De-cat Procedure - Step by Step

*** Under Construction***

This will take me a couple weeks to get through.  My ECU will need to go back to 2WDW for a tune to support the de-cat. I don't like to be down because I don't own a car, so I like to schedule things around my business trips.

I'll be adding steps as I go.  

For now, some information and a mid-pipe.

What is a catalytic converter?
It's a chamber full of catalyst material (usually carbon mixed with metals and silica) that changes the ignition temperature of unturned fuel in the exhaust stream. Its function is a little more complicated, but not much.
The effect is that unburned fuel in the exhaust gets burned in the catalytic converter so it doesn't pollute the environment (as much.) Because of its primary objective, it gets hotter than the jumper cables at an Alabama softball game. They also tend to be heavy.
In larger engines like cars, and especially older designs like 1970's GM products, they build up soot and eventually choke the exhaust. 
On modern vehicles, the catalyst doesn't restrict flow much at all. Manufacturers do sometimes snake the gas path through curves and S shapes inside the device.  This will slow the gas and can cause performance decreases.  

Why De-cat the bike?
Two reasons.
Weight savings.
Cooler running.

Is there a performance gain?
Possibly a HP, maybe two. Could be four.  Not a substantial gain in outright engine performance. The weight savings is a big gain in power:weight ratio.  I'll weigh the cat when I remove it, but I read somewhere that it is about 18 lbs. 
The heat reduction is a big plus for valve integrity and overall engine longevity. 



So, I bought a mid-pipe.  
It's a Danmoto. Amazon.com $187 with free shipping.
Yes,  I took a chance, but the product looks pretty good.  The welds are hand welds, but with good even flow and full penetration.  The tube ends are chamfered, and the bung threads are clean and burr free.  There is a small amount of weld material that purged through, but nothing major and nothing I would suspect of cracking.  A few hundred dollars cheaper than some famous name versions.  





photo uploader

To to be continued........