In realting to helis what's the difference between a tuned pipe and a tuned muffler? I'm thinking about getting one for my OS 50/Rappy 50.

I bought a KS muffler last week, was going over the ship this evening after a little misshap and I noticed a rattle. Seems my brand new $90 muffler has broken inside. I am in the market for a new muffler also. Not wanting to spend another $90, I am thinking there are some good quality exhaust systems out there that arent going to break the bank.

you should be able to return the muffler and get a new one for free

I will try and return it tomorrow. I am glad I bought it locally ... no shipping hassles.

What options do I have tuned pipe/tuned muffler wise?

Back to the original question.

In the heli muffler food chain, here's the ones available.

Muffler: allows for reliable performance albeit at the expense of top end power. Most quiet option for helicopters.

Tuned Pipe: allows for best power output from engine. However, the "tuned" means you have to set the length of the header precisely to correspond to the power band set for your engine. If you don't do it right, you will not get the expected results. Plus, these things are longer so most require you support the pipe properly and securely.

Tuned Mufflers: are a hybrid of sorts, they allow for good power (less than a tuned pipe), but not at the expense of poor idle to midrange engine performance which is typical of tuned pipes.

So, it really boils down to you... reliability or power. There's always a trade off. For learning, reliability is the best, the last thing you want is a flameout during the learning stage.

For power, tuned pipe is the way to go. This is true more so for some european flyers who use low to no nitro fuel (nitro is expensive in most European countries) to squeeze performance out of their engines using straight fuel.

In Asia, tuned mufflers maybe preferred as nitro fuel isn't as expensive as in Europe, but our weather conditions make it hard to run tuned pipes as the temperature varies greatly during the day with extremely high humidity.

As for R50 choices, the Weston is ok, but the one-piece variety tends to break at the header joint more often than models using a silicon joiner.

Hope this helps.

Best performance combo for the os50, Curtis MP and GV-1 governor.

The 50 sized machines are all overpowered a bit so the gv-1 is really nice. You could run a muffler and have good power, but the biggest advantage of the 61 sized MP will give you LOTS more fuel economy with great power.

it is very simple

Muffler- quiter, but also take out more power, moslty used in places where there is a restriction for noise.
Tuned pipe, longer, powerfull, more noise, usually sucks more fuel as well.

tuned pipe need to be adjusted properly, muffler no need to adjust.

OK here is a good deal. Go to the Curtis Youngblood site. He is selling some of his muscle pipes that have a small dent in them for 48.00 complete, includeing shipping. I have been using the Hatori 1 piece ones for quite a while, and I am looking forward to seeing if there is any difference.

BRB!! Gotta go fill out a check for $48!!

Well, checks in the mail! Now that I'm getting a muscle pipe what do I do to tune it?

LOL....

Did you get a header for it?

I will get the distance between the header and the pipe that we are using and that will be it!

I will also try to get a pic of the mounting that works too.....

Nope, don't have a header, what different headers are out there? Where is the best place to get a header?

OK, how would my rappy run if I put a CYMP, GV-1, and a perry regulating fuel pump without muffler pressure on my OS 50? Hmmm, what if I started usng 30% CP?

Yes you do. the 48.00 was for the complete kit as I understood it.

Here is the quote from the web site
You just cant beat that price, dent or not.

WHOOOOOOO HOOOOOOO!!!!

im running the curtis muscle pipe on my ergo 60....great pipe...low noise(blows the loud tuned pipe theory out the window)great performance and doesnt make the needles any harder to set.....intructions call for a gap of 1/8 inch between the header and the pipe....thats where i have mine and works flawless...using it on the OS50 im not sure if these measurments will still hold true....you might have to experment a little.....also i think curtis has a ask curtis section on his website...you might try looking up anything to do with the 50...he might have an answer for you......hope this helps

OK, went to bring in the week old $90 KS muffler ... store closed up over the holiday weekend ... for good. How well will a KS muffler work with innards removed. Took it apart at the rubber seam, and the center section has broken out. Its now just a hollow pipe.