More agressive sound...

[flubyu]

Engine is a bone stock 150 XR6...thoughts??

[pyro]

Are you more willing to compromise the strength and integrity of your midsection, or spend over $1000 for an offshore mid?

[flubyu]

Well I'd like to hear my options without swapping to the os. mid...tuners??

[pyro]

If you don't pull the liner and punch holes somewhere in the mid, it's not going to sound much different. Holes anywhere in the mid will weaken it and risk cracking or losing your lower unit.

[flubyu]

Hmm...well, how much will it help with pulling the liner and adding a tuner?

[pyro]

It already has a tuner, and tuners have very little effect on sound quality OR performance on an outboard. It's a catchy name for a snout in a can. There have been a couple of documented instances where a tuner has broken completely off, and the only noticeable difference was a slight rattle at certain RPM's.

Pulling the liner by itself will give you nice white calcium streaks and burnt paint on your midsection.

[flubyu]

So, what was it about the old 2.4 bass motors and such that made such a better sound at idle? My 150 is almost silent and to me sounds down right weak...

[vector mike]

Unless you releave the exhaust above the water line it wont sound any different at idle. I have my mid drilled and it only gets loud once you get on plane and is still quiet at idle.

[pyro]

old 2.4 bass motors and such... made such a better sound at idle?

Ha ha, since when? They don't sound any meaner unless they're on the trailer on 'muffs'.

If I hadn't wasted all my time shooting photos of boats in action, I would have taken more photos of cracked midsections over the years. They always crack at the site of the exhaust relief holes. When the welder comes out and "fixes" it, it cracks again on the next run. Time after time.

If you take a "box structure" designed to handle massive twisting torque loads (with nice and even flex and force distribution), and you drill holes in it, twist it with engine torque, and beat it against the waves at high speeds, it will eventually fail, starting at the holes. If you weld snouts into the holes, you create a "stiff" spot, which moves the stress to adjacent areas of the casting.

You can put a HEAVY, expensive offshore mid on it and enjoy being harassed by the cops... or leave it alone.

[930turbo]

I've had success with removing the can and drilling holes straight down at the bottom on each side of the original exhaust exit. This provides an aggressive sound with the least possible compromise in integrity. The holes are not visible since they are pointed down just above the cavitation plate. The down housing will run hot and crust up as you've removed the layer of cooling without the can.

[Hank W]

So, what was it about the old 2.4 bass motors and such that made such a better sound at idle? My 150 is almost silent and to me sounds down right weak...

Does your motor vent from the eyebrows or does it have the centered rubber exhaust relief & sealed eyebrow holes? The motors with the eyebrow vents definitely sound better at idle. But don't drill all the way through those eyebrows or you will hurt your holeshot. You would need to remove only the outer layer of metal. If you run the smoothback offshore you can put the "muffler" in & not likely be bothered by the police.

[Hank W]

Oh, on my Bridgeport, I kept the inner liner/can but drilled several holes near the bottom on the sides right over the factory Merc Hi Perf holes in the exhaust housing. I never had to deal with the hazing of the mid like on the 260 or the Drag motors.

[pyro]

I've had success with removing the can and drilling holes straight down at the bottom on each side of the original exhaust exit. This provides an aggressive sound with the least possible compromise in integrity.

Oh really? Perforating the end of the mid's "box structure" with holes on wither side of the area where the lower unit attaches won't weaken it? Whew! Good thing there's no sideways forces exerted by a lower unit in a surfacing application.

People always come on here to brag about their loud drilled mid, but nobody ever comes around to brag about it later when it cracks, and they eventually do crack. It's not "if", but when. Cycles of repeated force will eventually exploit the weakness. Just because it's popular doesn't mean it's wise.

...and before 1Bad comes on here to chew me out (since I've spoken out before against relieved exhaust), I really don't mind the sound of an opened-up motor. I've just come to believe that safety is more important that cosmetic vanity. Maybe I'm wrong, as I often am...

[tlwjkw]

Think he's doin' tha same thing "MERC" does on tha Hi Perf bass mids. Tha 10 1/2" holes (5 per side) on tha horizontal flat part and no can.............

[930turbo]

Think he's doin' tha same thing "MERC" does on tha Hi Perf bass mids. Tha 10 1/2" holes (5 per side) on tha horizontal flat part and no can.............

Yes, that's the mod. And, you couldn't see it.