opinions on Pod filters for XJ1100

[tab1324]

Am consdiring the pod filters from Partsnmore.com for my XJ1100 due to the major pita of removing the stock airbox to work on carbs.... Normally, once the carbs are set up they shouldn't be much of a problem but after removing them 4 times last year, and planning on once more this year, I'm considering the change.

Price: stock air filter is @$34 from Bike Bandit, (4) pods = $48

Availability: the stock filter may not be made for much longer, but the pods will be around I'm sure.

Easy installation: Stock airbox = *&%^!! NO, pods = I think so

Other considerations: Jets: this is the main reason for removing my carbs once more - I believe I have some partially plugged idle jets. I'm just gonna toss all the jets and start with new - it's about the only thing in the carbs I haven't replaced. Question is, do I need to jet differently for the pods vs. the stock airbox?

I've read discussion on worries about water getting in them when it's raining hard but I would think your legs would mostly take the water...

Also heard about support concerns for the carbs but I am planning to make a support which attaches to the pods. Not sure how until I get them but I think it's a good idea.

Any opinions from those whove used pods?

Tom Brant

[Swampthing]

Hey Tom

I switched to the pod filters 3 months ago and have had no problems with them. Much easier then having to fight to get the carbs off. Looks better too IMHO

You will need to rejet though, I took the cheap way out and drilled my existing jets out 2 sizes larger and raised the needle with a washer. I also used a K&N air fuel meter and colortune plug to make sure I got it right. The air fuel meter works great, because you can see how your carbs are set through the entire RPM range and with a load.

Gone riding

[Parr8hed]

I have the K&N ones and I like them. Not sure what to tell you about jetting b/c I also run an open 4 into 1 exhaust. The guy that initially set up my carbs jetted them for me. I was too chicken to tackle carbs back then. Rain is a problem at idle, not too bad at speed. You just have to ride the clutch a little to get her going. I am not sure how much of that is water in the carbs or water in the plug wires/boots/electrical etc.

You never have to change them, just re-clean. Pretty easy to get off to clean the carbs. I have never had a stock airbox though.

Travis

[grabberblue]

I went to the pods and did not have to rejet, I paid over $80 for mine at Cycle Gear before I found this forum and Parts N More.
The pods by themselves did not work propperly, they blocked off the elongated, simi circular hole it the carb opening. It would run for about 2 block before dying, restart 5 minutes later and go another 2 blocks. I finally used the old "stacks" from the original air box to make them work, I just had to cut off the flared ends to get the pods on. I think the "stacks" would give better performance than pods alone anyway. Gives that throaty carb sound under heavy acceleration that is not there with standard air box.
John

[chevy45412001]

re-jetting

You will definatley have to re-jet. you will be sucking in much more air then stock. So you will need more fuel to compensate.Like Parrethed i run 4-1 open exhaust also.I took the cheap way out when jetting,i changed jets then went to the drag strip and tested. I can tell you this much,i still to this day wish i left the stock air box on! Even though the times at strip are better than ever,it still lacks that arm yanking from socket feeling it had with stock jets and stock air box. But then again i only jetted and raised the needle a tad,so maybe i am missing something else to boost performance to what it was a hair lower in the rpm range? And thats all i have to say on that ,xj carbs are like a box of chocolets

[grabberblue]

Pods without stacks

Did you put the pods directly on the carbs?
Most of the bikes I see with pods are this way, the stacks (original or otherwise) serve a specific duty. They direct the air into the carb straight. With pods alone the air will swirl and come directly into the carb from 360deg and have to make a 90deg bend to enter the carb. This causes uneven and turbulent air flow entering the carb. I learned this lesson with cars, K&N makes what they call a substack for older style Holly carbs. This substack also straightens air flow with noticable results. Newer Holly carbs and carbs like Demon are desighned to have this smooth airflow configuration. The stacks will reduce the airflow slightly but bring it in at a greater velocity, this is why I probably got away without changing jets.

[greywolfe555]

i got 4 filters from bikebandit for $32.00 including shiping

[tab1324]

stock or pods

Geywolf - you talking stock or pod filters?? For the XJ??

[grabberblue]

Here is a picture with the stock stacks

This shows my setup with stock stacks with the pods

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Tab,

Check out this MEGAthread about rejetting the XJ!

Replumbing/rejetting XJ
T.C.

[hollywoodxs11sf]

Retain Airbox Sidepanels?

I've wanted to switch to pods for a while, but I don't want to lose the chrome side panels on the airbox.

Could I install pods inside my airbox, lose the snorkel and OEM filter, and drill it for extra air flow? Is there enough room?

Can I chop my airbox(cut the front out) and fit the pods in that way? I've been considering this for a while... anybody ever done it?

[ratbyk]

Air Box

I have cut the front out of the air box. Not completely if I remember right. I left a band/bar across the bottom for strength so it would not disintegrate.
I used a small jig saw. I wanted enough space so that I could use the original rubber ram tubes with a stainless steel mesh screens.
I left the bottom of the box in tack to reduce the amount of dirt being drawn from the lower level. I cut 2 rather large holes in the rear to allow a free flow of without worry about rain water etc.
Also just remembered, I keep the 4 white plastic tubes that direct the blow by gases into the entrance to the ram tubes so they would be burned off and not stink things up.
This keep the stock appearance unless you looked real close and knew XS's.
My only complaint was noise. The roar of incoming air into the trumpets under acceleration was"HUGE". Made you think you had found 50 HP when in reality there was no more. (well maybe 2HP)
I only ran this way for about a month and put the stock box back on. Got annoyed with all the noise.
Ken/Sooke

[greywolfe555]

they are EMGO clamp-on air filters, 52 mm yamaha s500/750/850/1100 thru 1979. 6.50 @ plus shipping 32.00

[Rubba]

Originally posted by TopCatGr58
Replumbing/rejetting XJ
T.C.

EEEEEEEEEEEK!

The dynojet kit worked fine from the beginning with Cope Racing's "K&N knock-off" pods (I don't think that Cope Racing is still in business) on my XJ. No trial and error or tweaking; no fuss, no muss.

I've got two bikes with pods and have never had issues with wind, rain or a filter falling off in more than 50K miles. Removing the carbs is much easier without that airbox too. The main reason I went with the oval cone filters is because the XJ airbox/snorkel became delaminated internally; the airflow went around the filter instead of through it.

I love the look and the sound though!

[Hepcat]

I've got an XJ and an XS and I know how much of a PITA it is to take off the stock filter...however, I found the magic bullet to make the procedure painless. (Unfortunately not until after I got everything running well and I've only used it once since I bought it!)

It's called a Cotter Key Extractor. You can pick one up from Sears, it's next to the screwdrivers. It's basically a punch with a 90 degree bend in it along with another little kink you could coceivable use for leverage if you were pulling a cotter key. Just use it to chase the rubber around the carbs. It slips pretty easily back into all the tight spaces between the carbs and you won't end up tearing the rubber, or fighting it for hours on end!

Dad had one back at home and wasn't sure what it was called. He told me it was something that came with his assorted screwdrivers and he never could remember what it was called after he threw away the packaging. I happened to see it one day at Sears and it's amazing when that little bugger comes in handy!

Good Luck,
Jon