Ultimate Sidewinder Muffler Decibel Test

[Beerman]

I just checked TD's site, my bad, it's on sale but not 15% off - the flasher bundle is 15% off. The Stock Mod is on sale for $514.

And as for a couple new guns - you can't put a price on your family's safety. At least that's what I tell my wife when I come home with a new one.

 

[Blue Dave]

Excellent job Art! I am sure that you had many hours (& beers) invested in this project. I am also sure that your neighbors and your dog are happy that you did not test the straight pipe. LOL!

I will be installing my TD Turbo Force today in my man cave while watching the Vikings beat the Ravens. I will also be enjoying a few beers myself. How many beers does it take to install my muffler?

 

[stevewithOCD]

The muffler is a 2 beer job, unless the bolts are rusted in. Then you may have to invest in a keg...

 

[Blue Dave]

The muffler is a 2 beer job, unless the bolts are rusted in. Then you may have to invest in a keg...

Ha! I will tell my wife it is a six beer job and milk this project for all it is worth. In addition to the TD muffler, I have a TD cold air intake, TD ECU flasher, TD clutching, and some other goodies to install today. I may be able to make this project last all day. Thankfully we can buy strong beer on Sunday now here in MN!

 

[RTX]

UPDATED Oct 20, 2017 - This is the revised-revised follow up to my first test attempt and NOS-Pro's original test of the Evo Magnum where he was able to get a DNR officer out to verify his results.

• Wisconsin and Michigan both test with the sled at clutch engagement (~2500 rpm for us) - 13.1' from the center of the sled, 48" from the ground, 88 dB maximum
• Minnesota and Maine both test with the sled at clutch engagement (~2500 rpm for us) - 50' from the center of the sled, 48" from the ground, 78 dB max

I just wanted to adderss the maine statement to try and help clarify what is written here.
Maine does not follow the standard test posted above. This is old info.
Currently. If you are stopped for any reason, a warden can ask you to show him your exhaust.
When he inspects it it can be modified. But the new exhaust will need to have a goverment approved tag or stamp showing it meets current goverment approval. Without this tag every muffler fails regardless of decible testing.
I know this because it happened to me at the end of last season in millinocket.
To the best of my knowledge there is currently no aftermarket manufacturers having their mufflers approved by the government so all aftermarket mufflers fail if a warden wants to break your balls.

 

[Beerman]

Yikes! I’ll update the notes in the original post. That must be a recent change? I could swear I got that from the Maine DNR snowmobile book. Can’t temember what year it was but was recent.

 

[fatchance]

Jesus, i don't remember seeing any such tag on my stock exhaust i removed! I don't have it here with me, but seeing where Beerman has a bizillion mufflers there, maybe that stock one has this tag you speak of.

 

[fatchance]

Oh.....and i elect Beerman to do a flash test for all the different maps available! Damn! you thought wrenching on mufflers was fun? Just think of the oodles of fun that could be had with that experiment!

 

[RTX]

Yikes! I’ll update the notes in the original post. That must be a recent change? I could swear I got that from the Maine DNR snowmobile book. Can’t temember what year it was but was recent.

When it happened to me, it took me a lot of digging to actually find the law.
I was going to fight it because the warden never tested it.
Once i found the law i quit
I will look for it again and post it if i find it

 

[RTX]

http://cs.amsnow.com/sno/b/news/arc...d-public-hearing-on-two-snowmobile-bills.aspx

 

[RTX]

Jesus, i don't remember seeing any such tag on my stock exhaust i removed! I don't have it here with me, but seeing where Beerman has a bizillion mufflers there, maybe that stock one has this tag you speak of.

Not sure that the stock muffler needs a tag. I am assuming all this envriomental noise nonsense is covered by the oem while manufacturing the sled.
The issue is that once the oem muffler is removed, the aftermarket muffler needs the tag.
The warden did not take a picture of mine so i probably could have fought it. But after reading the law it seemed pointless.
Determination that the muffler is not the stock muffler seems to be left in the hands of the warden, so without them taking a picture of your modified exhaust you could probably fight it in court by just insisting you were operating with stock exhaust that has no goverment markings

 

[snowbeast]

When it happened to me, it took me a lot of digging to actually find the law.
I was going to fight it because the warden never tested it.
Once i found the law i quit
I will look for it again and post it if i find it

when what happened to you? Did a warden pull you over and than tell you to show him some tag affixed to your stock muffler? Were you on a winder?

 

[RTX]

when what happened to you? Did a warden pull you over and than tell you to show him some tag affixed to your stock muffler? Were you on a winder?

In post 140 i explained i was pulled over by a main warden.
To elaborate on it.
My buddy was out of gas, i had to tow him out of a little windy trail and at the end of the trail the warden was parked in his truck doing a visual inspection for registration stickers.
He stopped our group and stated my muffler was too loud (ulmer quiet can on a viper) i stated that it was loud because i was dragging another sled behind me. I stated listen to it now. Its not loud. I even said it was decible tested.
He said open the side panel so i can see the muffler.
I did and he looked and wrote me up. He stated the the law had changed, but did not elaborate on it.
I said i didnt know it changed, he then said its my responsibility to be aware of and follow the law.
I gave up at that point. Lol

 

[fatchance]

This seems odd that they would actually act on something that is so subjective without more content to pursue. If i pulled the guts out of my stock exhaust it would still look stock, but could be loud as hell and nothing would prove it was not stock without doing a decibel test. I'm not disagreeing with what you have experienced, but man it would take a real you know what to write that ticket. That being said, i will for sure have a back up stock modified muffler as a spare this season!

 

[stevewithOCD]

First of all, I ride in Millinocket. Second of all, wouldn't the "stock mod' have the OEM stamp on it? I need to go check now