Torque stuffers !!! Where do I get them ?

 

You didn't mention what you ride, but I do know that White Bros. makes one for the Warrior (about $35 bucks), and in fact it's the only torque stuffer I've seen although there may be some out there for other machines. My best advice is to call the vendors located in the ATV mags...they should be able to get you one. Good luck!

 

I have seen the Torque-stuffers advertised, but what do they do, look like, and where do they go?

 

I got mine with a pipe kit from Alba racing. It fits between your pipe and the head. It looks like a spacer or something. Mine is made from machined stainless.

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Boomer '99 Wolverine

 

for those reading this - a torque stuffer is a washer with a smaller opening than the exhaust header. It reduces the exhaust flow keeping more of the combustion charge in the cylinder somehow increasing torque --- at least thats what I was told

2000000000 Kodiak

 

Alba uses the White Bros torque stuffer and pipe for their Team Alba machines. It's not really a "washer" of sorts though, but a piece of metal stock that is machined so that it's tapered inwards (towards the headpipe as gases would exit), along with a small opening to restrict the exhaust gases. It installs in the head pipe, usually with the help of a mallet, and basically just creates more back pressure. I would expect that after installing one it would increase bottom-end torque, but at the expense of a little high-end; whether or not to use one would depend on your type of riding. I also suppose it would affect jetting too, since the extra pressure would create a richer running condition.

 

I've been thinking about this subject, and also about buying a torque stuffer for my Warrior, but am wondering if it's a worthwhile mod--especially after buying a pipe to open up the exhaust. What I mean is, you replace the pipe to open up the exhaust for better performance, but then restrict the exhaust with a stuffer. Wouldn't a stuffer on a machine with a pipe be a waste?

 

thanks for your thoughts - I too am wondering - with a free flowing exhaust does the stuffer increase the speed of flow ??? with the back pressure into the cylinder how much will my temperature rise ?? I will continue to wonder until I feel safe as to whether I should try this

 

No, I believe the stuffer only restricts exhaust flow to create more back-pressure for low-end torque, without doing a whole lotta harm to the top-end at higher rpm's(supposedly). My point was that if you had already installed a free-flowing pipe, then would a torque stuffer contradict the pipe mod? Or can the two co-exist together and both provide better performance? If you're already running an aftermarket pipe and install one though, then I wouldn't really worry about running higher temp's cause I'd imagine you'd be close to the back-pressure found with the stock exhaust--but you might run a little warmer if using a stock exhaust. I'm a little hesitant about buying one too...any engine experts out there who would like to comment?

 

I'm new to the ATV world (just bought a 96 Warrior about a month ago), however I do have a number of years experience building small block race engines, and I believe 4 stroke engine technology and theory would be simular regardless if you are dealing with 8 cylinders or 1. So even though I have never seen a 'Torque stuffer'; from the descriptions of them I have read here - these are my thoughts on the matter, take them with a grain of salt. You tune an engine for the RPM range that you expect it will be running at; larger intake and exhaust ports for high RPM, smaller ports for low RPM. A smaller port will not flow as much, however it will generally flow quicker. The 'Stuffer' sounds like it is a venturi to speed up the cylinder evacuation on the exhaust stroke. This does a number of good things, evacuates the exhaust gasses quicker, and pulls the intake charge into the cylinder quicker. Most cams have some overlap where the exhaust and intake valves are open at the same time. You do this because during the compression, power, and exhaust strokes your next fuel/air charge is sitting in the intake track idle. The idea is to get it flowing by using the exhaust to suck some of it through the cylinder, slapping the exhaust valve shut and 'packing' the cylinder with more charge than you could under normal atmospheric conditions. (call it a poor mans turbo-charger) An extreme example of this would be a top-fuel dragster - ever seen the flames shooting out the exhaust? A top-fuel dragster sucks as much intake charge straight out the exhaust as it burns in the cylinder. All this is to get the intake charge flowing as quickly as you can for maximum cylinder packing. Most race engine headers are graduated with a smaller diameter pipe at the head, and getting larger as you approach the collector. You do this because after you get the exhaust out of the cylinder fast, it wants to expand and build 'back pressure'. Back pressure is not a good thing if you are trying to build horsepower and torque. (take a look at some of the 'fatty pipes' - small at the head for speed, then they get large real quick to give the exhaust somewhere to go) It seems to me that a Stuffer would work best with an open exhaust for these reasons. Most reputable engine builders always Dyno their engines and accessorys to make sure they do what they claim. White Bros has their own dyno, and has posted a number of their dyno sheets on their internet site. This tells me that 1.their stuff works and 2.they aren't afraid to show you how well it works. Although I did not see a dyno sheet for the torque stuffer there,(mostly just their pipes) I'm sure they have them, and would most likely have no problem faxing them to you. Hope that helps.