Gonna need help from long time Rhino owners

first time we get a chance to get together for a ride. As you know, mine is a new 09 450. Wife and I went for another ride today. Back to the same place we went yesterday so no new pics. What I need help with is HOW TO QUIET THIS DANG THING DOWN! I had a Benz (sp?) Silencer on my Honda and it worked wonders. I'm NOT so sure that the exhaust is making all that stinking noice. Tinny sounding vibrations, rattles and stuff are driving me NUTS! Ya'll are gonna have to show me some tricks for sure. Going to call Benz tomorrow or the next day and talk with them about another silencer. Any of you guys have one on a Rhino and if so how much does it help? As always, thanks for your time.

I hate to tell you this but it's not the exhaust, its the intake. The intake is right between the two seats in the middle of the cab and its LOUD. The only way to quieten it down really is to snorkel it up under the hood but that doesn't help a lot, just some. Another BIG part of your noise is the full windshield and roof/rear window. It just holds the noise in.

Well at least some of that was good news. The windshield and top won't be on it in warm weather. My wife has a number of health issues that cause her to get COLD real EASY. That black suit she has on in the pics is one from Cabela's that the guy wore to win the 1,100 mile Alaskan Dog Sled race in. Thinsilate / Goretex from head to foot. 1200 gram Thinsilate / Goretex boots and Cabela's best gloves! I'd cook in all that. But she had a goose down jacket on UNDER the darn thing. She's tougher than I am by far. If the cold bothered me like it does her, I wouldn't stick my nose out of the house till June! Tried the windshield and top to try to hold some heat in for her. I'd about as soon wear goggles if the choice were mine. Thanks for the help. What size flex hose do they use for the snorkel do you know?

I think most people go with 2" but the bad thing about it is if you do that you have to rejet and try to get that tuned in.

Daryl is correct that the intake is a large part of the noise. The bad this is the intake is a real pain to rejet. Personally I would not snorkle the intake since it causes havoc with the carb.

My recommendation is to take the doghouse (engine cover) and cover the inside with foil/foam. There are various types -- expensive is the speaker type used in car stereo installations and the cheap type is the Lowes roll.

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=24437-1410-FV15&lpage=none

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=28929-1410-FV516&lpage=none

Next is seal the gap between the bed and seat -- this does help.
Lowes sells some black foam with adhesive back the is around 2" x 3" that works perfect between the bed and seats. I can't find a picture online but it's with the weatherstripping in the stores.

Next is wear a helmet -- safe and really cuts sound.


The only other thing is to isolate sounds and work on them. The bed rattle is common and the metal plate under the exaust is also a common spot. The bed can be tightened in the latch and the metal plate can be bent or tightened also.

The Rhino will always be loud -- unfortuantely noise reduction was not a priority until the 2008 700's and they still are not quiet.

Randy has some good information.

Here are the things I did (some are the same)

1)Dynamat sound deadener inside the engine cowling.
I snorkeled mine so I covered the vent with the Dynamat on the cowling.

2)I chose a half windshield vs a full. It has a flip out or wind diverter on the top of it to direct some of the wind above the riders. It does not trap nearly as much noise.

3) the snorkels help a little, but now it behind your head vs between the seats. It gets the noise out of the cab at least. I didn't do the under the hood route. Jetting (if needed) is easier on a Rhino than an ATV since the carb is right on top once you remove the engine cowling.

4) a thick piece of foam between the bed and seat backs traps some sound out, reduces some rattles and keeps dust from being sucked in. This is an excellent adder and a no brainer in my opinion. A fabric shop is one good place to source your foam.

5) lastly a clutch sheave that reduces cruising rpm's makes a huge difference with the rpms.

If I think of anything else, I'll add them later.