Straight Poop on Pipes

by Dan Nitzel, NOHVA Business Manager and Co-founder

Reprinted from the Nebraska OHV Advisor, the official publication of the Nebraska Off Highway Vehicle Association March 2004

A while back we received this letter. “Can I get a definition of an approved spark arrester for the National Park requirements? I have an FMF Gold pipe that does not have the "US National Park" stamped on it, but it does have a solid end cap, so it is enclosed. Does this suffice or is there something that I can do to modify it so it is legal. We had intended on riding this weekend at Headworks, but I do want to be legal. Thanks, Chad W. Byers” 

Concerning your pipe, if it does not have the FS stamp of approval, it is not considered to be a legal pipe. Legal pipes need to have "US Forest Service Approved" stamped on the muffler or silencer and it needs to meet noise requirements as set forth by the forest service. At the time of your pipes manufacture that noise limit was 101 decibel at 18" at about 2000 rpm. However, a new Forest Service noise limit of 96 decibel at 18" is planned to become the standard nationwide soon. Your end cap may be a spark arrester if it has the "Forest Service Approved" stamp on it. If it does, then it is a legal spark arrester, BUT may not meet the old or the new noise limit.
 

The stock pipe that came with your machine from the manufacturer meets ALL regulations including the new 96 decibel limit. If you want check your pipe for the Forest Service Approval, the words "US FOREST SERVICE APPROVED" is stamped into the muffler or silencer, usually in a fairly easy place to read it. If you can't find it, ask your local dealer. However, if your stock pipe has been modified such as the internal baffle removed, or is not attached properly and leaks, or has holes in it, the Forest Service Approval is void and is thus not legal.

The rangers at the Forest Service have all been trained on what to look for, and, they own and ride machines as well. More so this year, rangers and forest service employees will be on the lookout and even patrolling trails looking for loud pipes. They KNOW what to look for and WILL enforce the law. The customary action is if they find someone with out a spark arrester, they will immediately require the rider to shut down the machine. After being stopped, the rider must push, tow or transport the machine off of forest service land, no matter where the rider was stopped, even if you are in the middle of NO-WHERE!!

Our organization in order to support and promote responsible ATV and dirtbike use, supports and advocates the strict enforcement of spark arrester regulations and noise regulations on all Forest Service and federal lands.
If your pipe does not have a "Forest Service Approved" stamp on it, you can buy an attachment called a 'sparky" from a local MC dealer that will have the Forest Service Approved stamp and make it spark arrested legal IF the sparky is attached properly with no leaks AND the rest of the exhaust is in acceptable condition. What a spark arrester is simply an insert that catches sparks, like a screen or baffle. All ATVs and dirtbikes are manufactured with US Forest Approved pipes, and it's a state law and federal requirement as well.

Technically, all ATVs and dirtbikes in Nebraska are required to have a spark arrester everywhere in the state, unless they are used on a closed course such as a moto-cross race.

If your pipe is too noisy, that MAY cause problems as well. A spark arrested "race" or after market pipe may be too noisy and may not meet forest service and state requirements. If this is the case, the rider is treated in the same manner as if they had no spark arrester. A race pipe with no spark arrester is almost always nosier that a spark arrested pipe, and is always nosier than a stock pipe in good condition!

Noise disturbs other people looking for a peaceful quiet day and who often do not ride. Also, noise makes us look BAD. In the past, noise has caused problems and complaints at the Nebraska National Forest and if it becomes a major issue there.

If your pipe is an after market pipe (not stock) and is spark arrested, it may need to be re-packed to reduce noise. A pipe with all the packing "blown out" will reduce performance as well. So it's a good idea to keep adequate packing in the pipe as well. A repacking kit is available from your local dealer or via mail order.
As far as Headworks is concerned, since a spark arrester is required in Nebraska on all machines (except machines used for approved closed course events such as a race on a moto-cross track), then technically, spark arresters are required at Headworks as well "as defined under state law".

However, the law at Headworks has not been enforced in the past. But that does not mean it will not be enforced at anytime in the future. A game warden or sheriff "could" issue a ticket if they saw the need or if they desired.
Noisy pipes will be causing us problems at Headworks as neighbors and other users at the park have recently complained to NOHVA about the noise on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. We may be forced to address the noise issue at Headworks soon.

Another issue to think about at Headworks is fire. Considering how dry it has been the last couple of years and considering the amount of dry timber setting about the area, what would happen if a fire started by a rider without a spark arrester and it got out of control? It WOULD get real ugly, real fast, especially if the fire was not brought under control quickly and there was property damaged! Another reason to have a spark arrester!

If "I" were in the market for a new pipe, I would make sure that it's both spark arrested and noise approved. Contrary to popular belief, often times an approved pipe will perform as well as a race pipe, and anymore a lot of manufacturers are making some great, "approved" pipes! Last year, I updated my Toomey pipes on my Banshee with the Toomey spark arrested "hush kit". Much to my pleasant surprise, the spark arrester hush kit makes it run better and faster than Toomey pipes with out the spark arrester/hush kit, and the machine is MUCH QUIETER as well!

SPARKS CAUSE FIRES AND NOISE -- ANNOYS!!
If you need a spark arrester, ask your local dealer for details concerning your application. Check our news letter for a list of COMPETENT dealers. If your local dealer doesn't know anything about spark arresters, tell them to talk to Gary Gibbs at Parts Unlimited. If they still can't help, Please let me know and I'll hook you up with someone who does know, like Gary Gibbs. Gary is co-founder of NOHVA and works as a sales rep for Parts Unlimited, a company that supplies quality parts and accessories for ATV/dirtbike dealers. Gary most likely can tell you what you may need and who to get it from.
 

2004 TBQ Sport Club, Inc. /  d.b.a. Nebraska Off Highway Vehicle Association
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This page was updated on Wednesday, January 19, 2005