Can I Gut my cat? Has anyone else done this?

[07PSDCREW]

Hello all. I have the ability and the tools to perform making a “straight pipe”. I wondered if anyone else here has done it? I’m not afraid of spending the $5-600 on the pipe that is available, I just don’t want to wait 4 months for it to be built, so I’ve considered modifying the factory pipe. I’ve performed this on My Polaris Rzr Pro XP with great results before.
Does anyone have any experience with this on a Spyder? Thanks. It’s a 2013 Spyder RT 998
Leon

 

[mecsw500]

I think your neighbors will just love you.

It will change the performance characteristics of your engine. If, and that’s if, it increases your performance it will likely move your max torque and power up the rev range.

In either case, the engine is already peaky enough, moving peak torque higher still in the rev range might not be something you will find acceptable.

On the other hand, a free flowing straight pipe might reduce performance through much different pulse scavenging than the stock setup.

 

[BajaRon]

The title sounds a bit cruel!

On the earlier models, the cat was in the muffler. I removed mine long ago and installed a Yoshumura muffler (after trying several others). I am quite happy with the results. Gutting the cat should give you about the same results. I would give it a try. I'm sure it has been done before, and I'm not sure $600.00 is going to give you $600.00 more benefit.

You can always spend that kind of money if the gutting doesn't do it for you.

 

[Peter Aawen]

I'd say that while MANY may have removed their Catalytic Converter, I'd guess that very few have actually 'gutted' their Cat!

If you ever do get around to opening it, you'll see why a simple 'straight pipe' (or a similar 'V' for the V-Twins) replacement is the easiest and most often preferred option - the Catalytic Converter is designed to be a heat trap, and that doesn't make it easy to just 'pull the guts out', so most don't bother once they see the insides.

Still, if you want more info on this, Search is your friend on this - try entering 'Cat Delete' or maybe even 'Catalytic Converter' into the Search field (top right of the page, click on 'Search' to open it), only, at least initially, check the 'Search titles only' check box to restrict the results to threads with those words in their titles, or you'll be swamped by all the posts referring to this! There is a LOT of discussion already here on this subject, which is why it ALWAYS pays to search FIRST!

 

[mecsw500]

If you are going to actually gut the CAT, then I strongly suggest you use appropriate respiratory equipment. The heavy metals, oxides, hydrocarbon dust within should not be inhaled. Some are toxic and a lot are a fine dust particulates which are certainly not good for your health.

Wear old clothes you can throw away and take a good shower afterwards to get all the materials out of your hair etc.