[DHag]

I'm experienced with 2-stroke tuning, but new to outboards. I have a 1978 Mercury 1500 V6 outboard. The previous owner told me that he removed the exhaust baffles for more power.

Now, if this is anything like removing the baffles from the stock exhaust of a 2-stroke motorcycle, he probably reduced the power, but made it "sound" more powerful. Probably uses more fuel, too.

Well, it's loud, that's for sure. I can't even yell at a friend in the next seat and be heard, when running at speed!

I've installed proper expansion chambers on bikes to make true power. They usually altered the sound quality with no real increase in loudness. But I don't see an expansion chamber sticking out of this outboard.

Probably shows my age, but I'd rather take the chance of cutting 2 mph off of a 50-mph boat and have the quiet back. But if my suspicions are correct, and if I remember 2-stroke tuning, restoring the exhaust will probably make it that much faster, along with a much quieter ride, better idle quality, and more low-end torque for a better hole-shot.

Can anyone tell me what he may have modified or removed from this motor, and how I might go about reversing it?

[Scaaty]

The baffles are below the powerhead in the mid, actually called tuner plates too. And they are nothing like expansion chambers. Those merc 150's ARE loud..had an xs150. And I love every bit of that noise! Baffles have more to do with tuning than noise. Others here can probably elaborate on them..