Busted! FMF Q

[Stan_yz426f]

I sold my 426 to my brother and he took it out this weekend for the first time. I installed a FMF Q about a year ago and never had a problem. He went riding at Rohwer flats(California) a Ranger stoppped him and gave the old spark arrestor test by using a poker. My brother said the guy tried about 20 times and finally got his poker to pass through the spark arrestor. My brother told him to try it again and after 20 tries he got it to pass through again. I spent over $300.00 on this pipe tring to do the right thing with noise and spark and my brother is now getting fined. Has anyone else had this problem with the FMF Q? The ranger was on a bike I guess he is an AS.....!!!!!!!!

Any feed back would be great. thanks!

[Dan_Lorenze]

I've never owned an FMF exhaust system before but I'm almost positive that the Q pipe is "Forestry Approved" and has a stamp or emblem stating so. If it does have it and no modifications have been done to the muffler I would fight the ticket.. Some Rangers are lame, I'm surprised that he didn't ask to see your throttle stop to make sure it hasn't been modified (yes, that happeneds).

[vmxr]

I believe FMF uses a turbine core spark arrestor, which will always fail the "poker" test. The Q IS equipped with a forest approved spark arrestor. Sounds like you encountered a clueless Ranger.

[RADRick]

I rode my 450 at Rowher yesterday and last week with no problem. I also have the Q and it's never even raised an eyebrow. I'm surprised a ranger would check him on the trail since they check when you come into the park. I've never seen a bike-mounted ranger at Rowher, only the volunteers and they don't have ticketing powers.

[WheelsUp]

I'd be willing to bet than in 20 tries I could jab a stick through the screen in my PMB spark arrestor too.

Ranger was an a$$.

[patrickincc]

I have one and its a screen type . It should not of gone through unless he poked through it. I would of taken it apart right there to see if he damaged it and if so would of asked for his supervisor to file a claim.

[SWD6]

Like my fun trip to Buffalo. My boarder guard and your Ranger are on a power trip . If you tell him what you really think your in even bigger trouble

[Stan_yz426f]

Yeah the FMF is a turbine type spark arrestor and the poke test will always fail. My brother said this a motorcycle police that performs Mr. ranger on the weekends. He told my brother that people drill these exhaust out. I guess there might people who drill it out but obviously does not have a clue about this muffler. My brother got about a ten minute ride in before he got fined. I guess I am just venting a little, you try to do everthing right(spark arrestor & noise) and you still get hassled. Any advise on what should be done? Should I call his superiors and give them the low down? Call FMF see if they have any problems? Any suggestions would be great. Thanks!

[endurodog]

I would call the courts see what gives then if they don't get it I would call FMF. I have to believe FMF will be as mad about it as your brother and you.

[doubledee]

Yea, everyones right about the poker test. It will slip thru the gaps in the turbine fan blades. If you pull the end cap off and shine a light in there you'll see why. And I have opened up the Q on my WR280 because it's real quiet but added a screen type spark arrestor. I've yet to be tested ever on any bike. Come to think of it I've never even seen a ranger ever one time anywhere. Luck favors the humble and slow. But I think I'll add a screen to my WR400s Q just for safety sake.

[Sierra Smokey]

I'm a CA LEO and this is total B.$! He needs to fight the ticket. Call FMF and ask for a copy of their specification sheet for the Q. The sheet should show the USFS approval for the turbine spark arrestor in the Q. Once you have proof that the Q is USFS approved, get your butt to court and show the judge. Once the ticket is dismissed (it should be), go straight to this guy's department and file a formal complaint with his supervisor. Twenty pokes in your $300+ muffler to get a ticket is nonsense

By the way I just put on a FMF Powerbomb header and Q2 muffler on my WR... OH MY GOSH!

[Rip Wheeler]

I'm a CA LEO and this is total B.$! He needs to fight the ticket. Call FMF and ask for a copy of their specification sheet for the Q. The sheet should show the USFS approval for the turbine spark arrestor in the Q. Once you have proof that the Q is USFS approved, get your butt to court and show the judge. Once the ticket is dismissed (it should be), go straight to this guy's department and file a formal complaint with his supervisor. Twenty pokes in your $300+ muffler to get a ticket is nonsense

By the way I just put on a FMF Powerbomb header and Q2 muffler on my WR... OH MY GOSH!

Hey Sierra Smokey, its nice to see some more law enforcement on our side!

[Hairdog]

It was a sheriff patrol that gave me the ticket. They said they could tell by the exhaust sound that I had punched out the screen. I don't know what the hell that means. It was my first ride on the bike and I wasn't familiar with the spark arrestor. I talked to my brother who said that it was a centrifugal type spark arrestor, where stationary turbine blades direct the exhaust flow to the muffler wall where the sparks are broken up. I sent an email to FMF asking for documentation and info on the Q pipe spark arrestor and never got a reply back. I then called them. The first person said that it should have a screen and tried to sell me a replacement screen. The second person said that there is no screen, that it is a turbine type. They seem very confused over there. I then called the official spark arrestor tester at the Forest Service. He said that it was a centrifugal type of spark arrestor and sent me a cross-section. He was much more helpful than FMF. Now I need to go and waste my time fighting a ticket on a legal spark arrestor. Who knows, I still could lose depending on the judge. And if I do, I could be out $500 because I would have to pay a fine and buy a screen type spark arrestor to stop getting harassed by the sheriffs. I wish the sheriffs would be better educated to the different type of spark arrestors. I also wish that FMF would be more helpful.

[WR250guy846]

this is all just bull sh1t what is the deal with these rangers you would figure they wouldnt be tring to find some thing wrong with what your doing 20 trys to decide that there is no spark aresstor what did he think he was hitting the first 19 trys???? man ive never even seen a ranger at rowere and i hope i never do

[JSanfilippo]

Thats sad!! On a related note I have never seen a competition four stroke shoot sparks out the ass end!!!

[Rip Wheeler]

Thats sad!! On a related note I have never seen a competition four stroke shoot sparks out the ass end!!!

I have, it was my WR450F, and it only happened right after I installed my new FMF powercore4 with spark arrestor! I think it was debris burtning off. And how in the heck can a screen make it sound different (several post up???)

[Guest meeyz]

I also have the powercore 4, and have seen a flame shoot out the back, after used for a while. Is it not supposed to be a national forestry certified? ?

[simch]

I'm a CA LEO and this is total B.$! ? He needs to fight the ticket. Call FMF and ask for a copy of their specification sheet for the Q. The sheet should show the USFS approval for the turbine spark arrestor in the Q. Once you have proof that the Q is USFS approved, get your butt to court and show the judge. Once the ticket is dismissed (it should be), go straight to this guy's department and file a formal complaint with his supervisor. Twenty pokes in your $300+ muffler to get a ticket is nonsense ?

By the way I just put on a FMF Powerbomb header and Q2 muffler on my WR... OH MY GOSH!

I agree fight the ticket man!

I am about to order a q2 or tiq and powerbomb header for my 450. Are they good then......!?!?!

[mayner]

Stan

You should be able to get any and all documentation from FMF to fight that ticket. That's pure D bullcrap. Do you still have the documentation that came with the new pipe? If not, call FMF. I'm sure they have someone knowledgeble that can back you up with the info you need to shove this entire mess right up that dick's butthole.

Sorry for the salty language but this kind of crap really pisses me off.

[endurodog]

I agree fight the ticket man!

I am about to order a q2 or tiq and powerbomb header for my 450. Are they good then......!?!?!

I've got an orginal Q on my WR450 and it has been tested several times at 95 DB. It has stiffled the power from fully open but it's way better than the inserts I have tried.