homemade Baffles for Short Pipes

DogBunny

Motorcychologist
Top Contributor
Messages
3,710
Reaction score
4,752
Points
263
Location
Austin, Texas
two.jpg

one.jpg

Here is a baffle I made for a friend's XS650 that uses a slash-cut stock double-wall header pipe for the exhaust.
three.jpg

three.jpg

The baffle is constructed of 3/4" trade size EMT (Electrical Metallic Tubing), also know as "thinwall." Three slots were cut into each end allowing me to bend out three wings on each end. You can cut two or four slots if you want to make two or four wings. Three 1/4" nuts and bolts have been put in each baffle for anti-reversion and to provide "back pressure." The nuts and screw-heads have been ground down a little for clearance.
All wings are over-spread, and the baffle is forced and hammered into the pipe. Friction keeps the baffle in place. There is no need to screw or bolt it in.
two.jpg

one.jpg

The baffle was made as long as possible, based on the straight length of the header that existed. On longer pipes, I have made baffles up to 14" long.
The bike runs excellent, and was easy to tune. I am not an engineer, and I am not an expert on reversion or pipe design, but I know that baffles like mine lower the power band, and make a bike with short pipes a lot more enjoyable to ride in town. This bike runs great in all riding situations.
This bike is still plenty loud. If you want to quiet it down, you can wrap fiberglass or Chore-Boy around the baffle before you insert it.
I have made plenty of these home-made baffles for long pipes, but this was my first for short pipes. For long pipes you may only need a single screw and nut.

EDIT: I rode this bike recently, and I know think that the 3 bolts in the baffle are too much. I'm trying to get the owner to pull the baffles and just use the last bolt.

EDIT: The owner finally removed 2 of the bolts, just leaving the one closest to the end in, and bike runs even better than before. One thing, he has had problems with is the baffles blowing out. This has only been happening on bikes just running headers, so if that's what you are doing, then run a self-tapping screw through the baffle and pipe.
 
Last edited:
Good tip. Back in the day we would use the baffles with the beer can cuts in them and would keep straightening out the cuts until we got the sound we wanted.
 
complete.jpg

complete.jpg

Here is a complete system. I have already tack-welded and slotted the pipe adapter, part 548520 to the head pipe. For more info on the adapter and how it works, scroll down to PamcoPete's post #19 in the following thread:
http://www.xs650.com/forum/showthread.php?t=276
The other parts in the pic are a piece of straight pipe, a clamp, a 13" homemade baffle with a single bolt in it, and a trim piece.
The clamp is a Stainless Steel Bolt Hose Clamp from McMaster-Carr, found here:
http://www.mcmaster.com/?m=true#catalog/119/285/=nqxgf2
I use part # 5443K22, check clamp for the size of the pipe you use.
The trim piece covers the tack welds on the pipe adapter. There are a couple different Stainless Steel items in the plumbing isle at Lowe's that will work. I'll get the numbers next time I'm there.
trim.jpg

RightPipesClose.jpg

RightPipesClose.jpg

Here's the complete system installed.
RightPipes.jpg

RightPipes.jpg

And here's the bike. Bike runs great and sounds great at all speeds and RPMs. The headers came with the bike, and all of the pipe was free, so all I bought was the adapters and the clamps, and some silver hi-temp spray paint, for a total of less than $20.

Geo1.jpg
 
Last edited:
trim.jpg

Untitled-1.jpg

Okay, here, as promised, is what I use as a trim piece to cover where the 548520 adapter is tack-welded to the head pipe. It is this:
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Fernco-1-1...7ASzy8Bj8N-Uo27BBe8aAmeyEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds
You throw away the rubber piece. It is Stainless steel, it comes with two riveted-on stainless worm clamps, and it is only $3.48. It is not strong enough to act as a pipe clamp, you still need the clamp on the left from McMaster-Carr.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Keeney-1-1-2-in-Metal-Sink-Tailpiece/3576242
PamcoPete has suggested the above thin chromed steel item for a trim piece. You cut it to size and slot it, and slip it over the tack-welds, with the slot hidden in the back, then secure it with stainless worm clamps. It is chrome, which I don't like as much as stainless, and you still need to buy a pair of worm clamps and do all of the cutting, so I like the first suggestion better.

BTW, I added an edit to the bottom of my original post in this thread.
 
Last edited:
Could you use copper tubing instead of EMT for the baffle? I know it's more expensive. I have some 3/4 I.D kicking around.
 
To answer my own question the answer is no. The copper is too soft and will break when you go to bend the flaps. I was wondering if it would hold up to the heat as well.
 
I think copper would work with a couple of changes. Not sure if it would break when the wings are bent, but to be safe, you could just cut more wings, like 5 or 6 instead of 3 or 4.
I think the real problem is that the copper is too soft to grab the inside of the exhaust pipe, it would eventually get spit out, so you'd need to secure it with a self-tapping screw through the copper and the exhaust pipe. That's not a bad idea anyway -- I've never had problems with my long pipes, but a couple of customers with short pipes have had their baffles come out. Probably because their short pipes aren't anchored and vibrate too much.
Anyways, you could always whip up a couple of temporary copper baffles to see the benefits.
 
I didn't really read this thoroughly and just dove in and made a set from EMT. You said that 3 screws is too much for short pipes? I just have headers with about a foot cut off each one.
 
If they are shorter than the pipes in the first pic of the first post in this thread, then 2 or 3 bolts might be okay. It also depends on how long you made yours. Try 1, 2 and 3 bolts and see what works best. That's what's nice about these, they are easy to alter and experiment with.
 
Made mine 5 inches long so i should be good with 3 bolts. Like you said you can experiment with them. Just got to get it running first. Ha, ha.
 
I am interested in doing something similar. do you still have pictures? Here is what I did to test how these shorties work. They sound ok, just a tiny bit of backfire on deceleration. I'm planning to repack the mufflers replace the flex pipe with "something" and add a baffle from your design.
 

Attachments

  • exhaust.jpg
    exhaust.jpg
    211.9 KB · Views: 209
I am interested in doing something similar. do you still have pictures? Here is what I did to test how these shorties work. They sound ok, just a tiny bit of backfire on deceleration. I'm planning to repack the mufflers replace the flex pipe with "something" and add a baffle from your design.
I went back to my posts #s 1 and 3 in this thread and re-posted the pictures.
I suggest you take a look at the McMaster-Carr "D-Clamps" that I linked to in post #3, instead of the horseshoe bolts that you used in your picture. They look better and are far more secure. WAY better than the usual hose clamp. The catch is that the D-Clamps have a very limited range, so you have to carefully measure the O.D. of the pipe that you are clamping.
If just one pipe is backfiring on decel, you just might need to tweak your sync screw a little. If both pipes are backfiring, you are likely lean, and maybe need to adjust your mix screw or adjust jetting.
 
Following a tip from gggGary, I've started using these T-bolt clamps and quite like them .....

VRqXOnd.jpg


Kx7tkQq.jpg


gjYFobe.jpg


I started out with a couple from the local Tractor Supply store but even though they were speced as a 1.5" size, they proved to be a bit too large. Unfortunately, this was the smallest size they had. I had to shim them with some stainless strap to get them to tighten up enough. That made for an awful lot of screw sticking out past the clamp once tight so I then had to trim that down .....

meQtpaS.jpg


Eventually I found smaller ones on Amazon, pretty reasonable when bought in quantity .....

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B012ZLFDFS/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

But, this next smaller size proved to be a little too small and wouldn't open up quite enough. I solved that problem by trimming a little bit off the tube the screw fits through .....

Vl9D7UG.jpg


..... and finally I had clamps that fit, lol.
 
Following a tip from gggGary, I've started using these T-bolt clamps and quite like them .....

VRqXOnd.jpg


Kx7tkQq.jpg


gjYFobe.jpg


I started out with a couple from the local Tractor Supply store but even though they were speced as a 1.5" size, they proved to be a bit too large. Unfortunately, this was the smallest size they had. I had to shim them with some stainless strap to get them to tighten up enough. That made for an awful lot of screw sticking out past the clamp once tight so I then had to trim that down .....

meQtpaS.jpg


Eventually I found smaller ones on Amazon, pretty reasonable when bought in quantity .....

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B012ZLFDFS/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

But, this next smaller size proved to be a little too small and wouldn't open up quite enough. I solved that problem by trimming a little bit off the tube the screw fits through .....

Vl9D7UG.jpg


..... and finally I had clamps that fit, lol.

DSC03685.JPG

Yes, those are what I spec'ed, pictured, and linked to in post #3. Here's a better McMaster-Carr link:
https://www.mcmaster.com/catalog/126/337/
Scroll half-way down the page to:
Tight-Seal Easy-Install Bolt Clamps for Soft Hose and Tube
The size that works for me is McMaster-Carr part # 5443K22, for $4.22 each.
There are lots of other material and type choices. The sizing is extremely incremental. You have to measure your application carefully, and then you should be able to find a clamp that needs no modifications.
 
The ones you're using differ slightly. The bolt comes out. Mine are like the 300 series at the top of the page you linked to. They have a T-bolt that doesn't come out with a nylock nut fitted to it. Yes, sizing is very important. Unfortunately for me, one size was a bit too small and the next size up a bit too large. But I was able to make both work with a little tweaking.
 
Couldn’t find any 1.5 in pipe. So I improvised with a stainless steel grab rail from Home Depot.
The Harley clamps are too big. The D clamps ad flex pipe were just used to see if the shorties and homemade baffles, with added steel wool, could be as quiet as stock.
So far so good on DB’s. Now with the concept proven moving on to clamps as suggested
The carb tune on the Mike’s XS carbs seemed ok with stock mufflers, so I am hesitant to mess with them until the exhaust is done.
Thank you all for the advice. I will be needing it!
 

Attachments

  • 8A1E0ACD-E160-46A9-B831-21062A7124C2.jpeg
    8A1E0ACD-E160-46A9-B831-21062A7124C2.jpeg
    256.2 KB · Views: 180
The carb tune on the Mike’s XS carbs seemed ok with stock mufflers, so I am hesitant to mess with them until the exhaust is done.
Thank you all for the advice. I will be needing it!
If the carbs were okay with stock mufflers, then you will probably need to re-jet with your new system, which will be more free-flowing. That could very well be why you are getting popping.
 
Home made baffles stuffed in 1.5 in Home Depot grab rail pipes. In front of emgo shorties. Everything bolts in stock locations.
As for the clamps. I used a 1.5 to 1.5 exhaust butt adapter from autozone, cut 4 slits and slipped over the head pipes. Then the HD 1.75” clamps were too big. Back to Home Depot. Wishi went with the Mcalester clamps
 

Attachments

  • B35613A1-2FD9-453E-80E1-F0760E20276C.jpeg
    B35613A1-2FD9-453E-80E1-F0760E20276C.jpeg
    267 KB · Views: 187
Back
Top