OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Repairs and Maintenance Questions on Engines Questions On Victa Two Stroke Engines Loose muffler on Victa Mayfair

So I took the muffler off recently during a complete clean up and renovation on a Victa Mayfair. The muffler was very tight to remove. But today when I tried to put it back on, the spring clips were way too loose. In fact they are so loose they fall off. I can't understand why. The muffler hole was in fact a bit rusty with a few holes, and I repaired these by building up the inside of the hole with weld, using a washer that fit the hole perfectly. So if anything the spring clips should be even tighter than before. Why are they so loose now? Do they lose their tension and if so, is there any way to re-tension them. They are spring steel so not easy to bend. I'm a complete Newbie to Victa so any advice on this will be greatly appreciated.

Hi vint_mow,
it is something you have done, the springs don't loose tension and you can't bend them. Do you have a slide hammer you can put inside the neck of the muffler and try pulling it out enough to get the springs to hold. Obviously it must have shrunk with the welding

Didn't forget the gasket accidentally?

I’d be betting, like Norm, that the dimensions on the muffler have been altered by the welding process.

They are made of thin gauge steel so distortion is just about a given with anything approaching a red heat.

The spring clips anchor over the seams of the muffler and pull it toward the exhaust spigot. I am guessing that the welding process has resulted in a reduced distance between the seam and the spigot.

The "welding" was JB epoxy weld, so no heat at all. Yep, added the gasket, still extremely loose. I can't understand why.

Tried switching them around - top clip to bottom clip?

I had this issue on my old victa commando, seemed tight, one day I stopped mowing due to rattling. I ended up holding it in pliers and hitting the clips tighter (these were new clips on a good used muffler). worked a bit but came off shortly later if memory serves.

Pretty sure I put a piece of small dia steel as a bushing around the head bolt. That fixed it, but it was a bit hard to get the clips on.

I agree - its doesn't make sense why it was tight and is now loose

Thanks Tyler, I figured it out. Somehow the hole must have been more rusted than I thought and had pushed in a bit. Looks like I might have to buy a new muffler.

So relieved that wasn't another "must of been". I've been seeing that butchering of grammar too many times lately.
A sign of common breeding.