180 Mods.

Beechwood · Oct 12, 2006

I have received a few PM's asking about the mufflers I used for my dual exhaust conversion. If anyone is interested in doing the conversion here is the info on the mufflers:

Lawn Mower Parts and Lawn mower Parts and Tractor Parts

When you get to the web site keyword in canister mufflers or KOHLER # 237550S

KOHLER PART # 237550S
AFTERMARKET PART # 105296 ( $29.34 )

Barryh · Oct 12, 2006

Thanks for sharing the information with us. So have you noticed any improvements other than the engine running cooler?

Beechwood · Oct 13, 2006

Barryh said:
Thanks for sharing the information with us. So have you noticed any improvements other than the engine running cooler?

The job I was going to start last weekend with my 180 has been put on hold (customer is still waiting to hear from their bank on the home improvment loan ). The work involves clearing a 24'x30' area for a new workshop/storage shed. It will be a good job to use the brush cutter, stump grinder, mini backhoe and bucket to see how it performs with the new exhaust. I'm also building the shop so I will be able to use my hydraulic boom to lift the field built trusses up (it's just a very simple even pitch truss with a center king post, so they will be light trusses). The workshop is going to 16'x24'. I would have gone with a larger building but it's their money and they are on a budget, I hope to hear this week that all went well with their bank.

Barryh · Oct 13, 2006

Beechwood said:
The job I was going to start last weekend with my 180 has been put on hold (customer is still waiting to hear from their bank on the home improvment loan ). The work involves clearing a 24'x30' area for a new workshop/storage shed. It will be a good job to use the brush cutter, stump grinder, mini backhoe and bucket to see how it performs with the new exhaust. I'm also building the shop so I will be able to use my hydraulic boom to lift the field built trusses up (it's just a very simple even pitch truss with a center king post, so they will be light trusses). The workshop is going to 16'x24'. I would have gone with a larger building but it's their money and they are on a budget, I hope to hear this week that all went well with their bank.

Great keep us posted.

Beechwood · Nov 6, 2006

CARB. AND DUAL EXHAUST UPDATE:
I did some excavation work yesterday and today. I used the brush mower, stump grinder, mini backhoe and bucket. I installed the new carb last week and I am very pleased with the results.

#! better acceleration.
#2 Engine compartment heat index has been lowered by almost half.( I used a very scienitific test--- I held my hand on the carryall bed. Before the conversion I could slow fry an egg on the bed now the bed is luke warm to the touch, )
#3 when I am digging into a pile of dirt the engine will not bog down as it did before the conversion, now the wheels just spin.
#4 the engine runs a lot smoother and shuts down when I turn off the key without poping and backfiring.
#5 when I got home I welded the mufflers to the 1" black pipe because the clamps loosened up by the end of the day.

I will fabricate two muffler support brackets this week.

Barryh · Nov 7, 2006

Much needed improvement, great job Beechwood.

Beechwood · Nov 15, 2006

Beechwood said:
I have received a few PM's asking about the mufflers I used for my dual exhaust conversion. If anyone is interested in doing the conversion here is the info on the mufflers:

Lawn Mower Parts and Lawn mower Parts and Tractor Parts

When you get to the web site keyword in canister mufflers or KOHLER # 237550S

KOHLER PART # 237550S
AFTERMARKET PART # 105296 ( $29.34 )

GOOD NEWS-BAD NEWS !!
The 180 is still runng strong since the conversion---but one of the mufflers crapped out today ( less than 16 HRS. use ). I bought the aftermarket mufflers- FROM ACROSS THE BIG POND (you get what you pay for ) to see how long they would last ($29.34 EA.) #105296. Well they didn't last very long !!. When I got home I tried welding the blown out crimped muffler end cap seam using C25 gas with .024 wire, and I still got burn thru.-- that tells you how thin walled the muffler is !!. I'm going to order the OEM KOHLER PART# 237550S- approx. ($45.00 EA) and compare the two mufflers. If anyone is considering doing the conversion stick with born in the US of A parts !! ( at least I hope the OEM mufflers are made in the USA. ). I'll find out soon enough.

That's my Rant for today.

Gravy · Nov 15, 2006

I finally made good on my threat to try the genuine Robin side mount muffler kit. It took some creative plumbing, but I got it done. I hope to post the pics someday (probably some foul-weather weekend).

It doesn't live up to my hopes. The quality seems fine, but I didn't gain enough in performance or sound control to make it worthwhile. It is somewhat quieter and more of a mellow tone, but it's still not quiet by any stretch of the imagination. The configuration of the manifold doesn't come close to lining up with the cutout in the engine cover, so I had to add several elbows, which may have hurt flow. There may be a slight power increase, but I'm not sure. It still backfires.

If I ever try again, I will probably make a manifold out of butt-weld pipe fittings and use a much larger-volume quiet muffler, possibly from a small car.

Dave

BobRip · Nov 15, 2006

Gravy said:
I finally made good on my threat to try the genuine Robin side mount muffler kit. It took some creative plumbing, but I got it done. I hope to post the pics someday (probably some foul-weather weekend).

It doesn't live up to my hopes. The quality seems fine, but I didn't gain enough in performance or sound control to make it worthwhile. It is somewhat quieter and more of a mellow tone, but it's still not quiet by any stretch of the imagination. The configuration of the manifold doesn't come close to lining up with the cutout in the engine cover, so I had to add several elbows, which may have hurt flow. There may be a slight power increase, but I'm not sure. It still backfires.

If I ever try again, I will probably make a manifold out of butt-weld pipe fittings and use a much larger-volume quiet muffler, possibly from a small car.

Dave

Gravy, if you have the ROPS, sound bounces off of it and makes the machine louder. Put some sound absorbing insulation under it and the machine will be a little quieter.

Gravy · Nov 16, 2006

Bob,

I've been planning to do just that for nearly 2 years now, ever since I rode in the PT factory "bus" and saw that it had sound absorbing foam on the ceiling. It's on The List, but The List keeps getting longer...

Gravy