I have V&H pipes with quiet baffles that I added additional insulation to make it quieter. Does restricting exhaust flow shorten engine life? Asked this in Sportster forum and got conflicting advise. Any help would be appreciated.

 

Since a quiet engine is more likely to be run over by a soccer mom on a cell phone, I'd say yes; it can shorten engine life.

 

That is hilarious!

 

Some more back pressure will make it run a little richer. I would prefer that condition to one of being leaner.

 

Im not trying to make it sound like a jap bike believe me its still plenty loud

 

thanks nevil

 

in case you needed other ideas, search in my posts about exhaust .. a guy posted blueprints and directions for adding a cabinet handle to the inside of the baffle, lowering it slightly more. it was held in place with the baffle screw

just a headsup, it seemed like a good idea for those looking for quieter.

 

I used the Quiet baffles also but it was still a little loud on long trips. It still had that drone sound. I added the "SmartPartz" baffles in addition to the V&H quiet baffles. Drone is gone which makes long trips nicer. It still gets loud if you get on it but it makes the bike nicer. You may lose a little power but to me it is worth it.....Just my two cents...

 

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Actually I don't see how adding more insulation around the outside of the baffle will restrict the flow at all.
The packing/insulation absorbs the exhaust and just makes it have a deeper sound..

The Q-baffle it self might be a little smaller ID than the standard baffles that V&H's uses, whick will also reduce the DB's. Which is what the Quiet baffles job is to begin with. But V&H's claim is they on reduce the DB's by 3-4 so they can't be to much smaller..

U can rest assured that V&H's wouldn't make a baffle for there pipes that would shorten the life of Ur motor.
Actually the other way around,, those who run baffleless is probably going to have trouble sooner than those using the Q-baffle.

But if U U motor has the stg1 set up and has been dyno tuned, then U change to the Quiet baffles from the std ones, U may need to re-tune/ re-calibrate her to get the best results again..

As a matter of fact,, I just, today re-packed my Rush mufflers, and they are now double wrapping the baffles instead of the way they used to do them, which was one single layer that started burning out after about 10-15k
It will not make U motor have any more back pressure. But the pipes will have a lot deeper rumble to them.. At least mine sure does..
Also with the double wrap U won't have to redo them nearly as often.

 

Thanks for advice