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Anyone make their own spark arrester?
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Posted by: Treejumper---------------------

There's not much to them other than a metal screen right? I need one for a ride coming up. The prices are outrageous for a slip on one and i cant see buying a whole new silencer for one. Still have my stock silencer on the YZ450F.

Anyone have a good picture of one?

Posted by: YZ165---------------------

I made one a couple years back with heavy duty stainless steel screen. It didn't last. The heat melted it in less than 25 miles. Good luck though, I just couldn't find the right screen.

This is what I have now. Best of both worlds, and not stupid loud. Hope that helps, YZ165

http://www.promotobillet.com/shop/item.asp?itemid=57

Posted by: sick 96 250---------------------

what exactly is a spark arrestor? Never understood it

Posted by: mxmatthew---------------------

even if you did make your own that lasted, would they actually be considered legal? I thought they always looked for the "seal of approvement" thing.

Posted by: mafols---------------------

I don't know about the "seal of approval" but I do know that the times that I've competed in an off-road event that required a spark arrestor, i.e. FS land, the "spark arrestor test" consisted of sticking a rod down the silencer...if it bottomed out on something...YOU PASS.
A factory spark arrestor is basically just a screen that is supposed to ...sort of "dissipate"(for lack of a better term) the sparks as they come out.

Posted by: Treejumper---------------------

Thanks guys! I'll see what i can do and if it doesnt work i'm not out anything. We do heating and cooling work and have contractors in all the time so maybe one of them will have some screening that will last longer. Those endcap type are nice but half the price of a new silencer. It would seem dumb not to upgrade to a nice aftermarket one if i have to spend that much. Just seems a waste of money when i only need one once or twice a year and on a tight budget to begin with. I'd rather use the money on a headlight kit.

Posted by: CaptainObvious---------------------

I'm in the same boat as you TJ...I have the stock system and an open (FMF) pipe on my YZF. I hate like hell to buy a SA for the few times a year that I ride on public land...but then agian, I'd hate to be the one that starts a forest fire (like that kid in CA this past summer).

Let me know how you make out with the screen.

Posted by: mafols---------------------

Hey Gary,

If you have an FMF silencer...check their website. They make a SA end cap that fits on some their models for $50 or less. Maybe they'll have one for yours.

Posted by: Rooster---------------------

Quote:

Originally Posted by mafols

I don't know about the "seal of approval" but I do know that the times that I've competed in an off-road event that required a spark arrestor, i.e. FS land, the "spark arrestor test" consisted of sticking a rod down the silencer...if it bottomed out on something...YOU PASS.
A factory spark arrestor is basically just a screen that is supposed to ...sort of "dissipate"(for lack of a better term) the sparks as they come out.

Been there done that, they just check for something with a metal rod. I have a sheet of some stainless screen, thinking about making one for my YZ250. Let me know what you guys come up with, as far as fabrication. Stainless + aluminum ... I'm fresh out of ideas how to put those two metals together

Posted by: darringer---------------------

You guys east of Cali have it made. Here they do the rod test and check for the US Forestry seal of approval. No seal, no ride. The bike has to stay in the back of the truck or it's impounded.

Posted by: gottamoto---------------------

In Wash. State they have to be U.S. Forest Servce Approved. A home made spark arrester is like not having one at all, and I believe it is a 150.00 dollar fine

Posted by: Rooster---------------------

Quote:

Originally Posted by darringer

You guys east of Cali have it made. Here they do the rod test and check for the US Forestry seal of approval. No seal, no ride. The bike has to stay in the back of the truck or it's impounded.

An y'all say Cali is the best place on the planet

Posted by: Moteaux---------------------

Ditto on what the other guys said about spark arrestors and riding on public land. If the Forest Agent is going to check with a rod to see if your SA is in place he most definitely will be checking to see if it is USFSA (approved). In these times when we are losing riding areas for different reasons we all have the responsibility to abide by the laws on the books to promote our sport in the best light possible. Besides, you could save yourself a nice little fine.

Not saying anything about anyones character here in this post, but while you may not get caught with the homemade device, the times when you try to get by with skirting the laws or ignoring them altogether puts another notch against off-roaders. I am just going to hope that all dirtbikers or off-roaders abide by the regs so we don't have to fight even harder to keep our public lands open.

Posted by: mafols---------------------

Good post...Randy

Check out the thread titled "DRN East Coast- Spring Ride".
A few of us from below the " cajun Mason-Dixon line" ( aka I-10) are making the trip. It would be great if you could make it.

Matt

Posted by: Moteaux---------------------

Matt,

I got an email from Mark about the ride. I should be offshore during that time, if something changes I might try to make it but it doesn't look promising right now.

Sorry TJ, didn't mean to hi-jack the thread!

Posted by: bikepilot---------------------

Several years ago when my family needed a SAs on all the bikes (2 CR500s, KX80BW and 2 YZ80s) we found screen (origionally ment for windows I think???) and cut squares of it large enoug to wrap around the end of the silencer then secured it with a hose clamp. The screen was cheep and easily replace in the event that it was damamged (mostly from crashing). It never burned through or had any real trouble. We used these screens for several years mostly on the east coast and never had any trouble with LEOs. I do not know how well they would have held up with the hotter exhaust of a 4 stroke though.

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Anyone make their own spark arrester?

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