Have seen mufflers marked with the inlet and some have no markings. Then there are the mufflers with an arrow with a point on each end, with one arrow end marked with an A and the other arrow end marked B. If the inlet is not identified, can either end be used as the inlet? On the A B arrow muffler, which end is the inlet? Confusing internet information available on this subject; need good Hamb advice.
Some mufflers have the internal baffles installed in a directional way to control the flow and sound, put them in backwards and they become restricted. Straight through muffles usually don’t have that problem, they will work the same either way. A is generally the inlet side, B is usually the output. Then you run into the ones with different sized inlet and output, usually for specific use. You can spend a lot of time and research to find what you want that fits, or just buy generic off the shelf stuff and make it work, it’s all up to you.
my understanding is that those marked A and B use one end for the inlet on some applications, and the other end on other applications...the letter just helps you get it on the right way if you happen to have the application guide. Generally if it's marked INLET on one end, that's the inlet. If it's not marked, then it doesn't matter.
On the straight through mufflers when looking inside from the end you can see punched louvers. I would think they are directional as to which way the louvers should grab the exhaust.
It seems like there is no universal standard for marking mufflers from one maker to the next. I'm personally fairly anal when shopping mufflers so I go overboard on the research and planning aspect. If a manufacturer can't be bothered to explain the details of their product (cut-away drawings, for example), they are not going to get any of my money. I understand that there are times when you may have mufflers that are not a fresh purchase with everything clearly marked. That's when I would do what you are doing....... look for clues and ask questions....... and then kick 'em over by the wall and buy some that give me warmer fuzzies. But I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of the low-end, generic mufflers can go on either way because the flow is simply a zig on the way through.
Have your wife or gal friend or whatever, yell in one end s loud as possible, then turn it around and do the same thing in the other end. It won't help but it would be fun to watch. You Tube please.
No but mine has a punch card and every fifth divorce is on the house. Who's house is an interesting question.
One pipe is centered and the other offset. Couldn't find anyone game for the yell through test as suggested above. Maybe fill it with water and time the drain time; test it each way. May try that with a muffler that is marked inlet just to see if the flow rate is different. Funny what comes to mind in retirement.
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