Make a muffler?

Doug - Iowa · Jun 25, 2017

I have a small skidloader with a K371 Kohler engine. The stock Bobcat muffler is on backorder plus its over $100 which is high anyway. It seems simple enough, a 4" - 5" diameter tube 16" long with a 1-1/2" inlet on one side and some sort of outlet in the end. I thought about cutting the insides out of a cheaper muffler and fabricate the outside can out of thinwall pipe and TIG it together. Anyone ever built their own muffler and how well did it work? Thanks

greenmech · Jun 25, 2017

I've made several small mufflers for gas engines and one for a JD LA tractor. As long as it fits and works I would do more. Ron Mn

DR. EVIL · Jun 25, 2017

In Kohler terminology, a K-371 would be a 37 cubic inch single cylinder engine. But Kohler only made 9, 14, 16, 18, 24, 30, 32, 34, and 36 cubic inch engines. And the 36 Cid engine was actually a 34 Cid engine with an over head valve cylinder head.

I'd look up a place called Cub Cadet Specialties and see how close they can get to the muffler you are trying to replace. I bet they have something that works.

jeffcat · Jun 25, 2017

When you do, see if you can fabricate a couple of perferated baffles for the distribution pipe. Full size mufflers have them but the little ones don't cause it makes for dificulty of assembly I guess. Now if you buy one of those super duper expensive quiet run mufflers. Guess what.....they have baffle chambers. !!!! Give it a shot.

Frank 41 · Jun 25, 2017

Go to your local muffler shop that is good and have them make you a replacement.

wilson ind · Jun 25, 2017

lookup Maple grove distributing web site maplegrovedist.com item 9284 16 inches 3 1/8 diam inlet 1 5/16 for 10 hp and up koler my cost about 22.00 plus shipping I can order and have shipped to you You can then send me a check. You are honest aren't you lol list is over 62.00 also any thing else you need from web site is ok too I need to get my yearly volume up to keep my dealer status so I offer parts at cost when my volume is low as this year because I have not been working or others machinery due to health . call 812 six nine nine zero zero one one. bill wilson

Southern Ray · Jun 25, 2017

made this muffler out of 4" EMT and 2" exhaust pipe almost 30 years ago.
no sign of failure.

steve_in_mo · Jun 25, 2017

A decent farm store would have a muffler for an Allis Chalmers B/C or a Farmall Cub that
is about the right size and should work. Lots of people put them on LGT's.
Have a muffler shop fab up the pipes to connect the manifold.

js305 · Jun 25, 2017

I built one for an 18 horse B&S engine on an old garden tractor after the original rusted off. I thought I had done a pretty good job; fabricated three baffles and made it kinda big compared to the original. First time I started it the thing sounded like a machine gun! I pointed the end away from the driver toward the front. I used it until the little tractor finally gave up. Not going to build another muffler though......

Russ from MN · Jun 25, 2017

I made a nice one for a 2-cylinder Wisconsin, but I had access to some nice material, and equipment.

504 · Jun 25, 2017

We used to make them for the shop trucks(mid 80s). They were over built and heavy,1/8in wall,10inch pipe. Two pieces of 2 1/4 tubing 12 inches long with 7/16 holes drilled thru them every two inches,leave enough to clamp to the tail pipe. One pipe in each end welded into the homemade end cap. They work pretty good and are not loud,look online at some cutaway mufflers to see what I mean.
The boss was a little crazy when it came to exhaust, two of us spent one day making a dual exhaust for a Toyota Celica. His wife drove it out to the mall and back,she told him she did not like the sound. So we pulled it in and built a stock system for it.

Jeff NWOH · Jun 25, 2017

I think some old cub cadet tractors use a muffler similar to what you are looking for. Body is only a foot or so long. Not sure your inlet/outlet arraignment, but these are around $30 I think.

fixerupper · Jun 25, 2017

I've made a few small engine mufflers, some turned out OK, some not so good. One thing you need to watch is muffler weight. Is your engine on rubber mounts or bolted solid? A larger cube one lunger on rubber mounts Shakes quite a bit under power at lower RPM's and the muffler and air cleaner are the first victims. A heavy muffler just adds to the inertia when the shaking happens.

gab · Jun 26, 2017

Stuck a 10 horse Kohler in an eight horse JD 110 tractor, couldn't find a muffler anywhere that would come close so made one. Doesn't sound any different than a factory muffler.

Bret4207 · Jun 26, 2017

(quoted from post at 23:35:10 06/25/17) I think some old cub cadet tractors use a muffler similar to what you are looking for. Body is only a foot or so long. Not sure your inlet/outlet arraignment, but these are around $30 I think.

THose are good for any small engine you can adapt them to. Much quieter than the "can" type.

Make a muffler?

Doug - Iowa

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greenmech

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DR. EVIL

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jeffcat

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Frank 41

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wilson ind

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Southern Ray

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steve_in_mo

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js305

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Russ from MN

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504

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Jeff NWOH

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fixerupper

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gab

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Bret4207

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