diff --git a/src/autonomy/llm.js b/src/autonomy/llm.js
index 9a4a583..b3aad3f 100644
--- a/src/autonomy/llm.js
+++ b/src/autonomy/llm.js
@@ -24,6 +24,9 @@ async function callCoordinator(config, prompt, options = {}) {
   const apiKey = String(config?.openRouter?.apiKey || '').trim();
   if (!apiKey) throw new Error('OpenRouter API key is not configured');
   const timeoutMs = Math.max(1000, Number(config?.openRouter?.timeoutMs || process.env.OPEN_ROUTER_TIMEOUT_MS) || 60000);
+  // only set when a budget retry forced one, or an operator asked for one
+  const maxTokens = options.maxTokens
+    || Number(config?.openRouter?.maxTokens || process.env.OPEN_ROUTER_MAX_TOKENS) || null;
   const controller = new AbortController();
   const timeout = setTimeout(() => controller.abort(), timeoutMs);
   let response;
@@ -35,15 +38,14 @@ async function callCoordinator(config, prompt, options = {}) {
       body: JSON.stringify({
         model: config.openRouter.llmModel,
         temperature: 0,
-        // Deliberately far above any output we have seen, because the cap exists to
-        // satisfy openrouter's affordability check, not to ration tokens: you are
-        // billed for what is used, not what is reserved. 6000 was tight enough to
-        // truncate a real replay article. The 402 handler below walks this down
-        // automatically when the budget cannot cover it, so a high ceiling costs
-        // nothing while funded and degrades on its own when not.
-        max_tokens: options.maxTokens
-          || Math.max(512, Number(config?.openRouter?.maxTokens || process.env.OPEN_ROUTER_MAX_TOKENS) || 32000),
         response_format: { type: 'json_object' },
+        // No ceiling by default. Any number we pick is a number we invented, and
+        // 6000 was already tight enough to truncate a real replay article. A cap
+        // only exists to satisfy openrouter's affordability reservation, so it is
+        // supplied by the 402 handler below when the budget genuinely cannot cover
+        // an open ended request, and never otherwise. Set OPEN_ROUTER_MAX_TOKENS
+        // if you ever want one imposed deliberately.
+        ...(maxTokens ? { max_tokens: maxTokens } : {}),
         messages: [
           { role: 'system', content: 'You are a coordinator. Extract only evidence-backed categorical hypotheses. Never output probabilities, expected returns, confidence scores, position sizes, or trade actions.' },
           { role: 'user', content: prompt },
diff --git a/workers/augorWorker.js b/workers/augorWorker.js
index 3e44754..2eb424b 100644
--- a/workers/augorWorker.js
+++ b/workers/augorWorker.js
@@ -306,9 +306,6 @@ async function callLlm(llmConfig, prompt) {
     model: llmConfig.llmModel || llmConfig.model,
     messages: [{ role: "user", content: prompt }],
     temperature: 0.1,
-    // Unbounded requests get a 402 for reserving the model's whole output
-    // window against the remaining key budget, before running anything.
-    max_tokens: Math.max(512, Number(process.env.OPEN_ROUTER_MAX_TOKENS) || 6000),
   });
 
   const url = new URL("https://openrouter.ai/api/v1/chat/completions");
diff --git a/workers/consolidationWorker.js b/workers/consolidationWorker.js
index f17a4a4..559f815 100644
--- a/workers/consolidationWorker.js
+++ b/workers/consolidationWorker.js
@@ -220,9 +220,6 @@ Rules:
     model: llmConfig.llmModel || llmConfig.model,
     messages: [{ role: "user", content: prompt }],
     temperature: 0.1,
-    // Unbounded requests get a 402 for reserving the model's whole output
-    // window against the remaining key budget, before running anything.
-    max_tokens: Math.max(512, Number(process.env.OPEN_ROUTER_MAX_TOKENS) || 6000),
   });
 
   const url = new URL("https://openrouter.ai/api/v1/chat/completions");
diff --git a/workers/graphWorker.js b/workers/graphWorker.js
index c173fbf..a892ea6 100644
--- a/workers/graphWorker.js
+++ b/workers/graphWorker.js
@@ -101,10 +101,6 @@ Reply with just the number of the match, or "none" if none apply. No explanation
     model: llmConfig.cheapModel || llmConfig.llmModel || llmConfig.model,
     messages: [{ role: "user", content: prompt }],
     temperature: 0,
-    // Same reason as the coordinator: an unbounded request gets a 402 for reserving
-    // the whole output window. This one only ever replies with a number or "none",
-    // the headroom is for models that think before answering.
-    max_tokens: Math.max(256, Number(process.env.OPEN_ROUTER_GRAPH_MAX_TOKENS) || 2000),
   });
 
   if (Date.now() < llmCooldownUntil) return null;
diff --git a/workers/signalWorker.js b/workers/signalWorker.js
index 1da1cb1..78aaf61 100644
--- a/workers/signalWorker.js
+++ b/workers/signalWorker.js
@@ -297,9 +297,6 @@ async function callLlm(llmConfig, prompt) {
     model: llmConfig.llmModel || llmConfig.model,
     messages: [{ role: "user", content: prompt }],
     temperature: 0.1,
-    // Unbounded requests get a 402 for reserving the model's whole output
-    // window against the remaining key budget, before running anything.
-    max_tokens: Math.max(512, Number(process.env.OPEN_ROUTER_MAX_TOKENS) || 4000),
   });
 
   const url = new URL("https://openrouter.ai/api/v1/chat/completions");