An exhaust experiment that didn't work

[Dale_K]

I'm trying to get my recently purchased 98 Standard as quiet as I can make it.  With help from here I found that my "stock" exhaust had been modified by cutting the small exit pipes so I made extensions out of copper pipe and it worked pretty well.

Today I tried to make it even quieter by drilling some holes crossways in the copper exit pipes and wrapping the whole package with some fiberglass insulation.




This effort was a complete failure.  The bike went back to being just as loud as it was before with the cut off exit pipes (believe they're called the "piggys" by you guys).  What a disappointment.

Now I'm going to order a pound of stainless steel wool from Amazon and try removing the copper extensions and stuffing the entire collector area with the steel wool.  If that doesn't work I guess I'll have to buy some more copper pipe and go back to what I had before I tried to "improve" it today.

[hubcapsc]

Your copper pipe thing was awesome, it not only
fixed the piggies, but fixed them after they were
cut too short to fix... you had them all lined back
up right...

-Mike

[BradValk48237]

The problem is probably that the PO not only cut the piggies, but also drilled the baffles INSIDE the cans.....

There are 2 baffles and it can be done with a long drill bit.... If its REALLY loud, some one might have done even more... If you take off your new extensions and shine a light, you might be able to see if they drilled holes in the inner baffle.

So even replacing the piggies won't make it quieter because of this....

Just a thought... I drilled just the first baffle.... made a nice rumble

B

[Jess from VA]

Why not just wrap the holes tightly with some of that exhaust wrap?

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/the-11153?seid=srese1&cm_mmc=pla-google-_-shopping-_-srese1-_-thermo-tec&gclid=CIizs-ufk9MCFVuBswodwcEDlg

https://www.amazon.com/DEI-010121-Black-Exhaust-Wrap/dp/B000E243CA

[Savago]

Your copper pipe thing was awesome, it not only
fixed the piggies, but fixed them after they were
cut too short to fix...

+1, it came really close to the originals in shape.

[98valk]

The problem is probably that the PO not only cut the piggies, but also drilled the baffles INSIDE the cans.....

There are 2 baffles and it can be done with a long drill bit.... If its REALLY loud, some one might have done even more... If you take off your new extensions and shine a light, you might be able to see if they drilled holes in the inner baffle.

So even replacing the piggies won't make it quieter because of this....

Just a thought... I drilled just the first baffle.... made a nice rumble

B

Agree 100%. If those baffles are drilled will be very hard or not at all to make it whisper quiet.
if u put more bends in the piggies/extensions u made that will quite it down.
muffler wrap will quite it better than fiberglass. such as this which is similar to what I used for my viking exhaust. http://www.ebay.com/itm/CERAMIC-SILENCER-MOTORCYCLE-MUFFLER-PACKING-KIT-1-X-12-X-24-HIGH-TEMPERATURE-/121385411675?hash=item1c4322645b:m:m_RRxQ2fqnocCrO6eM-lFVA&vxp=mtr

[Dale_K]

I'm pretty sure the muffler has not had the baffle drilled out.  I couldn't get a picture but I could see metal looking through the cut off piggies and I doubt I would have missed the hole a drill would make.

So I hope the stainless steel wool will work but if it doesn't I'm thinking about trying smaller piggies.  I saw on the thread about the overseas bike specs that smaller piggies were used in some markets.  I could easily swap the 3/4" copper pipe ends to 1/2". 

Gotta say, a pound of stainless steel wool is kind of expensive.  It will be worth it if it works.  My ears are messed up and I can't handle loud anymore.

[MarkT]

I bought a roll of the SS wool from Amazon - didn't think it was too expensive and I paid retail - but that was a while ago, and I bought considerably more than a pound.  I also like it relatively quiet on at least one of my bikes - lost around 40% hearing to the war.  So on Jade, after the glasspack is a compressed wad of SSW followed by the silencers with Organ Pipes.  Looks great, has a really pleasing and subtle rumble around town.  At highway speeds the engine sound can't be heard over the wind.  That also lets my stereo be heard.  

If you get some long screws with nuts, you can drill holes on the inside face of your OEM Std/Tour tips, run the screws through, nuts on the inside so they block the outlet like a grate, and pack the tips full of SSW.  You'll need more than a pound, and say 3-4 screws / side.  That will definitely quiet it down.  The more SSW you add, the quieter it gets.

[98valk]

I'm pretty sure the muffler has not had the baffle drilled out.  I couldn't get a picture but I could see metal looking through the cut off piggies and I doubt I would have missed the hole a drill would make.

So I hope the stainless steel wool will work but if it doesn't I'm thinking about trying smaller piggies.  I saw on the thread about the overseas bike specs that smaller piggies were used in some markets.  I could easily swap the 3/4" copper pipe ends to 1/2". 

Gotta say, a pound of stainless steel wool is kind of expensive.  It will be worth it if it works.  My ears are messed up and I can't handle loud anymore.

are u wearing ear plugs? good ones with 33nrr.  I like HowardLeight.com Max plugs.  Also if using a full face helmet that will make everything louder below u except it will quite wind noise if using a good FF. the max plugs work really well.

putting on round exhaust tips pointing to ground will quite it down also.

[davit]

Before you drilled the holes in your piggy extensions, did the piggies stick out beyond the end of the chrome exhaust tip? 

[Dale_K]

The homemade copper pipe replacement piggies stuck out a good 3" past the chrome covers.  That was actually reasonably quiet but I was shooting for even quieter.

The stainless steel wool arrived today.  One pound on roll was about $30 plus some more for the shipping.  I bought some "hardware cloth", AKA rat wire, which is like a very coarse screen and my idea is to form a hemisphere shaped piece shoved in from the front and wedged against the back of the inside of the chrome cover, then remove the copper piggies and pack the empty space with the stainless steel wool.  I'll start a new thread with some pics. 

[Led]

I drilled a couple little holes in the cans, after whacking the piggies off.  She sounds PERFECT!!

Of course this comes from a Guy who rode a 1979 Honda 750 with a "megaphone" exhaust........with removable baffle.......

Now THAT is what I consider loud!!!  You could hear that thing 4 miles away, sans baffle. When I wanted to be "quieter"......I would just put my right foot over it.......

Oh to be young again..........

     

[Valker]

I second the earplug idea. I have very easily pained ear canals, so I use these which do not go into the canal. www.earplugsonline.com

[98valk]

I second the earplug idea. I have very easily pained ear canals, so I use these which do not go into the canal. www.earplugsonline.com

good info

http://advrider.com/index.php?threads/nonoise-earplugs-i-like-em.969243/

[Dale_K]

The earplugs stop the loud noise but somehow they make my ears mad and my tinnitus starts squealing pretty bad.  It carries on squealing even after I take out the earplugs.  Been going on day and (especially) night since I bought the Valkyrie even though I've worn earplugs every ride.

I have 2 sets of custom fitted ear plugs and have tried about every kind out there.  The foam style, the mushroom style, the waxy silicone style and my ears don't like any of them.  I might have to sell the bike if I can't figure this out.  The joy of riding doesn't balance out against the continuous squealing. 

I'd like to get the bike so quiet I don't need earplugs but that might be unrealistic.  I have a convertible car and maybe that's as close to motorcycle riding as I can get.  I think an electric motorcycle might work.

I'm going to give the Valkyrie a rest for a few days and then finish the stainless steel wool experiment.

[98valk]

The earplugs stop the loud noise but somehow they make my ears mad and my tinnitus starts squealing pretty bad.  It carries on squealing even after I take out the earplugs.  Been going on day and (especially) night since I bought the Valkyrie even though I've worn earplugs every ride.

I have 2 sets of custom fitted ear plugs and have tried about every kind out there.  The foam style, the mushroom style, the waxy silicone style and my ears don't like any of them.  I might have to sell the bike if I can't figure this out.  The joy of riding doesn't balance out against the continuous squealing. 

I'd like to get the bike so quiet I don't need earplugs but that might be unrealistic.  I have a convertible car and maybe that's as close to motorcycle riding as I can get.  I think an electric motorcycle might work.

I'm going to give the Valkyrie a rest for a few days and then finish the stainless steel wool experiment.

I'm sure u have had hearing test as I have. different foam plugs work better for certain frequencies. I have one type of foam plugs work good but does let in certain noises from the bike. The howard ones I posted work much better for me. everybody's hearing is more sensitive to certain frequencies than another. maybe another avenue to look into.

[Houdini]

Today I tried to make it even quieter by drilling some holes crossways in the copper exit pipes and wrapping the whole package with some fiberglass insulation.

Please explain to me how drilling holes in the pipes will make them quieter?

[Gabriel]

When I first bought this Valk. I found the exhaust too loud for me, so I looked in the exhaust and found this;



This is what I did to fix it;


I used an inside muffler cutter to clean out everything up to the front set of baffles, then installed 9" glass packs inserted backwards. 3.5" glass packs fit perfect, you have to relieve the outside of the glass pack in a couple of places with a hammer, such as the axle indention and the nuts that mount the exhaust tip.
I used a very large ball-peen/pein hammer to make the indention's and they almost look factory, not that it matters because it's inside the pipe.
Even at the correct inside indention these glass packs must be driven in, it's not difficult but you will need a slide hammer to get them out, you can see the slight circular mark on the block of wood on the lift that I used to drive them in.


It's not near as loud and sounds really good now...

[ridingron]

Are you going for quieter than stock?