Darrell Greer
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, September 26, 2007

CORAL HARBOUR - A new engine part invented in Coral Harbour may have a number of snowmobiles going faster and farther on a tank of gas this year.

Jake Netser of Coral Harbour shows his snowmobilepart invention (the XFlo intake manifold) that has been brought to market by After Market Products this year. - photo courtesy of Noel Kaludjak

Jake Netser invented the X-Flo intake manifold using metal parts he scrounged up at the Coral dump and welded together.

The XFlo is billed as having a unique intake tract which allows each cylinder to draw off of both carburettors, providing an increase in mid, top, and peak horsepower, as well as an increase in fuel economy.

Netser said the part works on Polaris, Ski-Doo and Arctic Cat 800cc models and retails for $249 US.

"It's a very good improvement for the North, because it also helps eliminate cracking and expensive replacement costs," said Netser.

"On many machines, the rubber on the original manufacturer's parts will freeze and crack, but my invention should last a lifetime."

Netser said when he finished his prototype, he used it on his "old machine" for about 1,000 miles.

He said the X-Flo actually worked too well for his machine.

"I immediately fell in love with it as soon as I put it on and went out hunting, but my old machine couldn't take that much power and it died.

"I knew from the time I had it on that I had a good product on my hands."

Netser contacted a close friend in Vancouver, who tried to pitch the product to the big snowmobile producers.

When nothing moved on that front, they changed their plan of attack.

"I guess those companies are too big to notice a little guy's approach to them.

"So, we contacted After Market Products (AMP) and they were very interested in my invention.

"I sent a couple of parts for testing and they were very impressed when it produced 28.9 more horses than stock on a RMK 800.

"That's a significant increase."

Netser, 41, said he and AMP took out a co-patent on his invention.

He said a few years went by after he sent the part for testing and he still hadn't heard anything back.

He had almost given up hope when two newly-packaged X-Flo intake manifolds arrived in Coral.

"I'm full of hope now that it's finally on the market, and I'll receive a percentage of sales on a quarterly basis.

"The product will appear in Snow Goer magazine for the next few months.

"Snowmobiling is about a $31-million business annually between Canada and the U.S.A., so I know the market is there.

"People can see the X-Flo on the Internet at www.aftermarketproducts.com."