Bolts in exhaust header?

[airbozo]

I was asked by a Buell tech why I installed the bolts in my Exhaust header. I bought the bike this way, so I am not sure how to answer.
Anyone know why someone would do this? Too small for Oxygen sensors (or so it seems to me).

 

[Cooter]

Mounts for a home made skid plate or heat shield? Never seen that before and I can't imagine what technical reason they would be there.

 

[TPEHAK]

Maybe additional grounding terminals?

 

[airbozo]

Looks like the one on the left (in the picture) has a small leak.
I've searched and viewed hundreds of XB pictures and have not seen anything like it. Keep in mind when I got the bike with 500 miles, they were there.

Going to ping the PO and see if he knows.

 

[ztied]

Does it look like there was a dent before, maybe dent puller? Then bolt hole up

 

[BuellyBagger]

Does it look like there was a dent before, maybe dent puller? Then bolt hole up

thats what i was thinking too

 

[user_deleted]

shaughn is correct. i can't find the pic but an outfit called BG racing enterprises offered an incredibly hideous looking "heat shield" kit that featured a worthless shield that mounted cross-ways to both header pipes at virtually the identical spot where your 2 bolts now reside. do as you please but as a winter project i'd be tempted to clean that mess up however you choose.

 

[rchuff]

Like John has said I would clean up to. Like weld them in.

 

[Cooter]

You could take the bolts out and weld the holes shut, but headers are cheap so unless you can do that yourself, I'd either leave them alone or just swap in a new exhaust header.

 

[BuellyBagger]

i screw a spark plug in one and propane in the other... FLAME THROWER!!!!

 

[Cooter]

I totally retract my post.... do THAT^^^^^^!!!

 

[Silverrider]

^^^^^^^^^^^^ flame thrower!!!!

 

[airbozo]

i screw a spark plug in one and propane in the other... FLAME THROWER!!!!

This is my favorite!

 

[airbozo]

What is this winter project you speak of?

JK, but I do ride all year. My S3T should be back on the road soon and rebuilding my sportster is my winter project, so I should be able to work on it soon.

To be honest I never gave two thoughts about it until someone asked me why they were there (Dean in Fremont. Thanks Dean!), that's when I really noticed that it looks like a small leak in one of them.

 

[airbozo]

Posted this on BadWeb and got this suggestion:

"Probably done at a dyno shop, those would probably stick the sensor far too deep and block too much flow to be used with o2 sensors. So I'm guessing external exhaust gas sniffer used with a dyno."

 

[Cooter]

Not for sniffers....

 

[Outlaw]

Um I would really like to see the whole flame thrower thing happen .

 

[airbozo]

Maybe when I change exhaust and tires.

Hold my beer....

 

[submax]

Actually...I almost wonder if that is what someone had put the holes there for! Lots of videos of flame throwing exhausts on the internet. Seems like the holes are a bit small and not quite in the right place, but you never know.

 

[Silverrider]