Ultimate Sidewinder Muffler Decibel Test

[snowbeast]

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

What is the fine for loud exhaust in maine?

 

[Turbo Dynamics]

Ben, hearing that it runs richer - would you still need to add Torco to 91 running Max17 and the stock mod?

good question. My customer ran it on 94 most of the time but admitted to running 91 and being OK with the stock mod. that said add the extra octane. Better be safe with such a powerful tune on pump gas.

 

[Turbo Dynamics]

Hey Ben are there any tips to securing the muffler casing in the SQ like the picture of the cat posted above? Do we have to cut out and reweld the brackets on new muffler?

Customer sent me pictures of one he did but we don't do it at the shop.

 

[Bigblue1]

ok thanks just curious. I think I figured out a way without becoming a major fabricator.

 

[Turbo Dynamics]

ok thanks just curious. I think I figured out a way without becoming a major fabricator.

Probably not too complicated. It is a bit narrower that the stocker. So you would have to trim it or wrap it around and drilling new hole for the rivets.

 

[Bigblue1]

But no insulation due to overheating correct?

 

[Turbo Dynamics]

But no insulation due to overheating correct?

Yes no insulation. it works and fits even nicer, but the heat retained with the insulation causes muffler life to be significantly reduced. A few customers ran with the insulation in last year.
one muffler had to be replaced after 5000 miles.

 

[RTX]

What is the fine for loud exhaust in maine?

150 for first offense.
It goes up with each offense.

The way the system works is this. They ticket you. You have to wait 2 weeks to call the court, it takes that long because the warden has to submit the ticket to the court, then the court checks its records on you in order to assess a fine.
When you call, they tell you the fine amount and where to pay, or where to go to fight it and assign you a court date.
I own property in millinocket so if it was a mon or friday i was going to fight it. But my court date was a tuesday so not worth the 5 hr drive to fight it. Once i found that out i just paid it.
The girl i spoke with said it doubles with each of the same offense. So my next ticket would be 300. So i sold both my cans, lol

 

[RTX]

Customer sent me pictures of one he did but we don't do it at the shop.

I would say that is a good plan
I am assuming there are laws you might be borderline/breaking if you did do that.
Do you see any chance of your mufflers ever meeting the sscc approval and getting a stamp of approval

 

[**sj**]

http://www.snowmobilesafetycertific...ety-and-certification-program-august-2014.pdf

page 7 are the specs

 

[fatchance]

According to this the limit is 78 dB(A) at 50' WOT, with a 2 dB(A) allowance for variation which means even the stock exhaust would fail this requirement. Either the regulation holds little weight or when it comes to the manufacturer's they look the other way.

 

[Beerman]

Everything I've seen and read is that the test is performed at clutch engagement. I didn't cross reference the SAE standards the SSCC cites, but I thought they're the same cited in the DNR regs. Regardless, we know for certain WI and MI DNR test at clutch engagement. I haven't seen anyone get pinched in MN.

 

[fatchance]

Yes Beerman, i was just siting what was stated in the SSCC compliance guide that SJ Posted the link to. It states "while accelerating at WOT". In any case, I believe this is the reason you don't see aftermarket companies getting a stamp on their equipment. Not only is the dB(A) level much lower, but the equipment would have to be signed off on by the manufacturer, the SSCC laboratory and the SSCC Chairman. And i'm guessing some palms would need to be greased. Here is the full version of the SSCC guidelines....http://www.snowmobilesafetycertific...cation-program-procedural-guide-June-2017.pdf

 

[Beerman]

Sitting here doing some minor research -

Michigan use 2004 society of automotive engineers standard J2567 which was revised to be tested at 2500rpm @ 50' as per http://standards.sae.org/j2567_201511/ what I can't tell without purchasing the standard doc are the specifics of the test. But reading the change summary it looks like it might be 82 dB limit @ 2500rpm @ 13.1'. Which changes the test results quite a bit. The curious thing is that when NOS-Pro had an actual WI DNR officer come out last year to test (supposed to use the same test as MI) the Evo Magnum - the officer used 88 dB @ 13.1' @ 2500 rpm.

Minnesota
This is all I can find for Minnesota and is from the DNR handbook. http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/rlp/regulations/snowmobile/snowmobileregs.pdf I'v not heard of this being enforced, but looks like a DNR officer could clamp down on someone with ANY modified muffler if they wanted to based on the 3rd point below.

Mufflers
• Snowmobiles must be equipped with muf ers that are in good working order and that do not produce sharp popping or cracking sounds or excessive or unusual noise. After-market exhaust systems may not meet this requirement and may not be lawful to operate.
• You may not operate or sell a snowmobile built on or after April 1, 1975, that exceeds 78 decibels on the A scale at 50 feet, except under a permit of the DNR or county sheriff.
• No snowmobile shall be modi ed by any person in any manner that shall amplify or otherwise increase total noise level above that emitted by the snowmobile as originally equipped, regardless of date of manufacture.

The net to me is that the Turbo Dynamics stock mod will have zero issues anywhere and might be one of the few that has no risk of a noise ticket. I'm not sure if we have any DNR officers on TY that might be able to chime in.

 

[NOS-PRO]

Beerman, the test is at a certain rpm, not clutch engagement. And it was 13.1 ft. from center of sled, 48 inches from the ground and at 2,500 rpm. Just an FYI bud