EZGO ST350 loud exhaust

[tsutrailblazer]

Hello,
Just rebuilt a 2002 ezgo ST350 workhorse Robin 350 engine and put in cart. This cart is new to me, but it seems like the exhaust is quite loud. Are the workhorse carts much louder than 295? I am an avid golfer, and never had a super loud gas golf cart, therefore wondering if the muffler is shot/worn out. Is that possible? Also, I am able to weld, therefore wonder in anyone has ever taken apart and repacked the muffler since they are like $300+ for replacement?

[Spicyunicorn]

Make sure the bolts that connect it to exhaust manifold haven't worked loose

[Cartmaster]

It is the same muffler, so what he said ^


The muffler is held on by the manifold nuts and a strap bolted to the axle bracket if i recall correctly, this lower bolt can work loose and create stress at the manifold and causes a leak.

other than that, its unlikely to be the wadding in the exhaust, but who knows?

[tsutrailblazer]

I highly doubt this is the problem, as I just installed the motor in the cart and re-installed the exhaust manifold and muffler. Therefore, these should not be loose as I just tightened and haven't drove much.

[Spicyunicorn]

What's "not much" I rebuilt one this summer for local golf course week later the called and said it was loud went looked exaust worked loose on the manifold bolts we're rusty and questionable when I reinstalled muffler put new ones on and hast come loose since

[tsutrailblazer]

Thanks for the input Spicyunicorn. When I rebuilt the engine and put back together, I used all new bolts on exhaust system. Haven't drove much = less than 1hr of drive time.

[Spicyunicorn]

Interesting sounds like you have a rare situation iv never came acrossed one that was loud to my knowledge there isn't any packing in these they are just baffles but you aren't really our anything if you cut it open I guess

[Cartmaster]

Ok, Lets assume the exhaust is not loose, Is your engine pre MCI? i cannot remember which year they were changed. So does it have a cast iron exhaust manifold or is it cast with the head in aluminium as one piece? If it is the cast iron one, did you fit a brand new gasket between the head and manifold plus a new one between the manifold and exhaust? If so and they are definitely not leaking, the only way that it could be noisy is that the muffler itself is rotted away internally, split and leaking or has been modified in some way. There is a well known mod that cuts the original tailpipe off from the top and the hole welded up, then a new hole cut in the bottom and a larger bore tail pipe fitted. This is all assuming that you have the OEM stock muffler. Maybe an aftermarket one is fitted. How about a photo or two so we can see what you have. Generally, the stock ST350 will have the same exhaust note as the TXT buggies on the golf courses if it is stock.

[tegger]

I have a 2000 ST350 that is quieter than your average golf-course golf cart.

And it has the stock muffler.

(I found this out when I had mine at a local repair place. Mine was being driven into the shop at the same time another cart was being driven in. I thought their exhaust was shot. Nope.)

[tsutrailblazer]

Cart has stock exhaust and all gaskets are new, and bolts are tight.