Buggy Noise

[Ericke1]

One of the problems with running a 1/8 buggy is the level of noise that it emits. I read somewhere that a company makes a specific type of filter to reduce this sound (although I dont know how it can really reduce the level). Are there any other ways of reducing the level of noise without replacing the pipe or engine?

 

[PiErow]

You will get used to the noise. Although your neighbors may not.

 

[Ericke1]

Thats the problem

It causes to much stir, there must be a way to decrease the noise without compromising performance. I'm hoping El Pirata who is designing his cooling fan will come up with a solution

 

[olds97_lss]

Actually, getting a exhaust deflector cuts the bite out of the noise some. Makes it more of a dull sound than a high pitched ping. Kind of sounds like a weedeater with it on as opposed to a chainsaw.

You might want to try it. They are only a couple bucks.

 

[militarymaxx]

olds97_lss got it. I didn't think it would make that much of a difference until it came off, but he's right. The deflectors do tone it down a bit with no change in performance. Changing the whole exhaust out could quiet things down but might also change the performance.

 

[Chevy-SS]

Ericke, I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks about the neighbors. These things can get really loud, and the high-pitched whine is the type of sound that carries a long way. Personally, if I was a neighbor, I would not want to listen to that s#@t, lol.

I fabricated a muffler using deflector and tubing. It really does knock the noise down some. I emailed this idea to a number of RC magazines. A couple of them wrote back that they may experiment and do an article on noise reduction in the future. Check it out at this thread: https://www.rcnitrotalk.com/showthread/t-15890.html

 

[robriguez]

someone here experimented with a coke can exhaust silencer that made it VERY quiet. I want to say it was Error or WDavidHicks but I'm not sure. It was a WHILE ago. All I remember is that it was quiet, I dont know how it affected performance.

 

[El Pirata]

I could swear that Kyosho makes a silencer that slides on over the stinger. Another idea you could add an air filter onto the stinger. You will decrease the perrfomance regardless of what you do the silence the exhaust however that's the price you pay for silence.

 

[Chevy-SS]

I might disagree with El Pirata about a performance loss being a given. I don't think adding a muffler will always result in a loss of power. I was into drag racing for many years (still have a '68 big-block Camaro) and read many articles on the subject of open headers versus mufflers. Most times, if a performance style muffler was used, there would be no horsepower loss on the chassis dyno. Quite often, there was actually a performance GAIN. These tests showed that most (if not all) engines like a little backpressure.

As we all know, the whole purpose of a tuned pipe is to increase backpressure to a specific, optimum level. I'm kinda surprised one of these tuned pipe makers doesn't employ sound-reduction technology in their design, perhaps like Flowmaster performance mufflers, which use metal baffle chambers to cancel out noise, but don't affect performance. I'll bet if enough people started asking them to produce a noise-reducing tuned pipe, they might do it.

I'm hoping one of the RC mags will do an article and use some sort of dyno testing to compare power levels with and without muffler.

 

[PiErow]

I put the k&n filter on my .18sirio and quied it way down. You might want to try it on a buggy.

 

[dgrobe2112]

There is a filter that is used.. i have one.. will have to look and see what the brand is.. i havent even used it.. still sitting in my box.. looks like a plastic case.. with 1 hole in it.. or something.. very weird.. not the K factory cover.. but this thing is like a dome or something.. i will look at it again.. and see what brand it is..

 

[mcvickj]

What buggy noise? All I hear is sweet sweet music. Have you had a complaint yet? Running a nitro RC isn't that much louder than a chainsaw or a lawn mower and people don't complain about them. As long as your not running your buggy at 3 am you should be in the clear.

Originally posted by robriguez
someone here experimented with a coke can exhaust silencer that made it VERY quiet. I want to say it was Error or WDavidHicks but I'm not sure. It was a WHILE ago. All I remember is that it was quiet, I dont know how it affected performance.

I believe Error was the one who tried that.

 

[Ericke1]

Complaints

Yes, people come out in their balconies, wondering what is going on, sometimes cops drive by...one guy even told me once "hey mario, can you take that thing somewhere else..."

Where can I get this exhaust deflector from?

http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/WTI0095P?FVSEARCH=exhaust+deflector&FVPROFIL=++

WIll any of these fit, how do I install this (anything else besides bow ties)?

 

[HumboldtBlazer]

Believe it or not noise is a factor in our sport. A lot of tracks have been shut down do to noise, or have made neighbors in the track vicinity upset. Tons of tracks require baffles and carb restrictors. With both a baffled pipe and a carb restrictor more than enough power can be had but you do lose a tad (you won't miss it). With that said what you gain is longer run times as you get much better fuel consumption, and another added bonus is noteable reduction in noise. I for one get more power than I could ever use on any track I have driven on. Any race bread .21 is insane and can use both items and still have too much power. Just my opinion.

BTW a defelector in my experience does not reduce noise.

 

[olds97_lss]

Measure your stinger to see how big it is, then read the description. I think most of those list the size they fit.

As in reducing the noise, it doesn't make a huge difference. But every engine I've put it on I've noticed a difference. It just makes it a softer less sharp sound.

 

[Chevy-SS]

Humboldt, where can I buy a baffled, tuned pipe? I am limiting myself to only a few minutes run time in my neighborhood simply because of noise. If I need to break in an engine, I go to a nearby parking lot or field. These things are a lot of fun, but they are obnoxious when it comes to noise.

I think we should all start writing the pipe manufacturers and insisting on quieter pipes, for the sake of the sport. Today I was breaking in a new Picco .26 in a Home Depot parking lot and as it would scream by me (not even WOT), I was thinking I should be wearing ear protection, it was that loud. We may like it, but the neighbors don't, simple as that.