What are the pro's & con's of the two styles of GEM mufflers for the McCulloch engine?
GEM part # G1273 is the original one piece, free flowing, muffler.
GEM part # G1272 is the newer two piece unit with an internal baffle.
I attempted to ask about the differences between the 2 when I placed my original order several months ago, but there wasn't anyone there that could answer my question. I ended up ordering the original one piece unit. When it arrived I was surprised to see that it was not actually a muffler, but more of an exhaust manifold. It doesn't appear to offer much sound reduction. I have yet to start this engine, but I'm wondering how loud my neighbors are going to think this piece is?
A ? About GEM Vintage Mufflers.
Moderator: Rob Voska
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Dean Seavers
- Posts: 222
- Joined: Fri Jun 22, 2007 3:51 am
- Vintage Karting items owned: '66 Chap, '61 Bug Stinger, '61 McCulloch R-1, '60 Go Kart 800, '60 Bug Wasp, '60 Weirdo
Re: A ? About GEM Vintage Mufflers.
John-
It doesn't seem like a muffler until you compare it to a Mac with an open megaphone, then it is drastically quieter. I don't think they are as quiet as the Horstman mufflers, but they aren't bad as far as controlling the volume relative to what other vintage kart mufflers were/are around. I don't think you're ever going to get a Mac to not sound loud when you're firing it in a quiet neighborhood though unless you fab up something with a modern can muffler on it, then the kart isn't going to look period anymore, and it might not run well.
The bigger issu I've had with the new one-piece GEM mufflers is the port is usually substantially undersize. I haven't had one yet where I haven't had to scribe the port diameter from an exhaust gasket on it and open it up with a die grinder.
Dean
It doesn't seem like a muffler until you compare it to a Mac with an open megaphone, then it is drastically quieter. I don't think they are as quiet as the Horstman mufflers, but they aren't bad as far as controlling the volume relative to what other vintage kart mufflers were/are around. I don't think you're ever going to get a Mac to not sound loud when you're firing it in a quiet neighborhood though unless you fab up something with a modern can muffler on it, then the kart isn't going to look period anymore, and it might not run well.
The bigger issu I've had with the new one-piece GEM mufflers is the port is usually substantially undersize. I haven't had one yet where I haven't had to scribe the port diameter from an exhaust gasket on it and open it up with a die grinder.
Dean