I pulled the spark arestor out of my kodiak today to clean it, and just being a little curious i started it up without it and it sounds pretty cool. Well I guess my question is, do i really need it, and if i leave it out will anything happen to the quad?

 

No but you might burn down a forest.

 

I tossed the spark arrester on my Warrior. It sounds great. (Although I need big Gun Exhaust.) But as for the forest fire issue? NEVER, NEVER, NEVER!! How on God's green earth will a spark make its way around the exhaust valve, wind and wrap around the header pipe, jump around through all the baffles in the muffler, shoot out the end of the pipe, and just so happen to land on a dry leaf, AND continue to burn long enough to start a forest fire? I know a two stroke is a little different, but still... Anyway, that's just my take on the subject.

 

The USDA Forest Service requires approved spark arrestors on small gasoline engines operated in National Forests; that's a fact. Besides ATV's and dirt bikes, equipment like chain saws fall under the same requirements.

I assume the Forest Service believes operating small engines without spark arrestors increases the risk of forest fires. Is the Forest Service policy valid?

Maybe there's small risk from a properly-designed engine, operating in good tune. However, not all engines entering the forest fit that model. Forest fire prevention policy must address the worst case, not the best.

I think the Forest Service believes the policy requiring spark arrestors is sound and sensible; I hardly think we're talking about a cabal of ol' meanies wearing Smokey-the-Bear hats, sitting around hatching cruel plots just to deny ATVers the maximum horsepower available from minimum exhaust back-pressure; or else, lining their pockets with ill-gotten kickbacks from the manufacturers of "USDA Forest Service Approved" spark arrestors.

I imagine convincing a Federal Judge there's no possible way an open exhaust can start a fire would be a tough sell, especially if the Forest Service produced contrary test data evidence and examples of fires actually started by faulty exhaust systems.

Tree Farmer

 

A few year ago I thought the spark arrestor thing was a joke,,,, until I rode my YZ400F (a four stroke mx bike without a spark arrestor) at night. I glanced back to see if my riding buddy was close behind, when the bike backfired and a flame shot out the muffler. I couldn't belive it, but I got it to do it several more times when the bike backfired.

 

HEY 99WARMACHINE!!!!My buddy just recently bought a yz426,no spark arrestor in stock can.When he decelerates and the engine pops down(not backfiring)you can see a flame about a foot long in broadlight from 30ft away.he now has a spark arrestor on it.Now imagine going through some dry brush,basically the same effect as hitting it with a propane torch,dont you think?Put your dam spark arrestor back in if you ride anywhere but a closed track.I hope you realize that if you start a fire you will not only face arson charges but will have to pay for cost of fighting the fire,any damages,jail time,not to mention if someone ends up getting killed you will also face manslaughter charges plus civil suits from their families.So I hope you do the right thing and put that F***ing thing back in!!!!!!

 

I would have to agree with the above posts.....

The spark arrestor is there for a reason....One of those reasons is to keep the local trail systems open to the public.... The world is filling with cement to begin with...there is no sense in trying to help them clear another highway with a forest fire.

I'm not a die hard "tree hugger" (so to stereotype)...But it is important to abide by the laws unless you are on a closed race track or your own private property....Then, I can care less what Others do..... Keep it stock...Or buy the proper arrested performance system.

 

I hope my post wasnt to harsh.I love my sport and want to protect it as well as the land we ride on so we can continue to ride on it.My anger mainly comes from the fact that I lost someone in a forest fire due to careless individuals.Trees will grow back,people wont.So be safe, for yourself as well as others.

 

Lets not forget the Men & Women that have to trek through ball deep brush to put out the fire! Which is always on the hottest day of the year on the side of some mountain or old logging trail miles from a road capable of carrying a pumper!