Muffler Mods and Increased Decibels???

[Chainsaw]

One of my boys bought a Stihl MS400C last year and decided recently to try the West Coast Bark Box muffler on it (I think I got that right).

WOW - that is one loud chainsaw now…

Question - is it typical that muffler mods increase the decibels well into hearing damage range, even with wearing ear plugs or muffs?

I had ear plugs and even at a distance, that saw was still crazy loud to my ears - LOL!

 

[JKNW]

More flow is going to come with more noise. Bark boxes are especially loud due to the outlet being nearly in line with the exhaust port.

 

[Stump Shot]

Doesn't have to be so. Deflectors with the exit holes fully covered and pipes added that stick well inside the muffler housing pointing away from the operator can be quite reasonable while still adding performance. Any large exit at the face of the muffler is going to be loud with the full blast from the port hitting it head on. There's not much of a way around that.

 

[DillonBuck]

Not really. Any gas powered saw is well into ear damage range.

The standard I’ve been taught was,
“If you can’t have a conversation at normal speech levels, you need to wear ear pro.”

I’d bet e-saws running would be closer to the limit than one would think.


Yes, anything letting the flow out better lets the noise out too. Well done you can temper the noise, my preference on work saws creates a deeper sound, with less of the crack.

 

[2000ssm6]

The deflector/side port has been used for many years, works great and won’t blow your ears out.

This sudden rage for insanely loud exhausts is weird.

 

[bucketofguts]

MS 201C with WCS muffler sounds like a Hodaka Combat Wombat. Showing my age

 

[Duane(Pa)]

Most of my saws have muffler mods. I always double up, foam plugs and muffs. Some foam plugs are damn near worthless.