I am putting forward controls on my brand new 2009 883L Harley Davidson Sportster. I need to remove the exhaust and want to know what I am getting into or if it's hard? The directions for the Forward Controls say the exhaust needs to come off. Thanks.
Our Answer
Sergio...cool bike. I did those L model Sportsters. I think they look great and they are a blast to ride.....everyone goes ga ga over the big Harley's but I'll tell you...it's hard to beat a light little Sporty for just blasting around town....love em.
As for your exhaust question there really isn't much to it.....I am not going to try to give you a step by step but really you only need to be aware of a couple of things. First make sure that you have a new set of exhaust gaskets on hand for when you go to reinstall the pipes. Most of the time you won't need them but it would be my luck that the one time I did, I didn't have a set.
I always replace the gaskets everytime I remove a set of pipes....but some people try to cheap out and get away without doing it.
The 2nd tip is that I would loosen everything first but remove nothing. Loosen the bolts on the two head pipes and the rear bracket enough that you can move the pipes a bit....then you can get at the O2 sensors and make sure you remove these before you try to remove the pipes. Unplug them and then remove.
Now just remove the pipes all the way and installation is the reverse of removal. Use a bit of loctite on the headpipe bolts and use a bit of never sieze on the threads of the O2 sensors when you go to reinstall.
It seems like a big job but once you've done it....it's really pretty easy.
Good luck.
Some exhaust won;t fit with forward controls…you should research first.
just drive it a little longer and they will fall off…. lol
I’m sorry, honestly just look at what bolts hold it on. a couple at each cylinder and then a few back at the mufflers that should be it easy to remove.
you shouldn’t have to remove the exhaust to install forward controls ,remove the existing linkage where it connects under the bike then remove the foot peg and brake lever it should all slide out now .
when you install the forward controls install the longer brake linkage last
take the nuts off the studs (2) at the head and the support bolts out and your exhaust will be off, takes 5 minutes. you probably only have to do the front pipe, the rear pipe shouldn’t interfere.
there are thin gaskets for resealing the pipes to the heads, sometimes you get away with re-using them, sometimes you can’t so buy a set in advance.