ATV Industry Facts: Did You Know?

Carb control.

The name Walbro may not be on the tip of your tongue when you think of the fuel system in your ATV but the company has been around since 1950 and, regardless of the name stamped on your machine’s carb, there’s a very good chance they played a roll in the technology.

The catch is, that technology may in fact be being used illegally. Walbro has filed a complaint with the United States International Trade Commission (ITC) for unfair practices in import trade to initiate an investigation of 35 companies involved in manufacturing, importing or selling products that use carburetors from seven different carburetor manufacturers.

The complaint alleges infringement of patented Walbro carburetor technology and includes 87 different examples of infringement in a diverse range of carbureted small-engine products from weed whackers to generators to chainsaws to off-road machines.

Bonus Fact: The five patents Walbro is asserting represent important technologies that allow these machines to meet consumer performance expectations while also meeting US regulatory emission requirements. There are 35 companies using Walbro technology without paying for it.