Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/679587
ATV/UTV S&B Filters entering industry with new filtering product BY KATE SWANSON ASSISTANT EDITOR S&B Filters has released a solution to keep side- by-side filters clean, allowing your customers to ride worry-free. More than 40 years ago, S&B Filters began in the automotive industry, manufacturing performance filters and intake kits, specializing in diesels, SUVs and trucks. Recently, the Fon- tana, Calif.-based company crossed over into the powersports segment with a new product designed for UTV use. The S&B Particle Sepa- rator is made to fit Polaris, Yamaha, Arctic Cat and other popular UTVs and extends the life of stock filters. Berry Carter, owner of S&B Filters, pur- chased the company in 2003. Once the Par- ticle Separator was built, he said, the company searched for the industry that needed the prod- uct the most. "Our engineering team is con- stantly pushed to innovate and dif- ferentiate and in doing so, we came up with a great new technology for our industry," he said. "We were looking for what the industry needed the worst. That's when we came across the UTV mar- ket because they are constantly dealing with this dust issue and filtration." Carter said the Particle Separator features the same technology used by helicopters in dusty, desert terrain, which enables users to ride in extreme conditions while still main- taining power and protecting the vehicle's engine. Lab tests reported that the Particle Separator ejects 94 percent of dust before it reaches the stock filter, meaning users won't have to replace their filters as frequently, sav- ing them both time and money. "We are accustomed to testing everything in the lab, and we are extremely precise," Carter said. "We did that as well with the Particle Separator, and to tell you the truth, when we got into the field, the results were even better than we found in the lab, which is a pleasant surprise." In fact, S&B touts that the Separator will make a stock air filter last 15 times longer and guarantees that it will make a stock air filter last for a year. If for some reason the stock filter does not last for a year, S&B Filters will replace the filter for free. It's important to note that the Particle Separator does not replace the stock filter; it attaches directly to the stock intake system and extends the life of the stock filter. "You can't really compare a Particle Separator to a filter; you still need a filter," Carter explained. "Our system still works with the stock filter, so what we advise is for people to keep their stock sys- tem in place, and then we piggy back on top of that, and that allows the stock filter to last for a year before they need to replace it, or we send them a free filter." The Particle Separator attaches to the stock intake system with billet clamps, which allows it to be installed on either the upper or lower roll bars of a UTV, and it can accommodate most roof configurations. Once installed, the dirty air enters the Particle Separator's 19 vor- texes, using centrifugal force to throw the dust against the outer side of the tube and out the rear slot of the device. The clean air continues on through the center of the tube and is directed to the stock air filter, while a scavenge fan ejects the dust through the exhaust. The fan is powered by 3.1 amps on average, giving the unit power without adding more stress to the UTV engine. "As soon as the dust hits that slot, the scav- enge fan sucks the dust out and shoots it out the back," he said. "So the 3.1 amps, which is really very low in terms of power drawn from a motor, is very nominal for what we're trying to do. You need that so that you have a high efficiency and you're getting rid of that dust." The Scavenge Fan is IP55-rated and was designed to endure harsh conditions, includ- ing exposure to water and dust for over 50,000 hours of operation. The company also war- ranties the fan for three years from the date of purchase. The Particle Separator itself as has a 5-year limited warranty. "We want to be able to put our money where our mouth is and show them that it really does Particle Separator finds its home in UTV market 26 • May 23, 2016 • Powersports Business www.PowersportsBusiness.com San Bernardino National Forest benefits from volunteer efforts Yamaha Motor Corp., USA, employees returned to the San Bernardino National Forest in April to volunteer their time in support of projects aiding the popular Summit OHV Stag- ing Area. Working with members of the South- ern California Mountains Foundation (SCMF) and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), the effort represented the eighth year of Yamaha Outdoor Access Initiative volunteer projects in one of the nation's busiest forests. More than 60 volunteers, including Yamaha employees, their friends and family members, along with members of local Girl and Cub Scout troops, contributed more than 200 hours of volunteer service throughout the weekend. Activities included installing signs and kiosks, watering and planting native seedlings and helping general restoration and rehabilitation of the staging area and surrounding trails. "Yamaha is proud to continue its longstand- ing working relationship with the Southern California Mountains Foundation and U.S. Forest Service as we create models for pro- ductive private-public collaboration with the shared goal of increasing safe, responsible access to popular public off-road riding areas," said Steve Nessl, Yamaha's ATV/SxS group marketing manager. "The Yamaha Outdoor Access Initiative is dedicated to those who work and play outdoors. This commitment includes financial investments through quarterly Yamaha employees chip in to aid riding area Among the volunteer activities during the event was sign and kiosk installation. See Filter, Page 28 See Yamaha, Page 28 Yamaha employees, members of the Southern California Mountains Foundation, members of the U.S. Forest Service, Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts volunteered at the San Bernardino National Forest in April. S&B Filters' Particle Separator features the same technology used by military helicopters in dusty, desert terrain. The Particle Separator has 19 vortexes to filter dirt from the air.