Lafranconi accessory mufflers

[Hydrolastic]

I recently got a set of the Lafranconi accessory mufflers for the Cal 1400. Along with photos I have seen of the accessory pipes for the MGX-21, the circlip for the baffle appears to have a brace welded in after installation (along with burn marks on the baffle). Does anyone know if this is easy to remove without grinding or cutting the piece out? I'd like to have the option of running either with or without the baffle, and I don't want to risk tearing anything up with a Dremel if I don't have to. Also, does anyone know if the 80 dbA rating is with or without the baffle? I am curious, since all of the photos of the current and previous part numbers show the mufflers without a baffle installed.

Thanks,
Dave

 

[scottmastrocinque]

I don't have this particular motorcycle nor have I ever seen one of these exhausts up close and personal.

That being said, here is my take on what I see in your photo.

The manufacturer has gone to great lengths, to make it fairly clear about how they have "stopped" the customer from being able to alter the pipe in its homologated form. You can plainly see the circlip in a groove, holding in the cap. This circlip has been "modified" to prevent the consumer from removing it. They put 2 very hasty and plainly visible spot welds.



Are the spot welds part of the original design? No. Circlips by design, don't require any welding to stay fixed in place and had Lafranconi wanted the pipe completely sealed, they have the machinery to easily do that, but this alteration was done to obtain homologation for import/export.

Now remember, and I make no judgement here, but making alterations to a EPA Certified exhaust system for a motor vehicle, is a Federal crime. I am not suggesting that you modify your legal exhaust pipe.

That being said, I would wager the farm that if those two spot welds were to somehow fail and separate from the ends of the circlip, but in failing, they accidentally left intact those nice little holes at the ends, and then if a pair of circlip pliers accidentally fell out of the tool box and landed in those circlip holes at the ends, thereby inadvertently removing the circlip, then without question, I think that cap might fall out along with anything on the inside that you might guess is in there, as well.

If that were to accidentally happen, then it would be very fortuitous that you conveniently had those circlip pliers so that thanks to the preservation of those nice little holes at the ends of the circlip, you could put that cap back on and reinstall the circlip back to hold the cap in place like it was before this whole theoretical messy accident occurred in the first place. It would be as if nothing had happened, provided you didn't accidentally forget to put something back in. But this is all hypothetical anyway right?

That's how I see it.

Wish I could help you with that dilemma of yours but that would be illegal. Don't mess with your exhaust system. It's against the law.

 

[Paul Ash]

I recently got a set of the Lafranconi accessory mufflers for the Cal 1400. Along with photos I have seen of the accessory pipes for the MGX-21, the circlip for the baffle appears to have a brace welded in after installation (along with burn marks on the baffle). Does anyone know if this is easy to remove without grinding or cutting the piece out? I'd like to have the option of running either with or without the baffle, and I don't want to risk tearing anything up with a Dremel if I don't have to. Also, does anyone know if the 80 dbA rating is with or without the baffle? I am curious, since all of the photos of the current and previous part numbers show the mufflers without a baffle installed.

Thanks,
Dave

View attachment 21543

hi Dave,

I bought these in November and spent a happy three hours dremeling (is that a word?) the welds out. I didn’t hurt anything but it was a job and a half. I didn’t read the lengthy other reply here, but the reason they’re welded is that they can’t be sold as street legal if they don’t have the baffles in.

Obviously they know that you’ll take them out - but LaFranconi can’t be blamed if you do.

Anyway, of course you’ll remove them because everyone does.

It’s hard, but the small Dremel burrs do the job. Use lots of protective tape too. Get them to a point where you can insert a spudger and start to try to fatigue the remaining weld.

When you remove them, you have the choice of in or out.

They’re loud when out, so for a trip, or the annual inspection here in the UK, I’ll replace them. They’re definitely made for removing and you never see a photo with them in anywhere.

Just do it and have the choice.

As long as they’re in, you’re legal. It’s just Lafranconi can’t say they’re removable for legal reasons.

paul

 

[DeadEye]

So is that a little plate they welded across the end of the circlip to ensure it’s not tampered with ?

 

[scottmastrocinque]

I didn’t read the lengthy other reply here, but...

One minute somebody bashes me because I don’t write enough. The next, because I write too much...

 

[Paul Ash]

It's odd. It's designed to be tampered with, but not easily. So LaFranconi can legitimately say it wasn't supposed to be tampered with and have plausible deniability.

Of course they are tampered with by every buyer. There would be zero point buying the LaFranconis otherwise. But at least LF are in the clear.

 

[Paul Ash]

One minute somebody bashes me because I don’t write enough. The next, because I write too much...

Sorry. No insult intended. I had just woken here in the UK so skim read your message. This is a topic dear to my heart as I looked at my new pipes for about 2 weeks before summing up the courage to get the Dremel out...