Early 1961 FLH exhaust

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jjohnson1177
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Early 1961 FLH exhaust

#1

Post by jjohnson1177 »

Greetings to all! Back in 1988 when I got my '61 FLH it had the stock duel exhaust on it, which was two seperate pipes. It being a fairly early '61 the system was correct for the bike. When I did the paint and chromed a few items I replaced the exhaust with a Paughco exhaust system patterned after the later FLHs where they interconnect. My question is this: how much better if any is the later system as far as back pressure. Since I 'm going back more stock and I did keep all the old parts, I'm thinking about reinstalling the older system for orginallity sake. I don't really remember much if any difference in performace.
Hauula Pan
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Re: Early 1961 FLH exhaust

#2

Post by Hauula Pan »

The difference isn't so much about back pressure as it is about equalization. On a stock motor there really isn't much of a difference. Since you mentioned you chromed a few things etc. I'm guessing you're not doing a full on stock restoration so I'd say run whichever you prefer.
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Re: Early 1961 FLH exhaust

#3

Post by 58flh »

Im not sure but if your timer is a dualpoint--Then by all means its nice to have separate plumbing for each cyl.!/As you have a true singlefire IG.--IF its a manual ADV.-singlepoint ,then IT is still good to have dual ex.!---no need for balance pipe & if you were to run it on a dyno with a 2 into 1 or a true fual---there will be a difference in performance!--It will get better lowend & at hi-end there will be an increase in HP!. AS HULLAPAN said it is marginal--but there!---If your bike came with factory duals ,then your not hurting nothing by going with stock-duals!--Im making a change for duals eventually/that's another posting! :lol: /& remember its not back-pressure its a PULSE that is your ex.note!--The more you scramble them & get rid of them the BETTER!---CHECK the K-BASE!----RICHIE
KELD
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Re: Early 1961 FLH exhaust

#4

Post by KELD »

From my experience when i bought my bike it had a Paughco "True Dual" set up with 35" fishtail shotguns.
Ran like a sack of shit. No bottom end, no grunt.
Replaced it all with a correct two into two setup with the crossover and some decent fishtail mufflers.
Took some time dialing in the Super E, but now it runs perfectly.
Throw those pipes in the scrap.
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Cotten
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Re: Early 1961 FLH exhaust

#5

Post by Cotten »

KELD!

I have no doubt your Paughco exhaust with fishtails ran poorly.
(My fishtails hang on the wall.)

But the OEM separate cross-over itself was a work of art, and cannot be blamed for what follows it.
Just can't seem to focus today, Folks...
Just can't seem to focus today, Folks...
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And the performance of the ugly squared-for-estart Paughco replacement is probably not much different, by the seat of the pants anyway.
lookit dem evil intake clamps!
lookit dem evil intake clamps!
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One member of this forum found his late Pan full duals separated by a freezeplug at the bottom of the rear header.

Sounds proper to me.

....Cotten
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Re: Early 1961 FLH exhaust

#6

Post by panhead_kicker »

I tried the true duals on my 64 also. M74B , single point manual advance and long cigars. Didn't run well at all. Went to the stock crossover duals and it seem to run much better.
jjohnson1177
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Re: Early 1961 FLH exhaust

#7

Post by jjohnson1177 »

Interesting replies. Years ago when I got my '61 (which is a early year model) it had the stock "true duels" and shorty mufflers. Sounded like crap. A set of factory fishtails (like what KELD has on his bike) was immediately installed and the bike ran perfect. It still has the stock duel points and stock Linkert. When I upgraded to the later FLH exhaust (exhaust with a crossover, which was made by Paugcho) I really didn't see any improvement that I could tell by the seat of my pants. Bike ran and still runs great. I still have access to my original rear pipe which I was thinking of reinstalling for originality sake.
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Re: Early 1961 FLH exhaust

#8

Post by Cotten »

To echo Richie's post,

There is no more charming an exhaust note for the rider than a true dual exhaust.
And there is none more exquisite than with a single-fire dual-point timer.

(All other concerns must be in order, of course!)

But if everybody says they are junk, they surely must be huh.
*sigh*
*sigh*
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.....Cotten
KELD
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Re: Early 1961 FLH exhaust

#9

Post by KELD »

happily sold mine on ebay...
good riddance i say!
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