2010 FE450 exhaust screen removal?

DeeG said:

I just picked up a 2010 FE450 and I am in the process of adding accessories and getting ready for spring. I have read mixed opinions about removing the screen on the end of the silencer. As I understand it, the 2010 has an internal spark arrester, so I don't need the screen for that. I have heard it increases the noise slightly. I have also heard that it will likely fall out anyway. So I am wondering if I should just remove it now.

What are the pros and cons of removing the screen?

Do I remove the star shaped nut as well? Or just the screen?
Is there any trick to removing it? Do you just use channel-lock pliers on the star shaped nut?
If I leave it in, how do you wash the bike without getting water in the pipe?

Thanks,

Click to expand...

Use the supplied axle wrench - it has one side/end just for that nut.

It will fall out because that nut will come loose, even with lock-tite. I put some safety wire through it and around the silencer mount and it still came off. So I stuck some safety wire through it, bent the ends of the wire out to act like a claw and stuck those down into the silencer so they drag on the inside diameter of the exhaust. That works.

I did this because I don't have a spark arrestor inside my silencer and I think this little double sided screen, in combination with the fact that the silencer is not 'straight through' is sufficient to be a spark arrestor; I don't see how a hot carbon particle could escape the silencer with that screen in place. You do notice a slight increase in sound without it and it does seem to pop more without it too.

Yes, you should remove the nut too if you remove the screen or you will lose the nut.