thanks in advance for your answers.
Click to expand...

I didn't have any of the SS rod so I just used what I had on hand. I suppose I should have, but Airgas was closed yesterday. Oh well, if it rusts, it rusts. I'll just wire wheel it off and ride on. I've welded exhaust before and the rusting wasn't absurd, but there was a little surface rust during the winter storage.

And it looked like 16ga thickness. It took a while to get the cut started with my sawzall, but when it was going it went pretty quick.

Oh, and I'll update the sound with a video when it's running for the year.
 
Congratulations, after the removal did you notice any changes to the sound of the bike ?
Any change in fuel consumption ?
Any change in acceleration ?

Is it really hard to take cat. con. coils from the tube ? Is it a very hard metal or bendable ?
Did you do any other modifications to the exhausts?
Thanks
 
Boy that's a lot of crap in there it's amazing the gases get past there.

I'd like to get rid of mine but don't want to cut and reweld it. OR pay $$$ for aftermarket pipes.
 
Yea, I suppose the snow's gone now. I forgot about this thread. Sorry folks.

The exhaust sound a little rumblier (if that's a word) when you gas it at lower to mid revs. No sound change high. Coming down a 4 lane at 80 mph for almost a whole tank gave me 41mpg, but I might have had a tail wind. I also think it's cooler than before, but when I rode it with the cats it was less than 40 degrees out. I will say that others that have taken the cats out on other bikes all notice a heat difference.

I'm going on a 3500 mile trip starting this Saturday down to Key West. I'm sure I'll be able to provide a heat update then.
 
So has there been any measurable benefit to removing the catalysts?

Inquiring minds wanna know.

--Mark
 
All the aftermarket pipes will essentially remove the cat since you're replacing that part of the pipe.

I think the benefit is the weight loss and there isn't as much heat. Not sure about mileage, I haven't noticed anything.
 
You can't remove the cats from your bike. The Honda engineers designed it that way and they know best. You'll crash and burn!!! Of course I'm being facetious. I read a post about someone drilling through the cats. I've given it some thought but haven't done anything yet.
 
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