Excess heat from Cforce 400s muffler on Rt side rear plastics

[sunn]

Have a high heat issue on the right side panel on my 2021 cforce 400, as complained about by the wife.

My heat gun shows after 15 minute ride in ambient 91 deg temps;  690 degrees on front end of muffler close to entry pipe and 375 on exit side of muffler.  The right side plastic (where wife's leg would touch) was showing 175 degrees.  This is rediculous!.

As I understand the muffler has a built in catalytic converter which obviously kicks off high heat particularly at front end of muffler, but the heat is atrocious.

What is everyone doing about this problem?  Is there a replacement muffler to eliminate this issue?

[Gwbarm]

That is an excessive amount of heat, did this start recently or been a problem since new. If it is recent i would say you have a partially clogged Catalitic converter.

[jen]

Pugged catalytic.   Not that uncommon.   If you totally By-Pass it the performance may also be affected.  There are several internet posts on muffler heat issues on Polaris, et al.

[jen]

I was curious as to how you measured the temperature.  I check temperatures with an infra red scanner.  It performs like a Type K thermocouple when plugged into a Fluke temperature  device.

Anyways, if you have that OR SIMILAR device checking various points around muffler may indicate areas that are plugged.

[sunn]

I use a simple infrared "gun" to measure the temp, may not be exact but all relative.  The heat issue has been this way for a long time, I'm surprised others with this machine have not been vocal.  Not sure of any "plugging" as performance of the ATV is not impacted and exhaust does not seem restricted.  I do not see any red hot metal as I have seen others report on other forums.

My next approach is to form a metal shield around the muffler up to the input pipe; I have already mocked up a plastic sheet and will cut a thin metal sheet to anchor at the mounting bolts on the existing muffler, and add adhesive aluminized insulation on the bottom of the right rear fender.  It's a shame we have to live with pitfalls of EPA catalytic restrictions.

Alternately, I am prepared to slice open a "door" on the muffler with my grinder, rip out the catalytic stuff, and simply re-weld the flap, as is sometimes done on Harley motorcycles to alleviate heat issues.  Just waiting to hear from someone else who has gone this route.

PS, as I stated earlier, the hottest area is near the input exhuast pipe from the engine, with heat temp tapering off till at exit point of muffler.  I don't think the engine is running rich, as the plug looks normal, gas consumption is "normal", and the engine runs perfect.

[sunn]

Wow, just reviewed a number of "hot muffler" issues on the Polaris forum websites and I see such a similarity to my eperience with my Cforce 400 which is built similarly to the Polaris.  I have no glowing red pipes, however.  My Cforce exaust piping system from the engine to the muffler is very well encapsulated and insulated and I have no heat sensations on that front end.  Just that stupid heat that the wife complained about and I understand why.  I still think my plan for insulated aluminum shielding is the answer.

[sunn]

Just did some internet research, and found that the Cforce muffler contains the honeycomb catalytic material in the 1st 1/3 of the muffler adjacent to the input pipe, which would explain why I am seeing the high temps (690 F) at that specific area.

[jen]

Hmmm ....what plugged it may be a question...Oil burning motors , fuel mixtures will plug it.

[sunn]

Not sure it is plugged??  No oil burning, just changed oil, hasn't used any since last change.  As I noted from other postings the honeycomb catalyst is in the 1st 1/3 of muffler exactly where I am seeing the high temps.  Free flowing exhaust as far as I can tell, no negative impact on engine performance.

Thanks for offering suggestions.

[Gwbarm]

I would probably try wrapping with header wrap to nock down the heat , but 650 is quite hot, sometimes the ceramic inserts in the cat get brittle and break pieces can get lodged in the exhaust outlet causing heat build up, but yours is so new i dont expect that has happened, just a thought.

I have never worked on one with a catalitic converter, but if it is equipped it probably also has an o2 sensor MAP sensor  crank sensor and others that are relaying information to the ECU to adjust engine performance. Have you seen any warnings on display or is there a code reader port to get information from ECU

[jen]

yeah excellent point...

[sunn]

There is an O2 sensor midway between the engine and the muffler, but no secondary sensor after which means the system does not monitor the effectiveness of the catalyst.  I did use a MX+ OBD Linc bluetooth enabled code reader which connected properly to the Port, but no codes (past nor current) were found set.  The ATV only has 500 miles now and has shown high temps since new, now more noticable now with the 90+ temps we are seeing, and probably never noticed by me as my legs don't touch the rear fender. (Maybe the remedy is to never have the wife ride on the ATV).

I have mocked up a plastic (wifes plastic thin cutting board) sheet to curve and fit over the muffler and mount to the existing mounting bolts for the existing small heat shield on the top of the muffler mounting (oviously to deflect the heat from cooking the above plastic.  I have a sheet of thin aluminum to fit with the pattern and curve over the muffler with some space between aluminum and muffler surface to allow for air movement.  I will also place adhesive - backed  heat shield aluminized material on the underside of the rt rear fender (not sure how long it will stay in place, but is very inexpensive).  Everything I read still points to the stupid EPA restrictions and the manufacturer's marginal efforts to add the non-removable honeycomb catalyst which results in high heat.

I just cant imagine that other CFMoto owners are not seeing the same heat issues.....which are very numerous on the Polaris forums.  I would love to hear from other CFMoto owners on their heat experience and remedies.

Not sure what year CFMoto started adding the catalyst mufflers??  By the way, the muffler surface is clearly stamped that this muffler cannot be removed or modified under penalty of law with a fine up to $37,000.  Go figure, as if someone was coming to get me!

Sorry for long rant, but I needed to talk about it.

[jen]

I can relate....LOL

[Gwbarm]

That new with that few miles you should not be having any problems with anything. I think with no codes registering your engine is running as is was from the factory. It sounds to me this is maybe a design flaw but i might be tempted to contact the manufacturer and see what they have to say. Interesting warning i guess no aftermarket exhaust on this one. These days you never know, if you tamper with the exhaust , the bike may email the manufacturer. I say this jokingly but my new car emailed me the other day to tell me i left the window down, didnt even know it could do that.

[sunn]

Ok, I have now resolved the muffler heat issue.  Hooray!

As I stated earlier, my fix as completed was to clean the underside of the rt rear plastic fender and precisely cut and place adhesive backed thermal fiberglass/reflective  material in place.  Then also formed/curved ( much like a stove pipe) and mounted an aluminum plate (previous sign from my Rocky Shoals Resort operation days) over the muffler to shield and channel the heat backwards.  I was able to use the existing muffler mounting points to secure the shield.  If I was a sheet metal expert I'm sure the job would have been easier.

It all works excellent.

I still cannot understand why more Cforce ATV owners have also not spoken up about heat issues.