Why is My Yamaha ATV Backfiring on Deceleration?

Besides not changing the air filter, there may be other reasons why your Yamaha ATV is backfiring on decel. One odd reason is an exhaust part you may have overlooked.

Partzilla’s Yamaha ATV expert John Talley hosts live Q&A sessions on our YouTube channel every Friday at 3pm Eastern. In this session, John was asked what could be causing a 2007 Yamaha Raptor 700 to be backfiring on deceleration.

Yamaha Raptor Backfiring on Deceleration Q&A

I have a 2007 Yamaha Raptor 700 and it sometimes has a loud backfire on deceleration. What could be the reason for this? 

John Talley: On the deceleration, if you haven’t changed anything on your machine, and when I say that I mean you haven’t changed your air filter, or pulled the air filter cover housing off, or changed the exhaust and it’s just starting to backfire, well then something else is going on. More than likely, well check the junction on the exhaust header. There’s a slip joint, and if that starts to get loose, it’s going to let air in, and that’ll actually make it pop the unburnt fuel inside of the exhaust. If it hits the right ratio, pow, it’s going to fire. So that may be what’s happening to yours. I know it’s an odd thing but check the exhaust and see if that slip joint has loosened up. 

Watch the video below to see our complete Yamaha Raptor 700 ATV engine rebuild.  

Watch the video below to see how to clean the air filter of a Yamaha Grizzly 700 ATV. 

Watch the video below to learn about some of the reasons why engines blow up.

Want to see more live repair questions answered? See more motorcycle and ATV repair questions answered here.