Rattling Thunderheader

[Hossamania]

The baffles in my Thunderheader are starting to rattle. It's about 15 years old, 100,000 miles with a lot of hard running on it.
I'm pretty sure there is no repairing it, but thought I would just throw it out here to see if maybe anyone has had any luck with a fix.
I got my money's worth out of it, I would say.

[838]

Wonder if you could fab it from the baffle out of a thundercone...? Plenty of those out there used and you'd have two baffles to experiment with... in case you muck up the first 

[calif phil]

In the old days we used to drill a hole in the bottom of the muffler and run a screw up in the baffle to hold it. 

[76shuvlinoff]

Was often tempted to cut the one on my shovel open and install some baffle cloth but then I'd be having to BBQ paint it  It's starting to show wear so maybe I'm not that far off.

[Hybredhog]

In the old days we used to drill a hole in the bottom of the muffler and run a screw up in the baffle to hold it.

    A couple good sheet metal screws should work. take it off or work the baffle around to see which end is loose.

[Hossamania]

In the old days we used to drill a hole in the bottom of the muffler and run a screw up in the baffle to hold it.

I like that idea!

In the old days we used to drill a hole in the bottom of the muffler and run a screw up in the baffle to hold it.

    A couple good sheet metal screws should work. take it off or work the baffle around to see which end is loose.

It's a one piece pipe, tough to get at the collector end. But I'll see what I can do. I just like the whole idea of jury rigging a repair for another couple years.

[ecir50]

i like the self tapping screw idea 5/16 or bigger predrill outer, you miss tack the hole back  up.

[tomcat64]

Hoss, you have a Thunderheader on your Roadglide, that's something we hardly ever see!!!

[Hossamania]

Um, yeah, RoadGlide!

[kd]

Hoss, you have a Thunderheader on your Roadglide, that's something we hardly ever see!!!

Well now,  you know that Hoss is a different sort of guy Tom.   

[Panzer]

DIFFERENT ? ................

[Hossamania]

I told Mom that my friends said I was different, she said I was special.

[Y2KRKNG]

So are we say that there is a baffle/packing up near the collector on a TH 2-1??? I thought it only had the "Thunder cone" or whatever they call that 4 sided pyramid shaped cone near the end of the muffler.

[Hossamania]

That cone looks like it is about 12" long, into the pipe/muffler. That's the piece that seems to be rattling, no packing. I haven't taken the time yet to get it up on the lift and start doing some quick troubleshooting, identifying as best I can which part is rattling. I'm assuming it's the end furthermost inside the pipe that has come loose. Or, that whole piece is just coming apart.
I suppose I could just cut it open if necessary to have it welded back up, I don't really care what it looks like. The heat shield will cover most of it. I'll try the sheetmetal screw trick first.
Probably a new pipe in my future though.

[Y2KRKNG]

Just a WAG based on nothing more than a hunch, I bet the rattle is coming from something other than a baffle/cone/ect inside the pipe.

[Hossamania]

Just a WAG based on nothing more than a hunch, I bet the rattle is coming from something other than a baffle/cone/ect inside the pipe.

When I tap my foot on the pipe, it rattles. No loose heat shields, no loose fasteners. If you heard it, running and rattling, or not running and rattling, you'd be pretty sure it's the baffle. I'll have to roll it up on the lift tomorrow.

[D.W.]

Just a WAG based on nothing more than a hunch, I bet the rattle is coming from something other than a baffle/cone/ect inside the pipe.

The thunderheader are prone to this after a lot of miles. Sometimes they even go flying out the back of the pipe!

[Hossamania]

Rattle solved. For now...

[attach=0]

[Y2KRKNG]

Well that'll do it. Looks like there was a "cone tab mod" attempted in its past.

[ecir50]

Rattle solved. For now...

[attach=0,msg1318590]

might have pick up some on the bottom end, going have to put it on the dyno now.

[Leed]

Interesting solution...  Duct tape wouldn't hold up to the temperature.
I've been known to use similar re-engineering too.

[jmorton10]

It's rattling so loud you can hear the rattle over the sound of a stock t-header muffler???

Must be one heck of a loud rattle LOL........

~John

[Hossamania]

It's rattling so loud you can hear the rattle over the sound of a stock t-header muffler???

Must be one heck of a loud rattle LOL........

~John

It was pretty obnoxious! Bordered on embarrassing. Almost. You notice how much money I spent on a fix...

Well that'll do it. Looks like there was a "cone tab mod" attempted in its past.

Yes, there was. I bent them once, then unbent them thinking I lost a little top end, then bent two again, because, well, sure, I'm a tuner. Yeah, right.

Rattle solved. For now...

[attach=0,msg1318590]

might have pick up some on the bottom end, going have to put it on the dyno now.

Sure, Dyno. By Dyno, I mean it will get hell beat out of it like usual, doubt any new jetting will be done, new pipe when it finally breaks loose and shoots out! Hope no one is behind me.

[Hossamania]

I've only had a chance to start it, no rattle for now, but I'm out of town for a couple weeks, no real test until I get back.

[tdrglide]

JB Weld. It's worked so far on an old rattling cycle shack muffler I have.