My Maytag vintage washing machine motor

Maytag Model 92.
A homemade muffler (7th September 2007).
I made this muffler as a temporary measure to use at the first show I took the Maytag to. I have ordered a repro muffler from the States but this will take a while to get here and I needed something to use in the interim.

I have no experience in designing mufflers but knew roughly what I wanted and I enjoy doing this kind of thing. I discussed it with my friend Justin Ludewig and this is the design I settled for. The thinking behind the design was as follows:
  1. I was not trying to create an original looking muffler. Rather I wanted to make a "big engine" type muffler.
  2. I discovered that the Maytag ran better with a bit of back pressure.
  3. I wanted something that caught the unburnt oil that the engine spews out and hopefully would allow it to be burnt off.
  4. I wanted somehing that quietened the little brute down a bit without taking away too much of the sound. (He still had to be heard!).
  5. It needed to have a drain in case the unused oil was not burnt off but it had to be able to be kept closed when running. Many of our shows are held at private homes and the owners do not take kindly to oil slicks on their lawns.

Regarding the drain, I considered a tube out of the bottom leading to a container hidden under the engine but this would have been under constant pressure and would probably have created an oily mist under the engine. I settled for a drain plug in the bottom "dome" of the muffler. This way I can drain it if and when necessary.

I made the muffler from a piece of very rusty, thin walled metal tube and a few other scrap bits and pieces. The pitted rust marks are still visible after light sandblasting and painting and I'm pleased with the result - it looks old. A smooth piece of new tube would not have looked as good!

The first baffle tube has holes drilled only facing downwards. I had hoped that by directing the exhaust flames downward onto the trapped oil it would burn this oil away but, alas, the Maytag produces more oil than it is capable of burning off. Some experimenting with different mixtures will probably make a difference here.

The Maytag runs very well with this muffler but, because it does not burn all the oil off it eventually produces an almost steady stream of smoke with "smoke rings" every time it "hits". The effect is actually pretty cool and sure attracted a lot of attention at last weeks show!

The drawing below shows the construction. I made the pic quite big so that detail could be seen and, depending on your monitor settings you may have to scroll around to see it all. I apologise for the inconvenience.

Any input will be welcomed.
 


My Maytag muffler








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