First Hack Muffler Mod on the 346

[Haywire Haywood]

Well... the brazing didn't work out so out came the dremel tool and the 1/16" cutoff wheel.
First pic.. you can tell I already cut the stock deflector off and placed it back on for the photo.
Second pic.. opened up the hole with the dremel to about twice the original size.
Third pic... enlarged the opening in the stock deflector without changing the angle of deflection. I think I'll open it a little more. Hopefully no melted plastic will result. I intend to use the stock screen. Trusty helper is posing in the background.. what a ham Now I have to find someone good with welder to put it back on for me.

wadda yoo tink?

 

[l2edneck]

looks like yer almost there....

Cant wait to see vid of the difference.You did take some of before you modded i hope?

 

[brncreeper]

looks good so far

You can forget any notion of using the spark arrestor now. Other than that so far so good, now find someone to TIG weld it back together.

To still be able to use the screen you could have cut two sides of the cap with a hacksaw, bend the cap straight up, do the Dremel work, then bend the cap back down and TIG weld.

 

[oneadam12]

If you can't find a TIG, a MIG will probably do the job, but it won't look as neat because you most likely won't be able to weld it in a single pass w/o burning a hole in it.

 

[Haywire Haywood]

Cant wait to see vid of the difference.You did take some of before you modded i hope?

Nope, no before vid. The only reason I found this site and discovered muffler mods are that I burned this saw up a few weeks ago and was researching for the new saw purchase. I discovered thru this site that it wasn't that badly damaged and that I could get by with a new ring after I cleaned the cylinder up with acid. Of course this came after I bought the 361..

You can forget any notion of using the spark arrestor.

We shall see. I cut it at the very edge of where it attached to the body. I actually thought of making an entirely new deflector if I could find some thin wall square tube of the right size.

 

[Four Paws]

I actually thought of making an entirely new deflector if I could find some thin wall square tube of the right size.

Go to your local steel supplier and buy some round tube - 3/8" to 1/2" diameter and some 18 ga sheet metal. Make a whole new deflector, and grind off the parts of the old deflector remaining on the muffler.

Attach it with 2 sheetmetal screws - I see there is already 1 screw in it. Or, just send it off to one of our sponsors (NWCS) and he will fix it up for you!

When I modified the muffler on my Shindaiwa 577, I built a whole new deflector and bolted it in the stock location with cap screws.

 

[JeffHK454]

How close do you live to Cincinnati?

I can hook you up with a piece of .75 I.D stainless tube professionally tig welded for a small fee..:biggrinbounce2:

 

[rahtreelimbs]

If you can't find a TIG, a MIG will probably do the job, but it won't look as neat because you most likely won't be able to weld it in a single pass w/o burning a hole in it.

This is true! One thing that I have found that works quite well is to take a piece of coat hanger ( cleaned thoroughly with scotchbrite ) and use it as a second filler rod in your opposite hand.

 

[Haywire Haywood]

I'll have a look around at see what we have at work. Might come up with some 3/8 stainless hydraulic line and 18ga sheetmetal that I could form into the right shape.

Ian

 

[Haywire Haywood]

I figured out that my blowtorch wasn't rated for MAPP. I bought the correct one and it was just enough to flow the brazing rod. It isn't pretty, but it's on there good and it flowed into the joints like I am used to seeing with regular solder joints. Now I need to figure out the screen and get some high temp paint on it.

Ian

 

[sawinredneck]

Looks great to me Hyawire, nice work
Andy