Air intake backfire screen

How many of you guys have removed the backfire screen in the intake on your FI Husky four strokes(TE/SMR 450/510)? It looks like a pretty substantial restriction to intake air flow. If the screen is removed are you running a risk of burning the bike down? Thanks in advance!

Agree it's way restrictive in appearance anyway. Pulled mine out of my TE310, but can't tell ya if it change anything as I never rode it with it in place. I do know, I've owned MANY bikes in the last few years and none have had a screen. The filters are fire retardant anyway, so I'd say it's a safe bet you don't have to worry about a fire hazard. Sure someone can attest otherwise, but I've never seen any signs on the inside of a filter from a back-fire gone wrong. For what it's worth.

I pulled mine out, but I will admit, I have seen an XR650 start on fire after the bike blew back and lit up the filter.

Thanks for the replies! One more question, do the fuel injected bike have more, less, or the same probability of intake side back fires? It seems since fuel flow is controlled by the ECU/injector there may be a slight chance that they are less prone to actually blowing flame through the intake tract. Any ideas?

This I have witnessed as well. Good point. I leave mine in.

Same here, screens on my bikes are typically pitched during initial set-up.

I finally stopped cleaning with gas, over a decade ago. Been using No-Toil cleaner/oil last several yrs.

Real easy...just dump a little in few inches of water, mix up, swish the filter around a bit and rinse........Cleans filter very well.
When you're done, just toss the water out on the lawn (for anyone concerned about that, it's biodegradable and non-toxic)

Oil (I use spray on, & massage in) has good tackiness to it, waterproof, and traps dust well w/o seeming to restrict air flow like some filter oils seem to do a little.


Plus, ......and I can get it at about any local shop

I have to 2nd the No-Toil. Been using it since it came on the market and never had a filter fail as a result of using it. When I'm feeling really lazy, I'll toss them in the wash machine and they come out great. EZ clean up, bio-degradable, low odor, and doesn't destroy filters like some of the harsher cleaners will over time. Product of the year, every year in my book!

FYI you can also use Oxy clean in the wash for your filters if you are currently using No-Toil oil,same stuff and much cheaper

Good to know! Thanks

Here in the wet East I had problems running No-Toil at wet events-degraded the filter oil. Don't use it anymore. What do you use instead of gas for solvent type filter oil?

Kerosene works great, and wont' destroy the fibers.

On the 08 TE's if you remove the screen, does the filter still seal properly?

So your not leaving the rubber part of behind?
Mine seemed to stand off the base too high, just wanted to make sure I'm not missing something.