Change The Exhaust, A Prohibited Practice
Some snowmobilers decided to modify the exhaust of their snowmobile. This gesture thoughtless can lead to two important consequences, namely the loss of rights of passage and fines to be paid under the act.
Picture: Julien Cabana
“It is simple, it is prohibited to modify the exhaust system of a snowmobile such as the clearly refers to the law, the announcement of entry game Michel Garneau of the Fédération des clubs de motoneigistes du Québec. People who act that way, hurting a lot of the activity on a snowmobile, because they disturb the people who live along the trails. We’ve been fighting for several years to eliminate the irritants that are harmful to the social acceptability of the snowmobile. All of our efforts can be destroyed in no time due to this kind of irresponsible. “
In the act of off-road vehicles, it is clearly stated: the act prohibits any modification of the vehicle may decrease its stability or its ability to brake or to increase its power or acceleration may increase the emissions of noise, or the release of hydrocarbons into the environment. The fines imposed can vary between $ 275 and 1100 $.
Very harmful
The person who is the owner of the snowmobile must expect a loss of performance of its engine.
“It is proven that the mufflers that are changed affect the power of the snowmobile in relation to the equipment installed by the manufacturer,” says Michel Garneau. When they decide to install an exhaust system in a model of snowmobiling, the manufacturers know what they are doing. These systems are perfectly calibrated for each of the snowmobiles. It has happened that a manufacturer is to make tests with more than 100 models of exhaust before finding the right one which allowed the snowmobile to perform at the maximum. “
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According to Garneau, it is not possible to buy this kind of system changed since the sale is prohibited in Quebec.
“Too often, people who develop for themselves systems in their garage (jobbeurs) or companies from outside the province who arrive to sell them to amateurs of snowmobiling. There is a certain tolerance in the case of systems intended for snowmobile racing, but not for trails. In the manufacturers, a battery of engineers are working to develop these systems so that they suit perfectly. “
A mechanical polished
During the interview, on several occasions, Michel Garneau, stated :
“It should not be forgotten that a snowmobile this is a set of moving parts that are organized to be able to work together when the vehicle is in motion. Try to change one of these parts will certainly influence all mechanical. Manufacturers have taken years to create and develop these pieces that are in interactions to be very accurate according to parameters just as accurate. To play with this combination could cause problems. “
The leaders of the Federation have asked the Ministry of Transport to increase the amounts of the fines. They believe that this would have a real deterrent effect on the offenders. The surveillance officers give tickets when they are in the presence of a snowmobile modified. However, as the fines are not very high, people continue to violate the law as they see fit.
