Baffling Experiment

[MrSurly]

My follow-on to the FatCat operation. At least, that's where I'm gonna lay the blame.

I have recently-installed Hooker Rebel "long straight" pipes on the Road King.

I like the tone of these but the volume is a bit (OK,a Lot) too much.

The baffles in these are a joke, IMHO. In fact, removing them made almost no difference! These are simple 2-1/2" diameter drag pipes. No 'muffler' really, just straight pipe.
Following the FatCat thread got me thinking so I tried several minor mods to the stock baffles but they are not much to work with.
There wasn't any room around them to add packing so I set out to make my own.

I had some perforated metal at the shop so I used that.

but the holes are really really small.

I don't even know if that's good or bad for this purpose.

Next, I made some rings of aluminum to provide the spacing. I wanted to create sufficient room around the thing so that I can pack it with whatever seems worth trying.

Since the pipes are 2-1/2, that meant I had to give up some internal diameter. I debated what size to use, but the first big drill bit I found (literally) was 1-7/16" so that was the magic number.
Did I mention that I do have some cool toys to play with?

A buncha time later and way too much sanding/grinding/drilling/cussing (did I mention that I broke the grinder?) and they take shape.

since the pipes are very long and straight I decided to go ahead and make the baffles twice as long as the stock piece.

After all this I wrapped them with household fiberglass insulation as a trial.

The result at this stage is huge! The pipes are substantially more civilized in their volume now. They're still way louder than stock, no doubt. The tone is not as deep and that's a shame. I'm gonna try other stuff in there, now that I have sort of a "test tube" to work with.
I want to next buy some actual baffle wrap as Russ did and try that out.
I will need to try them without the wrap as well. I might like that better, who knows?
A big question is whether I've created excessive restriction in the pipes now. I don't know, but you can still drop a D-cell through 'em.

Tell me whatcha think

[SafetyMan]

Ricky, I like your work!!

Try some regular baffle material, and let us know!!!

[Bone Stockman]

Very interesting, and I'm insanely jealous of your shop.

[Backroad Mike]

That's a lot of work Ricky..

You shouldn't show Russ those tools, might give him too many ideas.

[vafatboy]

Originally Posted by '05Train

Very interesting, and I'm insanely jealous of your shop.

Tru Dat!

I would also try shorter lengths. Might be why the tone is not as deep.

[BigSwede]

Baffle material with bigger holes might change the tone as well

[Sonic]

interesting read...there is one thing about this place is the amount of talent and knowledge around here. Sometimes I feel like a 41 when it comes to this stuff..

[MrSurly]

The latest: The 20" long version works well, in fact, a bit too well in that the pipes seem far too quiet at highway speeds. Around the neighborhood they're louder than stock but I'm looking for a bit more. In search of that happy median, I pulled 'em and cut them down to 11". the result is VERY satisfying. A deeper tone than the long version; definitely louder; still way better than the previous drag pipe version. I'll leave it like this for the Junction trip but I have some more ideas to try later. Right now they are very close to sounding the way I want them to. They have a nice fairly deep tone that's pretty similar to the class-packed Samson slip-ons. Y'all can hear 'em Junction and see what you think. Hell...I just might pull em out so you can hear what all the whining was for.

[route66paul]

Steel wool (instead of fiberglass) might change it a little

[OKC Fatboy]

Have you ever thought of making suppressors for firearms?

Just thinking out loud...

Bob

[MrSurly]

Originally Posted by OKC Fatboy

Have you ever thought of making suppressors for firearms?

Just thinking out loud...

Bob

Why, yes.

Yes I have.

[BluesFan]

Stop now. I hear the fines are awe inspiring.

[noodles]

Repost the pictutes.. i didnt get a good look the 1st time~

[JDsCycleWorks]

Very nice. i could have a lot of fun with that stuff.

[MrSurly]

Update:
After the Junction trip I have some thoughts, plans and some feedback.
First: I gotta change something!
Two: I Really don't like the present sound.
41: the community agrees.
42: Life, the Universe and Everything.
6a: the pipes are way too high-pitched
IIV: they have been known to induce headaches

43: Most importantly

and this is the result of scientific data-gathering...

These pipes sound like ass.



Thank you.

more work to be done