In many parts of the world, ATVs must be fitted with a spark arrestor (spark arrester) by law or local regulations.

But what is a spark arrestor, and what is its purpose? Does it have any disadvantages? Can you safely remove it? How do you remove it? How do you clean it when clogged?

We take a quick look at all these questions in this article.

The purpose of having a spark arrestor on an ATV is to prevent wildfires by trapping any glowing particles from the engine or carbon deposits that break free before they exit the tailpipe.

Besides the advantage of preventing a wildfire, spark arrestors come with some other advantages or disadvantages, depending on how you look at it.

How to Know if Your ATV Has a Spark Arrestor

Not all ATVs are fitted with a spark arrestor. To check if your bike is fitted with one, you have to look at the rear end of your exhaust muffler because this is where it will be if you have one.

On many mufflers, it is written on the outside whether an arrestor is installed or not. On others, you have to see if there is one physically.

Use a flashlight if the arrestor is not located at the very end of the muffler. You are looking for a fine steel mesh screen covering the whole inside diameter of the exhaust. It could be shaped like a tube or just like a plane screen.

If the screen is shaped like a tube, it can be harder to notice. Use a screwdriver to gently “feel” if there is a screen there. It should look something like this:

Although not as common as screen-style spark arrestors, some mufflers are fitted with a set of discs that the exhaust needs to pass through. These are usually fitted at the very end of the muffler and should be easily observed.

Some early ATVs were fitted with a centrifugal-style spark arrestor, which is uncommon today. These could not be removed but sometimes had inserts for back pressure tuning.

Do You Really Need a Spark Arrestor?

If your ATV does not have a spark arrestor, there is a chance that small particles from the engine itself will exit through the exhaust like a glowing red spark.

With today’s modern production technologies, particles from the engine internals are no longer a common problem.

However, over time, carbon deposits can build up inside your engine. Eventually, these deposits may break free, turning into a glowing red spark on its way out of the exhaust.

You may have seen this if you have ever been riding behind a bike without a spark arrestor installed at night time.

And yes, these sparks may cause a wildfire under the right circumstances.

The laws governing spark arrester use depend on where you are riding. In the US, there is a good chance you are required to have a certified and undamaged spark arrestor installed whenever you are riding on federally, state, or locally managed land.

Checking your area’s requirements before heading to the trails is always a good idea.

But one thing is certain: Using a spark arrestor is always a good idea no matter where in the world you are riding where a spark could impose a potential fire hazard.

So How Does a Spark Arrestor Work?

A spark arrestor is designed to trap any glowing sparks before they exit your tailpipe by acting as a filter.

On a screen-style spark arrestor, the mesh creates many tiny holes which the exhaust needs to flow through. Any particles larger than the holes in the mesh will be stopped. Screen arrestors come in different ratings depending on how fine a mesh is used.

A disc-style arrestor has the same effect. Many small discs are placed with a small spacing to stop particles from passing through.

Advantages & Disadvantages of Using a Spark Arrestor

Spark arrestors come with several pros and cons besides preventing forest fires.

How a Spark Arrestor Affects Performance

Many are looking into removing their spark arrestor because of the potential power gains.

While the arrestor, to a small degree, will restrict the airflow that goes through the exhaust system, removing it is not equivalent to more horsepower.

The effect of removing it will depend entirely on how your quad is built and tuned. Variables like jetting, intake, elevation, cams, exhaust system design, etc., will impact the results.

Removing it may or may not result in improved performance. You won’t know for sure until you have given it a try.

You may even experience a small drop in power on some ATVs when you remove the spark arrestor. The reduced back pressure you get by removing it will, on some systems, decrease performance.

If you are lucky and your systems react favorably to removing the arrestor, you are looking at potential top-end power gain in the range of 1 horsepower. Ironically, the reduced backpressure may simultaneously give you just as much of a drop in low-range power and torque.

If you want better performance, I recommend leaving the spark arrestor installed while saving up for a quality aftermarket exhaust system (also with a spark arrestor) and an engine re-mapping. This upgrade could give you a significantly more noticeable increase in power than only removing the spark arrestor in an OEM system.

How a Spark Arrestor Affects Exhaust Noise

Installing a spark arrestor will decrease your system’s sound level, generally by a couple of dB.

Some riders love a louder and deeper sounding system and want to remove the arrestor to achieve this.

Others prefer their quads and co-riders’ quads to be more silent and discrete.

While I’m not trying to be the moral police here, it’s worth mentioning that noise complaints are the most common reason why people have an issue with off-road or trail riding. And with complaints come restrictions on the use of tracks and trails. That’s just how it is.

So be aware if you ride where noise can be an issue, you may risk ruining the fun for yourself and other riders.

How a Spark Arrestor Affects ATV Looks

Some people think having spark arrestors on their quads is downright ugly and want to remove it for this reason only.

While I can agree design was probably not the top priority when many spark arrestors were designed, I will leave it up to you to decide if this is big enough of an issue for you to remove it.

Removing the Spark Arrestor

Most spark arrestors can be removed from the muffler in some way or another. The procedure you need to follow to achieve this differs from model to model.

Usually, all you need to do is to remove the bolts or drill out the blind rivets holding the arrestor in place, and it should just pop right out.

Some systems may require some more work, and you risk ruining the arrestor in the removal process.

When removing the spark arrestor, remember that your engine may be running a bit leaner than before due to the change in air/fuel ratio.

The air/fuel ratio is determined by your bike’s jetting setup and fuel mix adjustment, which can be altered to your specific need. Ensure you are still within the recommended tolerances after removing the arrestor to prevent engine damage. Consult a mechanic if you are not sure how to do this.

You can safely remove the spark arrestor or even install an aftermarket exhaust system on many ATVs without having to make alterations to your jetting because they are normally set up to run a bit rich from the factory, but this is no general rule!

If you are unlucky, having your bike running too lean can, over time, result in damage to your engine. To be safe, you should have your air/fuel ratio controlled by a professional whenever you make alterations to your exhaust system.

How to Clean a Clogged Spark Arrestor

After riding, trapped carbon particles will build up in your spark arrestor, so it will need cleaning for your bike to be performing as it should.

A clogged-up arrestor may result in a significant decrease in power because of exhaust flow blocking. This applies to both disks and screen-style arrestors.

The user manual usually states that the arrestor should be routinely cleaned after running a certain amount of miles.

Usually, the arrestor is relatively easily removed for manual cleaning. Alternatively, the muffler may be equipped with a cleanout plug to access and clean the screen fast and easily.

You must disassemble and clean each disc if you have a disc-style arrestor.

One way to clean the parts is by using some fuel and a copper wire brush to scrub off any debris. Rinse in fuel and wipe clean with a rag. Let all the parts air dry before re-installing the assembly into the muffler.

However the above method will work just fine, but it can be a bit time-consuming.

The easiest way to clean screen-style spark arrestors is by using a blow torch to burn the carbon away.

This can be done after you have removed the screen from the muffler, or if it is easily accessible from the rear of the muffler, you can even burn away the carbon with the screen still installed in the muffler.

If you use this method, always make sure you use safety glasses and don’t put the torch against anything that can catch on fire, like your bike’s plastic fenders!

What is the Purpose of having a Spark Arrestor on your ATV?