sc halfback 1 #1 Posted October 4, 2016 I have a WH with a Kohler K 321. The muffler was in bad shape so I am now running a straight pipe. Will this do any damage to the Kohler or only my ears. Thank you my first post Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SylvanLakeWH 28,078 #2 Posted October 4, 2016 what at did you say? I can't hear you... To your question - Nope...just your ears and those of your formerly happy neighbors...! oh, and Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DougC 2,643 #3 Posted October 4, 2016 Hello and to Get some earplugs and I hope your neighbors forgive you............... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
N3PUY 1,031 #4 Posted October 4, 2016 Straight pipe with a few bends is OK. A straight pipe with no bends is not so good. Did you ever hear "You'll warp the valves with no exhaust!" ?????? There's truth to that. The reason is... with no exhaust or with just a straight pipe, cold air, not necessarily freezing air, just much colder than the exhaust valve temperature, will enter the pipe and quickly cool the valve causing it to possibly warp. A muffler or some bends in the pipe will prevent that. A rain cap will help also. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DennisThornton 4,771 #5 Posted October 4, 2016 1 hour ago, N3PUY said: Straight pipe with a few bends is OK. A straight pipe with no bends is not so good. Did you ever hear "You'll warp the valves with no exhaust!" ?????? There's truth to that. The reason is... with no exhaust or with just a straight pipe, cold air, not necessarily freezing air, just much colder than the exhaust valve temperature, will enter the pipe and quickly cool the valve causing it to possibly warp. A muffler or some bends in the pipe will prevent that. A rain cap will help also. I heard that decades ago and while it makes some sense to me, I've not had that confirmed by anyone that said it actually happened to them. Hasn't happened to me because I've never run straight pipes. Not doubting but rather trying to confirm, has that happened to you personally? 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shallowwatersailor 3,214 #6 Posted October 5, 2016 Guys in the '50s and '60s that ran cutouts right off the headers on their exhausts found out the hard way about burnt valves. Today they run them at the rear, after the cat but before the muffler. Make sure that you wear muffs or later in life you'll end up with tinnitus. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
N3PUY 1,031 #7 Posted October 5, 2016 Not doubting but rather trying to confirm, has that happened to you personally? Has not happened to me but I have mufflers on everything. I did have one without muffler but it had a long pipe. (it sounded good!) 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jay bee 912 #8 Posted October 5, 2016 to sc halfback!! I have to say, my neighbors appreciate the mufflers on my s. And so do I!!! Jim 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites