glowing catalytic convertor

I found my catalytic convertor red hot. Can anybody help me?

 

Plugged cats will overheat and cause big backpressure. If your performance is suffering, it's likely you have a restriction. High RPM power slumps and poor idle are signs of way too much backpressure.
They also just run plain hot, with operating temps starting around 500F and going up to about 1500F. If you have a IR temp sensorand get skin temps above 1500F, it's likely plugged with temperatures internally 1600 to 2000F. This is where it gets ugly and the alumina honeycomb inside starts to self destruct.

Have you done some poor mans mods, like O2 eliminators without remapping?
Mapped it rich on purpose?
Got bad plugs?
Loose valves or burnt seats?

Anything that makes it run rich will eventually plug it.

If so, you mayhave shot yourself in the foot.

 

A glowing catalytic converter indicates that too much unburnt fuel is entering into the catalytic converter. As you don't indicate what type of bike you have - fuel injected or carbs it is hard to go beyond that point with recommendations. Whenever the cat is glowing, it is burning itself out.

As for the plugged cat - when a catalytic converter is plugged the exhaust gases back up in the cylinder thus affecting intake manifold vacuum, this situation typically won't allow the engine to operate above idle.

Your problem is too much unburnt fuel is entering the cat, i.e. - way too rich.

 

the cure......


go catless


definately running rich

 

My bike is a 2005 honda 800 vtec injectors. I place a injector cleaner in the gas also. Could this cause to much fuel i the cat? Would have to change the o2 sensors? How can I remove the cat? Any replacements for the o2 sensors?

 

I just observe the cat, If i remove it and leave the o2 sensors, would the bike run fine? Or can I remove the stuff in the cat then put the empty cat back?

 

I would start here:

1. Scan for fault codes
2. Verify that all spark plugs are in good condition and firing correctly
3. Check fuel pressure
4. Verify that you don't have a leaking fuel injector

 

Be careful of a leaking injector. With a cat that hot, you bike might look like a meteorite burning up inthe atmosphere while you ride down the road. Had a friend who lost an injector on a ride, bike went into limp mode. He stopped, turned it off, and when they started back out, the fault had cleard and the injector was dumping fuel into the cylinder, which pumped it out to the cat, which eventually caught fire. Might not happen with just a leaky injector, but something to think about.

 

The cat is not the problem, removing the cat won't fix the current situation. You might not see a glowing cat if you remove it, but the problem will still be there. You need to go about figuring out why you have so much unburned fuel in your exhaust to begin with. Download the service manual from the Wiki and start the process of elimination until you find the source of the excess fuel. AFTER you fix the fuel issue, PM me and I'll try to help you with the cat elimination. The cat is probably toast by now anyway. I wouldn't ride the bike, unless it's to the dealer, if you don't feel comfortable fixing it yourself.

 

I you gut the cat, you must eliminate the O2 sensors, and get a Power Commander to re-map your fuel injection. Just like on a carbed bike, when you improve flow(no matter how turbulent it is), you need to add fuel or you will run lean(and hot again!!).