ATVConnection.com

Dear ATVC:

I have heard that my 450 pops when decelerating on account of a mesh screen in the airbox. Is this possible and would removing the screen be harmful to the machine?

It is possible that restricted airflow through the airbox is responsible for causing backfires during deceleration but it’s highly unlikely that factory mesh screen is the culprit. The reason such screens are included on modern 4-strokes is that there is a legitimate chance of a flame-out/ fire reaching the interior of the airbox from the engine.

The mesh of these screens is treated with flame retardant materials so as to prevent your air filter from becoming a fireball should this happen (this is why cleaning one’s filter with gasoline is highly frowned upon).

A freer flowing lid, or even light tweaking to your air/fuel mixture would likely be all it’ll take to eliminate this popping. Though slim, there is the possibility of an intake fire if your quad’s engine backfired. That screen serves a purpose.

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Dear ATVC:

I’ve noticed that running my ATV without its air filter in the air box results in a noticeable increase in power. When I ride alone on days that aren’t overly dusty or muddy, am I risking damage?

Absolutely. The dust your filter is catching before it can enter your engine is often so fine as to be invisible to the naked eye. Over time, thanks to the patterns of airflow within your airbox, the dust builds up into a visible layer of dirt.

The process of increasing your engine’s power by reducing the filter media’s ability to catch dust and dirt particles is legitimate but doing so is asking for trouble.

This is why companies like K&N, Twin Air and Uni offer higher-flowing filter elements that don’t compromise the protection of your engine’s internals.

We would strongly recommend going that route and making sure your filter is cleaned and properly oiled before getting out on the trails; even if it doesn’t look like a sandstorm out there!

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STI Tire & Wheel is now providing ATV and UTV owners with an easy way to give their machines not only more security but a unique, head-turning look as well. And it’s all possible at a reasonable price compared to the competition.

STI HD Beadlock wheels have been a hit since they first rolled out the door just a few months ago. This wheel even won a “Nifty 50” award from Powersports Business Magazine for being one of the most innovative products of 2013. This model features a distinctive “Baja-inspired” stepped mod style, a creative integral-mount beadlock ring and a new, matching, low-profile center cap.

The ring design is quick to install and engineered to reduce debris buildup, it makes tire mounting simple and adds considerable strength to the outer lip. Most importantly, the ring helps ensure the tire bead stays on the wheel, even when using lower pressures and applying high side loading. The HD Beadlock also utilizes an even thicker, stronger inner bead lip than the entire HD Alloy line, an STI feature that helps make these the most rugged wheels available.

And now STI is now offering this beadlock ring in a variety of colors: black, red, blue, yellow orange and green. It’s now quick and easy to mix and match wheel finishes—take your choice of Bright Machined with Gloss Black accents, full Matte Black and STI’s exclusive, non-stick, gun metal gray Slik-Kote – with these optional ring colors for a full custom look! The ring colors from STI are intended to match most other bolt-on accessories. For custom builders who need an exact color match, STI still offers raw/unpainted rings as well.

The HD Beadlock is available in 12×7 and 14×7 sizes, for application on most popular 4×4/utility ATV and side-by-side UTV models.

Performance and personality meets value! The HD Beadlock is not just for racing. It’s priced right for budget-minded enthusiasts who want to step up to the performance benefits of a beadlock wheel.

STI HD Beadlock wheels and optional colored rings are available at finer ATV/UTV dealers everywhere. For more information, visit www.stitireandwheel.com

Dear ATVC:

I was wondering if you could shed some light on how much oil is normal for a fouled plug in a 1987 Honda 250R?

While it’s difficult to determine what classifies as “normal” when it comes to a fouled out spark plug, we suspect the following chart from Atlantic Jet Sports will answer your question better than we ever could:

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Dear ATVC:

A friend of mine’s dad calls all ATVs “ATCs” even though we constantly correct him. What does ATC mean anyway?

ATC or all-terrain cycle was Honda’s designation for its 3-wheeler line. Don’t forget, while today’s do-it-all quads and UTVs have very little in common with motorcycles on a given manufacturer’s line, this certainly wasn’t the case in the late 1970s/ early 80s.

Interestingly, as the industry evolved to require a minimum of four wheels, Honda changed its model prefix from ATC to Fourtrax (or just “TRX”); a tradition that it carries on even to this day.

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