When I built my first plane, my instructor told me to remove the cone shaped baffle from the muffler on my OS la engine. He said they run better that way.

Anyone have any good info on whether this is a good idea or not?

Thanks,
Tim

Try it and see. You can always put it back in. It won't hurt your engine.

Jim

The engine should definatly run better BUT.... be aware. There may be enough loss of back pressure to supply pressure to the fuel tank. You can try it but I would stay in real close and have your intructor be ready to dead stick land it if your engine quits for lack of fuel on certain manuveres. ... lownslo.

PS. on my first trainer I had an LA .40 and I drilled a few holes in the baffle and smoothed and enlarged, as much as possible, the exit tube. It still had pressure. OR you can just GO FOR IT!

I have taking mine out ever since they started putting them in, you will have no problems and more power.

It isn't so much whether I can or not, but the pros and cons of doing it.
I took the baffle out when I built the plane and it has been working ok for over two years now. I always took the baffle out of every new engine since (.10 .15 .25 .46). I really didn't have anything to compare it to, since I never ran an engine with the baffle in.
Just wondering if anyone had any input on whether it was a good idea or bad idea?
Has anyone done a comparison with and without?

Tim

Back pressure isn't affected by removing the baffle since the fitting is behind the baffle. The difference is definately noticable but not outstanding. I like the sound better without the baffle too.