airbox

[1st bike]

hey,

just a quick question. how long, if at all, can i run my bike without the airbox or filter on it? i am tired of putting it back on and taking it off to check.

[rover]

airbox

Until you suck up enough dust to wear the edges off the rings and turn your XS engine into a mosquito sprayer or crop duster.

[DGXSER]

Obviously it will run without it, and if your just looking to see if your carbs are leaking or not, then run it. You could run it for a few short rides and not do any real damage.

However, it will give you bad feedback for tuning as the air box makes a noticable difference in how the bike runs and the tuning of the carbs and synching as well.

[natemoen]

You can actually get it to run well with it off?! Mine will barely run with it off.

[SFerinTEXAS]

There is a mod mentioned before about the box to make it removable with the carbs in place. I intend to do it next time I have to pull the cabs on my SF.

The latest reference I found to it is here.

http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread.php?t=28949&highlight=snorkel

[XS1100_OEM4ME]

Air box?

Just me but you can run it forever w/o and be OK or you could just start it up without a filter and need a new motor, depends on what it sucks in! Why would you take that chance? If you are tunning and need easy acc, at least put some cheap aftermarket filters to keep it from sucking in a dooms day chunck, JMHI. A pice of cheese cloth and some rubber bands would be better then nothing.

[Toolmaker Tim]

Airbox Mod

Hi 1st bike. Like SFerrin said there are some mods that make it easier. Icut the center part of the top bracket out and just use theback hangers. I know some other have done things simular. Only problem is if you want it to be strictly stock, it would be hard to go back. DON'T TAKE THE SCREWS OUT OF THE TOP OF THE AIRBOX! Unless of course you enjoy puzzles! I was warned of this by others on this site, so I'm just passing it along. I also cut the snorkle back on my bike, nearly flush with the airbox. Makes things easier, I suppose if you kept the cut off piece you could glue it back on.

Where in Indiana are you?

[TomRodgers]

Tim...i asked the same thing....where in Indiana....

Food for thought, look at the post from '81project on the "first bad thing about pods"...

makes me wonder just a bit about how to make something that looks wild, but functions great.....i myself do NOT like the look of the stocker box....but to each their own!!!

As most would say...I WOULD NOT RUN IT LONG WITHOUT FILTERS....it doesnt take much to give your carbs indigestion!!!!!

[WMarshy]

So it looks like everyone is saying mostly the same thing but what you have to remember is, making changes to the air box is going to affect the performance of the engine. Not only that but, you risk irreversible damage to the engine with no filter/s. Once you get the bike tuned correctly there wont be many reasons to take the carbs off again. I stored my bike over the winter and drained the carbs and had no reason to take them off this season, and my K&N keeps all the bad dust out...

P.S. - The snorkle can be removed completely with no adverse affect to the filtering capability of the stock box/filter setup.

[1st bike]

i am in indianapolis....

thanks guys, i think i got the answer i needed, which is i can run it to test it, because i don't want to mod the airbox, mostly i can't get the screws off of the top of the carbs, so i am trying to pull the rubber boots off of the airbox and soak the carbs (not the boots) with carb cleaner, and hope that solves my problem....not that i am in love with the looks of the airbox, but first, i want a bike that runs...then i'll worry about mods, but i have heard enough bad things about pods that i really don't wanna mess with them. i am about ready to just buy new carbs and be done with it. if don hadn't gone and gotten himself all hurt i would have bugged him when he came into town for work, but i think he probably doesn't need an extra few hours on his feet working on my stupid bike....

[DGXSER]

Hey First, I'll be up that way in the next few weeks I am sure. Be happy to pop in and give you a hand. I have some of those camp chairs that fold up, so I can sit and point you in the right direction!

Honestly, I spend hours in the man cave messing with stuff. I do tend to sit more than stand still, but I tended to do that before the accident to. After all, I have a figure to maintain, even if it is a round one.

I'll be happy to see what we can figure out on it. Nothing feels better than finding that little change it needed to go from running like junk to running like a raped ape.

[1st bike]

i sure would appreicate the help, or at least give it a listen to get me going in the right direction. i don't want to put you out any, i know you work over by keystone when you are here, and you stay in a hotel close...not a stalker, you told me this once before, but i didn't want to give you something else to do after working all day and recovering. lemme know when you are headed this way, and what kind of beer you like, and i'll have some of that, and a bike (and owner) that could use a little help gettin' back up to snuff....

[DGXSER]

Yep, that is where my office is, where I work changes every time I go there. I tend to work on site, my job is more about helping folks figure out how to make their buildings operate correctly or more efficiently.

I typically do not stay overnight, but have stayed out there before. I'll let you know next time I'm heading up and have a free evening to work with you.

[Geezer]

P.S. - The snorkle can be removed completely with no adverse affect to the filtering capability of the stock box/filter setup.

I agree. The snorkel is only there to reduce intake roar and you can't hear it at riding speed anyway. It's one of those things you can loose and not loose anything.

Geezer

[WMarshy]

... mostly i can't get the screws off of the top of the carbs, so i am trying to pull the rubber boots off of the airbox and soak the carbs (not the boots) with carb cleaner, and hope that solves my problem....not that i am in love with the looks of the airbox, but first, i want a bike that runs...then i'll worry about mods....

Remember, if you do get the carbs off dont soak them in a bath of carb cleaner, at least avoid soaking the rubber seal parts in the carb. The rubber will be damaged...

There are others who use pods but modified their air box (cut out the face) so the pods go into the stock box... If I ever decide to run pods thats what I would do. You get to keep the stock look and that chrome plate on the side of the air box but get the convenience of pods... Wish I knew where I seen that picture...