Hitchcocks Forum

Haveing checked/changed/tried and tested just about everything, I think all the weak running/bottom end glitches are being caused by my rattling silencer. I'm now running fairly weak, all the time, (compared to the usual almost sooty plug tip), have covered over 1500 k's since this trouble began. As mentioned before, carb/ign./exhaust are all standard. The original "cigar" silencer (142901) has a healthy rattle, which I didn't think nothing of, probably caused last summer when the condenser failed and I had one or two large "explosions" limping said Bullet home. Makes a nice thumping sound, never did this before, but then again, with all the noises these bikes make, I find it's difficult at the best of times to know when something is getting noisier, especially at speed.

Is there a fix/bodge for the standard silencer! Is there a (cheap) alternative replacement out there! Unless I have to, I'll keep the carb/jets/air filter as standard, they work fine for me, as I dont really want the expense of changing the downpipe/silencer/jets/air filter. Come MOT time, not sure if it will pass.
PS: Just browsing here and noticed a Universal Silencer, 91045. Can anyone recommend this as a fix ? £38+ tax sounds reasonable. Can it be bolted straight on with no changes to jetting ect?
Regards
BT

Hello BT,
I Have used the Universal Silencer on Both 500 & 350 Classic Iron & Now its on My Test bed 350 AVL,
It Comes With a reducer for the Std 350 or as is for Owt' else.

Quite it is Not, But a more pleasing boom than a Mega, And though Short they was room to fit a Home Made Baffle in.
In Std form My Std Iron head 350 went faster and quicker (But Noisier) on the Classic 500 it was Ok but No Noticeable difference & on My 360 AVL with a Bit more Baffling (Ramed) in ..Its very Nice.

All My Bikes have Run a Bit sooty on all Exhausts & I Noticed No Difference on "The Universal Silencer"
I Did Not re Jet or Adjust (Beyond tick over any Carb) The Micarb or Amals in between changes.

In Fact It Has Been My Spare Muffler/Exhaust of choice in the shed & on A few Bikes since, Its Rust Pitted Now But Fully usable.

I usually use the Indian short Exaurst on my bikes but often the inner Baffle comes Lose and Makes a Two stroke Tang tang...But Sounds Nice at other times.

Hope my ramblings Help.. Yes:Universal Silencer..Cheap Cheerful and it works..TILL You Find the OPne you really Need....... Oh its Passed the MOT Twice too on Different Bikes.

Cheers Craig

If you want to keep it original look for a 2nd hand one. There are usually a few for sale at a reasonable price when owners buy a noisier/lighter one. As they are expensive to post try to find one locally.

I actually bought the Universal silencer 91045 from our hosts last year, and used it for about 11 months on my 350 Bullet Classic. I replaced it a couple of months ago with the Indian-made silencer 112162, simply because I prefered the more traditonal look of the 112162.

In terms of performance, it was certainly an improvement on the standard long torpedo pipe and had a nice deep note to it.

It's in quite good condition and If you're interested in buying in buying it, I'd be happy to pass it on for £10.00 plus postage. (It isn't particularly heavy).

If you're interested, let me know and I'll send you my email address.

Thanks for the tips.

On Saturday, I fitted a reverse cone mega, with no baffling as such. It was lying in my cellar with all the other bits that make up a 58' Matchbox 600 G11 twin? It was marked "A1 1 3/4" Megatone", probably circa' late 60's, early 70's. The older one's here will probably remember these "silencers", but way before my time!
In good nick, surface rust only, and slipped on my standard Indian downpipe. (I also noticed the welded in reducer fitted in the Indian downpipe, which is certainly doing it's job on restricting flow looking at the thickness off it!). The original Indian rear bracket fitted too, via two sliding bolts, but being much shorter than the "Cigar", I bolted that bracket to a re-fitted footrest hanger. Missing the centre support bracket, by the gearbox, but it all feels solid as is. Sealed up the joint with some Engineering grade Silicone ATV and the original Matchbox pipe clamp. Saves a lot of weight too compared to the "cigar".
Did it all work? Well, gave it a blast at 8pm. No difference on the running, still weak, and the bottom end glitches on pick-up are still there. But the noise! That's another issue. Not sure whether this is strictly legal, although, I think most Harleys I've heard, with there shotgun/straight thru's are probably louder. At speed, it's a real treat, but you cant here any engine noise as such! Riding around, it's a proper thumping, booming sound, in fact, the sound of thunder would best describe it?

I can see why they call it the Thundersprint in Northwich, and the Thunder Twins series in BHRC Racing?

A Thundering Bullet. Not usually a name applied to these bikes!

PS. To Durham Tim. I'd be foolish to refuse your offer on that Universal Silencer. I'd better have something "sensible" as back-up come M.O.T time?
Send your e-mail to: 077 22 37 99 33 and I'll make contact.

Regards
BT