Has Anyone tried cleaning their spark arrester thing on their tailpipe???...I've been in so much mud and water ...i think i have corroded the bolt..cant get it off..i wonder how important it is to clean it??

 

I haven't ever messed with mine. Some guy with a beartracker said that he got some sort of power gain by removing it on his. I figure you could notice any kind of gain with a beartracker though. I bet I could gain 1 horsepower on my 500 and not even notice it. (just saying that, it has nothing to do with removing the bolt)

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Andy Bassham *(1999 Arctic Cat 500 4x4, 1989 Honda 300)*

 

I pulled mine after 100 miles or so and didn't get much out. What I did find was that the threads extend into the muffler so that carbon hits the them, thus corroding them.
After working the plug in/out while spraying with penetrating fluid I was able to get it out. I gave the threads a liberal coating of copper-nickel anti-seize to make it easier next time. So don't wait too long to take it out.