Muffler angle/loader issue

[Jeff K.-HT]

Everyone seems so helpful here so posting a small issue I had come up to get opinions/suggestions.

The muffler on my recently purchased Yanmar F16D was gone/broken off. Just a stub remaining. I recently ordered the replacement muffler from Hoye.

When I attempted to mount the muffler it appears that the angle on the new muffler is a bit wider than the old muffler angle. This is causing the new muffler to hit the loader arm when I attempt to install it. It looks like it needs about another 1/2 inch more clearance.

I have studied the loader arm and it does not appear that there are any options for changing how it is mounted (making it a wider mount, etc..). I might be able to move the metal hydraulic lines on the inside of the loader arm (where the muffler is hitting now) but that is where they feed directly into the joystick control, etc... so not sure how easily that would be accomplished.

Suggestions? My thinking so far is:

1) See if this muffler can be bent enough to allow the clearance?

2) Take the muffler to a local machine shop and have it cut and re-welded at the more ideal angle (using the old one as a template).

3) Attempt to move the hydraulic lines and see if the loader arm itself will clear the muffler.

Has anyone else had an issue like this or?

I took a picture of the old broken off muffler arm I had and the new muffler angle to try and show the difference.

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[alan-HT]

I can't answer directly, Jeff, but I'll bumble around for a bit.

For years I never heard of an "F" series, but all of a sudden they seem to be around. The replacement muffler might be for a more common model.

I would generally leave the FEL and its plumbing as is, and modify the exhaust.

From your description and photo I don't have a clear understanding of the problem -- sorry. I gather you're showing the original four-hole flange that bolts to the engine. If it helps, those flanges can be installed so the pipes are straight up (the common orientation) or forward (which is how I have mine) or for that matter straight back or down). So would a straight-ahead orientation provide the clearance?

Otherwise, if you could drive it (or just take the bits) to a muffler shop, I bet they'd solve it before you turn around.

 

[gizmo-HT]

I would see if Hoye has the right one first . If not I would cut it about 1 inch from the base . Them cut what I needed out to make it work . It looks like about 1 inch or 2 took out would do re-weld the base back on . you should be good to go.

 

[Jeff K.-HT]

Here are a couple of additional pictures.

I did get it mounted/installed today but as you can see the clearance is VERY close to the hydraulic lines. I actually straightened the hydraulic lines as best I could to get this clearance. However if I lift the bucket more than 2 ft off the ground the hydraulic line bracket will hit the canister on the muffler. So you can see it's very tight.

I really don't appear to have that much clearance on the tractor side either. I need to put the body panels back on that side to see just what it is. So if I did have it cut and re-welded it would only need to be a very short amount, maybe 1 inch. The other option I was wondering about was a muffler with a smaller canister on it. Or maybe take this one down and have it cut at a muffler shop and a smaller diameter canister installed on it. There is nothing special about these mufflers for a 3 cyl diesel engine is there?

You might also suggest I remove the hydraulic line bracket and reposition it. Well it's welded in place, which means I would have to rent a trailer (I don't have a tandem trailer laying around) and haul the tractor to a shop to be worked on, reweld the bracket, etc... Probably easier for me to remove the muffler and have it worked on. Plus I would guess having that muffler canister right up against the hydraulic lines can't be good?

I don't think Hoye carries a different muffler....this was the only one that came up for the Yanmar, or maybe I am wrong?

Thanks again for the input/suggestions. As a rookie with little to no experience and limited resources at my disposal it's good to have as many ideas/solutions as possible.



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[Norm-HT]

It does appear that "one size fits all". That muffler is too fat and will never fit between your hood and loader, much wider than the one on my YM2000B. You are going to need an OEM muffler from an authorized Yanmar parts dealer, if available.

 

[gizmo-HT]

I got two OEM muffler a long time ago just in case I needed them. If you can not find one let me know.

 

[Norm-HT]

There you go <E>:wink:</E> .

 

[alan-HT]

Now it's perfectly clear and looks like your loader-arms are remarkably close to the hood. You can choose from four options.

The factory heat-shield on mine is 4". If yours is, as it looks, wider than that, ask if a supplier can exchange it for one with the skinnier shield.

Metal-saw or grind a wedge out of the inner brace (or saw a cut in it and overlap the cut edges), bend the pipe so that the 90-degree angle becomes nearer 80 degrees, and re-weld the brace. Or have a machine shop or muffler place do it. It will look odd having the pipe leaning in a bit, but it's a solution. Or, if an inch were cut out of the horizontal pipe at or near the flange, would the hood still clear?

Use a press to slightly compress or flatten the outside surface of the shield. It will still work OK.

I assumed the problem was with the rubber hoses, and their location is more precise than it may seem, so advised against moving them. But the fixed tubing could be relocated to the top or bottom of the arm. The bending and/or cutting and supplying fittings would be an easy job for a hydraulics shop or most tractor dealers. If you do it, depressurize first.

 

[Jeff K.-HT]

Just a quick update on my muffler issue.

I took the muffler I had to a muffler shop to see about having it cut and re-welded. The muffler shop I went too seemed pretty helpful but they said as that was a pressed muffler they would not recommend cutting it and trying to reweld it as they felt it could jeapordize the integrity of the muffler. I didn't really want to try flattening it or cutting it myself.

Realizing that muffler was probably not going to work I uninstalled it and Hoye was kind enough to take it back on a return.

I hit up every local/regional tractor junk yard I could find looking for a used muffler that I could make work. No luck there....lots of Kabota stuff but really nothing with Yanmars and really just not many mufflers.

I went back to the muffler shop and asked about just having a muffler done up from scratch. They were willing to give it a try. I had a local machine shop fabricate the flange for me then the muffler shop used an 18 inch FlowMaster glass-pack muffler installed in the vertical position! This was the smallest diameter vehicle muffler they had available (I could have used a motorcycle muffler or a generator muffler.....but had concerns about both).

As you can see from the pictures the diameter is much smaller (than the other muffler) and it fit with at least 1 inch clearance on either side. I would have liked more clearance but I figured this could work. All told the cost was higher.....$32 for the flange fabrication, $45 for the muffler, $25 for the muffler build labor....so $102 total. Still not bad in my opinion....and now she purs like a kitten! (my neighbors will be very pleased!)

Thanks for all the help with ideas and suggestions. One problem down on my new Yanmar, more to follow (see upcoming post! ha ha!).

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[DAIRYMAN-HT]

Glad to see that you made something work. Where there's a will, there's a way!

 

[Norm-HT]

Have you installed you hood yet? I would have bought Gizmo's muffler and gotten on with my life.

 

[Carey-HT]

Can you attach an audio.I'm curious what a glass pack sounds like on a tractor.I'm guessing kinda cool. <E>8)</E>

 

[Jeff K.-HT]

<QUOTE author="Norm"><s>

</s>Have you installed you hood yet? I would have bought Gizmo's muffler and gotten on with my life.<e>

/e></QUOTE>

Hmmmm, not sure who Gizmo is or what he sells, but if I missed something it was my bad. I wasn't trying to make more work for myself, I just wanted a muffler that fit and cleared the loader.

I did install the side panel to make sure the muffler had the clearance. But I have not replaced the other panels yet as I am trying to get the majority of the dents/dings out of them. Is there a site that you guys would recommend for replacement panels/body parts? Does Hoye carry those (have not stumbled on them yet). I for sure need a new front grill/headlight cover.

As for the sound file.....will have to see what I can figure out. Not sure how to just create a .wav file for posting. I can do a video clip in HD and post it up on YouTube, then share the link....will probably do that once I get the panels back on and it running properly.

Thanks for all the comments/input. I know this stuff is old hat for most of you and pretty basic but for a first time tractor owner who didn't grow up around this stuff, it's all very helpful.

 

[Norm-HT]

<QUOTE author="gizmo"><s>

</s>I got two OEM muffler a long time ago just in case I needed them. If you can not find one let me know.<e>

/e></QUOTE>

 

[Aaron-HT]

This is exactly the creative thinking that a Yanmar owner (especially an "F" series Yanmar owner) needs to have. You would be amazed at how many calls we get where the customer sells their tractor (at a huge loss) just because they can't get a spacer, or washer, or spring that they need. You have to be willing to get creative. It might take a little time but look at all of the fun you had!

I ,too, would like to hear what that glasspack sounds like <E>:lol:</E>