Homemade Mufflers???

[Technic_569]

Recently i have been getting really frusterated with the noise level of my four-wheeler. The muffler has holes in which i have attempted to repair but now they are getting too big to plug. I have tried putting a coffee can around the muffler with steel bands, but that doesn't really do too much.

Has anyone had any experience with making homemade mufflers? The only one that i can find online that would fit a 86 fourtrax is about 200 dollars I could easily find materials for a quarter of that....

Would their be any disadvantage to just cutting up an existing one and welding the header and mounting brackets on it? Would it be hard to weld this type of metal? I currently have a small MIG welder.

Riley

 

[Scout Driver]

Hot rodders have built header mufflers by inserting a section of auger (such as a grain auger) into the collector of the headers. Maybe it wouldn't be to hard to fab. a muffler with a chunk of an auger. Otherwise, I have seen rolled-up chain link fence material packed into side-pipes to muffle their sound. Hope I gave you something you can work with.


Scott

 

[SCscoutguy]

I have been following this guys build on the full size jeep site. I probably will never do it but it is a pretty neat project to undertake.
http://www.ifsja.org/forums/vb/showthread.php?t=118557&highlight=muffler

 

[trainer]

I made one for a 225 yamaha three wheeler once.

I used a piece of metal screen hardware cloth rolled in a tube running through a larger pipe with ends and pipes welded on in the appropriate locations. The space around the screen was stuffed with ordinary fiberglass house insulation.
The sound level was quieter than stock.

 

[Lhorn]

I think you can use steel wool as packing material for a muffler. Should be an easy fun project. It's hard to believe that they want that much for a muffler.

 

[fatboy99]

Disect your old muffler and see how it's made my boss has made a couple 1 for his truck and 1 for a friend's rv generator both have held up well. were in the process of making one for our shop forklift because the OEM wanted $ 800 for a new one!!!!!

 

[ozzy214]

Hell man, we used to use a coke can back in the day. Cut a few holes in, make it look like a smiley face on the end. Other end slide on the pipe with a clamp. Wont really quiet, but a real nice sound. Almso like a train whistle...

 

[holdmybeerandwatchthis]

If you do go down the homemade path, make sure you use the course stainless steel pads,
I used the standard type once and when it eventually started to rust out, it created a nice swirly spark show out the back, , although it was rather spectacular it was a fire hazard, so don't go into any forests, sort of defeats the purpose really,

Its much easier to sneak around the dumpsters at the back of an exhaust shop one night, even go in during the day and offer the bloke a six pack, you'll probably get a good one that someone has replaced with a sports system,

 

[ironheadtom]

I needed a muffler for my Ram but didn't have much money. Went to my local muffler shop & they had a brand new flowmaster they installed on a vehicle but the customer didn't like it because it was too loud. They couldn't sell it as new anymore so they put it in my truck for $80 installed. They did a beautiful job..too. If you enjoy fabricating, though, there's not much to them and I agree with the other post about cutting an old one apart. I think you could over or under baffle one pretty easily and goof up the way your car runs, and if you're not ready to make air/fuel adjustments you might regret it.

 

[ironheadtom]

Also, if your not experienced with welding thin materials, it can br a *****. Especially once it gets a little rusty.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Wouldn't used ones off Craigslist be a LOT easier? Probably as cheap too.

 

[sgrammel]

Saw this on Powerblock on Spike TV

http://www.spike.com/full-episode/altered-e-go-exhaust/35841

Pretty annoying website..but they show how to build a muffler

 

[Major Ramifications]

We built a big muffler for an industrial diesel generator at work once. We normally buy them, but they needed something to keep the shop guys busy and those industrial "silencers" are EXPENSIVE! We cut an old one apart and it was my job to measure and identify the materials and produce a drawing package for the guys to build one in house. I modified some of the components to make it easier/cheaper for us to use what we had in stock.
So, yes, I say reverse engineer one.

 

[Michael]

I think you can use steel wool as packing material for a muffler. Should be an easy fun project. It's hard to believe that they want that much for a muffler.

I wouldn't recommend using steel wool to pack a muffler and definitely not on something that is going off road. One spark can start it on fire and burn all of it out of your muffler. Also once it starts there will probably be sparks or little burning bits of steel wool coming out of your exhaust. Off road this would be a good way to start a fire.

 

[NUTTSGT]

How about this ?


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/86-H...054921QQptZMotorsQ5fATVQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories

 

[Technic_569]

Damn, That is a really easy fix to my problem.. And $17 is way better than 200. Even if it dosn't fit i can probably part it out and build one that fits, or make it fit.

Thanks NUTTSKG!!

Riley

 

[banzaitoyota]

We use lava rocks in our rotary engine mufflers

 

[nonhog]

This thread (long since dead) has some great info. I went on to buy a Pypes
kit so for now have no need for homemade mufflers since the kit came with them.
I know its differant from what you were doing (or were going to) but thought I'd add the info for those interested in this idea.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=29136

Heres a build that the guy followed thru

http://www.offroadfabnet.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7436&highlight=muffler