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Post by sussexscooterhead on Oct 8, 2006 8:39:55 GMT -5
I was going to post a bunch of pics of the project here but realized I was using up all Dawg's storage space so anyone interested in checking out photos of the muffler modification can view them at: tinyurl.com/jqf29I had hoped a less restrictive muffler would improve the performance of my scoot but this wasn't the case. The stock head pipe is soooo small that there is still too much restriction. On the plus side, though, the sound of the pipe is very nice - not too loud and very deep. The whole thing only cost about $8, shaved off a good 10lbs and only took about an hour (not including the isle surfing at Menards). And as much as I didn't yet get the performance increase I was hoping for, it didn't hurt performance either. Once I can figure out a way to make a larger diameter head pipe I expect to realize the potential of the improved muffler. Any suggestions for constructing a new header? If only I had a MIG.....
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Post by woodlark on Oct 8, 2006 11:37:02 GMT -5
You really had me wondering! I was looking at those pictures and they just ...disappeared!
BTW: What would you need a Russian airplane for? ;D
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Post by ccsami4x4 on Oct 8, 2006 11:54:02 GMT -5
Great pics of the whole project. Did the sound increase a great deal over stock? Deeper or lower/higher pitch? Thanks!
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Post by sussexscooterhead on Oct 8, 2006 12:15:00 GMT -5
It's quite a bit louder than stock but it's hard for me to really say how much. My bike's been louder ever since the installation the of K&N filter - there's a lot of intake noise - so it's hard to separate the 2. It's a deepish tone, not like a raspy 2-stroke.
Once up to speed you don't hear it much however it is definitely louder under acceleration.
I took a short video clip if anyone would like me to email it to them, it's 6MB. Just send me a PM.
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Post by ooopseyesharted on Oct 8, 2006 12:54:18 GMT -5
Very nice pics. I am going to do this to my 50cc.
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Post by wireburn on Oct 10, 2006 14:06:30 GMT -5
So that's all there is to those mufflers. Looks like they're putting those on all the Stradas 2- and 4-stroke and advertising them as a "performance" pipe. I was at least hoping that there would be an expansion chamber in the 2T pipe. Hmmm, guess I'm gonna have to pop for the new exhaust for my RX8 after all.
-Mike
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Post by sussexscooterhead on Oct 13, 2006 17:03:58 GMT -5
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Post by sussexscooterhead on Oct 14, 2006 10:46:26 GMT -5
I'm wondering if anyone here has heard of Mineral Wool or Rock Wool? It's an insulator similar to fiberglass insulation except that instead of glass fibers it's made of either basalt or metal slag fiber. I'm hoping to find a place to buy some for my muffler project because, as the picture shows, I keep burning up what I've tried so far. I don't know why regular insulation has worked so well for me in the past but is letting me down now, maybe there are different grades of fiberglass but what ever the reason I'm after something different. The melting temperature of the rock/mineral wool is around 1900deg compared to 1200deg of the glass fiber so I'm thinking it should work much better. Can anyone point me in the right direction?
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Post by Jacine on Oct 14, 2006 12:11:35 GMT -5
Glass wool can be obtained from some aquarium stores since it was used, not sure if it still is, as a filter material. Also Ace hardware would have some insulation materials that should withstand heat.
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Post by sussexscooterhead on Oct 14, 2006 18:02:32 GMT -5
Ace Hardware stores are a great resource for all kinds of scooter bits and I wish there was one in Eau Claire.
Luckily, I found an insulation company that deals with Fibrex products. Fibrex makes rock wool batting for insulating and sound proofing as well as a whole host of other products.
I don't know if they're going to be open tomoroow but I'll post results when I can for anyone else considering this mod.
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Post by daddyeby on Oct 14, 2006 19:17:29 GMT -5
Very nice pics. I am going to do this to my 50cc. I dont think you will find your 50cc will be like this one. I gutting mine and other than baffles there wasnt anything to speak of.
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Post by swakk on Oct 17, 2006 16:16:10 GMT -5
i used to make the same for my two stork but with inox steel wire (large) made to clean dirty plates and barbecue and sold presented in ball. That was a good deal really more durable and dirt resistant but more noisy and by night at high speed it's really nice to see the red heated steel going out of the exhaust in little parts ! (i'm an old child)
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Post by T W I S T E R on Oct 17, 2006 19:31:15 GMT -5
I'm wondering if anyone here has heard of Mineral Wool or Rock Wool? It's an insulator similar to fiberglass insulation except that instead of glass fibers it's made of either basalt or metal slag fiber. I'm hoping to find a place to buy some for my muffler project because, as the picture shows, I keep burning up what I've tried so far. I don't know why regular insulation has worked so well for me in the past but is letting me down now, maybe there are different grades of fiberglass but what ever the reason I'm after something different. The melting temperature of the rock/mineral wool is around 1900deg compared to 1200deg of the glass fiber so I'm thinking it should work much better. Can anyone point me in the right direction?
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Post by T W I S T E R on Oct 17, 2006 19:33:10 GMT -5
so far, steel wool has been working for me. there is a little bit of oil burn off but after that it seems to hold up.
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Post by sussexscooterhead on Oct 17, 2006 19:50:54 GMT -5
Hey Twister,
I'm not too sure what you mean by 'oil burn off' but you might have noticed I used some steel wool for the initial packing aroung the baffle. Considering how much packing is required, thanks to the large diameter aluminum canister, I've been hesitant to pack the whole thing with steel thinking it would make it heavier than necessary and might lead to a rust problem from any moisture getting past the end caps during washing or wet weather riding.
I found a place locally that deals with the rock wool but unfortunately, they could only sell it by the bundle and I wasn't quite ready to bite that $24 bullet.
Hoping I can find one of the installer companies that might have some lying around.
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Post by daddyeby on Oct 17, 2006 21:44:23 GMT -5
My father packed steel wool in my 80cc dirt bike's exhaust when I was a boy it blew out at hi speed as a glowing red ball.
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Post by swakk on Oct 18, 2006 8:05:55 GMT -5
this is good and doesn't rust (inox) and is long lasting and dirt proof but the sound is louder
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Post by sussexscooterhead on Oct 19, 2006 15:25:59 GMT -5
Whooooweeee! Check this out. I was quite surprised to see what the inside of my muffler looked like after riding around for about 20 minutes. I'm currently running a combination of steel wool and ceramic insulation for packing. I'll ride it a bit more before disassembling it to see how things are standing up. Any thoughts as to why it's so hot? Could the small header pipe diameter have anything to do with this? I raced motocross for a number of years on 125 and 250cc 2-strokes and most recently on a 450 4-stroke and don't recall ever seeing something like this and those bikes were ridden infinitely harder than the scooter ever will be. Kind of weird.
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Post by swakk on Oct 22, 2006 14:52:16 GMT -5
by night this could be nice ! your exhaust hole is very BIG ! not too much noisy ?
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Post by sussexscooterhead on Oct 22, 2006 16:19:51 GMT -5
It's not too loud. I think it sounds nice.
You can hear it by clicking on the link I posted somewhere around the 7th post of this thread.
It's a little quieter with the ceramic packing I'm using now.
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Post by Dennis D on Oct 22, 2006 16:53:26 GMT -5
Just a guess.... but I'll bet it's burning steel wool making it that hot.
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Post by sussexscooterhead on Oct 22, 2006 17:27:09 GMT -5
I think you're right, I'm in the process of finding a source for stainless steel wool to prevent that.
I was thinking a wood refinishing store may carry it but if anyone can suggest another place I'd appreciate it.
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Post by swakk on Oct 22, 2006 18:31:12 GMT -5
try the inox steel for kitchen like the one i put a pict here this doesn't burn and is long lasting and cheap i use this for my mufflers when they sound bad :-)
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Post by sussexscooterhead on Oct 22, 2006 19:13:25 GMT -5
Thanks for the suggestion, I've been keeping my eyes open for that stuff, too. I would have thought I'd find it all over the place but it seems like right when you want something is when you can't find it.
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Post by jackthefuzz on Oct 23, 2006 17:15:57 GMT -5
Whooooweeee! Check this out. I was quite surprised to see what the inside of my muffler looked like after riding around for about 20 minutes. I'm currently running a combination of steel wool and ceramic insulation for packing. I'll ride it a bit more before disassembling it to see how things are standing up. Any thoughts as to why it's so hot? Could the small header pipe diameter have anything to do with this? I raced motocross for a number of years on 125 and 250cc 2-strokes and most recently on a 450 4-stroke and don't recall ever seeing something like this and those bikes were ridden infinitely harder than the scooter ever will be. Kind of weird. seriously brother that is way cool!
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Post by whodunnit on Oct 23, 2006 20:31:15 GMT -5
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Post by sussexscooterhead on Oct 24, 2006 7:18:51 GMT -5
That's a great site!
Thanks!
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Post by jmagdiel on Nov 7, 2006 10:21:37 GMT -5
Hi everyone!!! After I saw this tread I decided to mod the stock pipe until I can buy a new one. Having owned a Harley Sportster I had a couple of drag pipes inserts and use them to mod the pipe. A few pics...... And a video clip ;D
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