Author Topic: Never ever moan about removing your airfilter again! (Read 3127 times)

Hush · « **on:** April 28, 2012, 09:09:29 PM »

Decided today was the day to remove the foam air filter from my 1400 Suzuki, easy job, read up on it, piece of pie!

First one not too bad, had to remove the seat, sissy bar etc but had it out in half an hour, but number two hides just behind the triple tree under the gas tank so removing tank had to happen, Suzuki carefully hid all the fuel lines attached under the tank and even fitted 3 yes 3 "OFF" valves to prevent fuel loss.
One part of the bike, a small painted fairing thingy that really serves no purpose other than to hide the triple tree and presumably the very first part on the conveyor belt was bolted on in such a way that removal of the entire exhaust system was going to be neccessary, I think bloody not!!!

I lost blood getting the top airfilter out, it was as dry as a wooden God (Dad's favourite saying) and unbelievably hard to remove, I have for many years been in awe of the Suzuki designers art, they seemed to always be thinking ahead, well this time they must have taken the day off and the cleaner got to have a go!

grcamna2 · « **Reply #1 on:** April 28, 2012, 09:21:13 PM »

It would certainly be nice if some of these design engineers in charge of quality control at the Factories would work in a few M/C shops before they got into the business of designing them..it'd make our job SO much easier w/ less aggravation;I hear you Hush !

seanbarney41 · « **Reply #2 on:** April 29, 2012, 01:04:05 AM »

...dry as a wooden god (that's what he said

)...gonna have to remember that one!

Hush · « **Reply #3 on:** April 29, 2012, 02:19:35 AM »

The rear plug came out easy as, the front one was just like #3 on my old CB650 too tight to use a box wrench on, luckily the genuine one in the tool kit (why do we always insist on using our garage tools and sockets when we have a perfectly good tool kit on the bike?) fitted and out comes the front one.
Check em out, what do you think?
Bike has done 3500k's from new, drinks gas like a sailor drinks beer and pops and farts on de-accelleration.
Think a lot of that is the air filters though.

By the look of the chart it's pretty much running fine.

wedoo2 · « **Reply #4 on:** April 29, 2012, 03:03:24 AM »

I love the color of that bike Hush. Good friend has a Suzuki M something or another cruiser type and it is a very nice bike to ride. He has had it out to Arizona and to Colorado and that's aways from Indiana. Not particularly loud, or menacing, but a good bike.

Terry in Australia · « **Reply #5 on:** April 29, 2012, 03:13:34 AM »

Ha ha, that's the problem with all the "Faux Harley's" Hushy, to make them look as simple as single cam, single carb V twin American tractors with pushrod actuated valve train, (remember pushrods?) the Japs had to make their bikes remarkably complicated.

I remember a mate bought a Yama-Harley a few years ago, and decided that he's maintain it himself. After almost driving himself insane trying to work out why the starter motors kept shiitting themselves, and why Yamaha decided to use one downdraft carb and one side draft carb on the same bike, he gave up and bought a Suzuki GS1000 which is still going nicely 11 years later.

If you think the air filter thing is a nightmare, wait until you need to repair your water pump! Cheers, Terry.

Hush · « **Reply #6 on:** April 29, 2012, 03:58:04 AM »

Yup you're on the money Terry, to make them look old school they had to do some pretty darstardly things under the covers.
Once running they are an extremely reliable tractor and without the oomph of an inline 4 it certainly does the job of keeping me slow which is kinda why I bought it.

Terry in Australia · « **Reply #7 on:** April 29, 2012, 04:04:31 AM »

Ha ha, no worries Hushy, I'm really enjoying my new (old) BMW R100RS, it's probably the slowest bike in my garage, but will be great fun to ride long distances at legal speeds. Cheers, Terry.

grcamna2 · « **Reply #8 on:** April 29, 2012, 09:15:12 AM »

Terry,
Those flat BMW boxer engines are almost vibration free and run so well for so long you can forget the engine and just take in the scenery..and the nut drivers crossing the double yellow line;they handle great also ! Those cylinders keep your feet warm in the winter too.If you need a little more power..why not try fitting a Porshe engine in it ?

But I'm not too sure you'd be able to justify THAT much power on such a "Gentleman's Ride" such as your's

lol. I'm sure you still own some serious Rocket Ship machines,right ?

Hush · « **Reply #9 on:** April 29, 2012, 02:50:12 PM »

Can you get Sky TV on that front headlight?

Lovely old Beemer, the cops had them and loved them as solid work horses with no vices.

grcamna2 · « **Reply #10 on:** April 29, 2012, 09:47:20 PM »

That white one there is Super clean..looks like Brand new.

Terry in Australia · « **Reply #11 on:** April 30, 2012, 01:54:40 AM »

Quote from: grcamna2 on April 29, 2012, 09:15:12 AM

Terry,
Those flat BMW boxer engines are almost vibration free and run so well for so long you can forget the engine and just take in the scenery..and the nut drivers crossing the double yellow line;they handle great also ! Those cylinders keep your feet warm in the winter too.If you need a little more power..why not try fitting a Porshe engine in it ?

Thanks mate, this is my second one, and so far, my favorite. My first one, a 1979 model, was knackered when I got it, and (including the original purchase price, an engine and gearbox rebuild and later model forks and brakes installed) cost me 12K, and was still a POS.

It rattled, it vibrated, it wouldn't accept anything but 98 RON gas, the electrics were screwed, the brakes were crap, you name it, it was worse that my old Bevel drive Ducati 900SS. I kept it for 12 years and sold it for $4K to a guy who fell in love with it, and if he's still got it 8 years on, he's probably legally insane by now, it was definitely built on a Friday.

By contrast, this one (a 1980 model and virtually identical to my old one, apart from paint color) is sweet, the engine is quiet and super smooth, the brakes work (well, to be fair I just installed a new M/C rebuild kit) and it doesn't seem to care what fuel I tip into it, and all for less than $2K so far. (I say "so far" as I intend to do some more "restification" as funds allow) Life is good. Sorry for the thread jack Hushy! Cheers, Terry.

Hush · « **Reply #12 on:** April 30, 2012, 03:44:40 AM »

No worries on the hijack Terry, I'm just #$%*in about my new toy anway.

cmonSTART · « **Reply #13 on:** April 30, 2012, 04:44:18 AM »

Ha! I just did a tune-up/sync/carb cleaning etc on an 800 Intruder, very similar in many ways to your 1400. What a pain in the rear! I told the owner he wanted to do the air filters also while they were off because there's no way someone can get in there any other time.

grcamna2 · « **Reply #14 on:** April 30, 2012, 05:26:06 AM »

Hush,
Those tall cylinders are a very nice style and the bike is narrow being a V-twin...I suppose they had to figure a way to stuff the upper airbox in there so it was "hidden from view"

,the older Honda VT Shadows use a long rectangular squarish type intake runner to bring the front(rear actually)cylinder air intake back to the air filter box which is under the seat !
The Suzuki there looks to have been more concerned about looks and style on her then ease of maintenance..; I'll take a basic sohc4 any day.
Does she handle well as far as weight distribution goes ?

bikerbart · « **Reply #15 on:** April 30, 2012, 09:37:56 AM »

I have always wanted a boxer but never could swing it,always a couple of grand more than a UJM.I respect the heck out of em though.

grcamna2 · « **Reply #16 on:** April 30, 2012, 01:55:43 PM »

Bart, there's a lot of nice used ones for sale for less $ because of our poor

"recession"

Hush · « **Reply #17 on:** April 30, 2012, 05:46:16 PM »

Handles well when it has a decent rider on it Terry, I'm still in the novice category with this bike as I'm more used to the sit on rather than sit in. Most of my riding since getting the S83 has been two up on group rides and Jaffa starts banging me on the back at any speed over 140k

(that is the internationally recognised signal for "go faster" isn't it?)

Not much ground clearance, slightly better than a Harley, takes some getting used to around round-abouts and sharp corners but it is definitely slowing me down so guess that part of the plan worked.
Bike is about half a metre longer than other bikes and you need to allow for this all the time, nearly bought the GSX1400 instead but thought this would be better for Jaffa as pillion.
I think with a decent rider (of which I do not class myself any longer, ego left long ago in the 70's with my quick two strokes) it would be a Hell of a ride and most riders around the world I have spoken to won't part with theirs for anything.

Magpie · « **Reply #18 on:** April 30, 2012, 07:25:19 PM »

Moan about replacing an air filter? Who me? Here's a couple of pics of under the shelter on my Goldwing. Under all that is the air filter.1- 2-3 hours maybe for the change? Cliff.

Hush · « **Reply #19 on:** April 30, 2012, 08:20:04 PM »

That's a busy looking office you have there Magpie.

Do you thing the Japs are playing hide the airfilter?
My old 650 was just pull sidecover and undo two screws, hey presto one cardboard cartridge, why make things so dang difficult.
It's like the first part on the production line was the airfilter and everything else got built around it, kinda like SOHC4 carbs.

grcamna2 · « **Reply #20 on:** April 30, 2012, 08:51:46 PM »

That reminds me of the labor it would take to replace the heater core on my Volvo 240DL sedan...it doesn't need it done yet,but she's a keeper so I imagine some day it will.

Terry in Australia · « **Reply #21 on:** April 30, 2012, 11:06:53 PM »

Hey Cliff, don't look now mate, but I think a couple of wheels have fallen off your car? Ha ha, when I had my other R100RS I pulled up at the lights beside a bloke on a shiney new BMW K1200LTSE. I said "G'Day", but he ignored me. We both took off and stopped at the next set of lights. I said "G'Day mate" a bit louder, but once again, he ignored me, pretending to be busy twiddling some of the knobs on his dash.

Hmmmmnnn........ Next set of lights I yelled out "HEY MATE!" He turned around and glanced at me with a look of disdain, and said "What?" to which I replied, "Don't look now mate, but I think a couple of wheels have fallen off your car!" Fcuk I laughed!

My Triumph Rocket III is actually really easy to work on, and to remove the air filter I just lift the seat (no tools required) and pop the filter cover off. Takes maybe 5 minutes? Easier than on my K1! I installed a New Jardine "Big Boss" exhaust, a Power Commander III USB and K&N filter in around 2 hours? It took longer to ride it over to the Triumph dealership and get it Dyno'd. (23 BHP increase and another 27 foot pounds of torque) Cheers, Terry.

grcamna2 · « **Reply #22 on:** May 01, 2012, 06:41:35 AM »

Terry,
That's the way a few guys treated me when I was 17 and had my RD350 Yamaha.They rode Harley's and I'd usually blow their doors in(they had stock engines)and they'd tell me "look..,now you ride in the back"..so I'd take a slow easy ride behind them..until the next stop light !

Terry in Australia · « **Reply #23 on:** May 01, 2012, 06:58:41 AM »

Ha ha, well I was born and raised in a small country town mate, and I only remember one Harley guy, he lived around the corner from me and had a 1960's Harley 74. His morning routine was to go outside and kick the living crap out of it for around 15 minutes, then give up and walk to work.

I honestly don't remember ever seeing him actually riding it, but back in those days owning anything other than a modern (for the era) Japanese bike was a "hit and miss" affair. I worked at a gas station after school and on weekends, and one day a guy came in on a brand spanking new Norton Commando. He wouldn't let me fill his tank as he was worried that I'd spill gas on it, so I just looked on as he filled that beautiful black tank, and stifled a boyish giggle when he managed to spill gas on it. As soon as the gas hit the "British Quality" paintwork, the paint immediately lifted!

Last thing I saw was him strutting thru the door of the dealership (across the road) waving his arms and gesticulating at his new bike. Cheers, Terry.

754 · « **Reply #24 on:** May 01, 2012, 07:43:29 AM »

I think those aircleaners are designed for the dealer to be able to book in Service work. When you want to build "better" v-twins, it gets complicated..

Terry, I did a quick search one day for Kicker equipped BMW RT's.. and there was scads of them... maybe not in OZ.. but a lot of the rest of the world...just saying..

tortelvis · « **Reply #25 on:** May 01, 2012, 07:50:56 AM »

I remember the first time I had to remove the carbs from a SOHC four using the ubiquitous Haynes manual. Imagine my expression when I turned to the section for removing the carbs to see this:

FIRST, REMOVE THE AIRBOX.

Really? And I do this how? That was the day I went out and bought an OEM service manual (for $5). Still a PITA but now we have ratchet tie downs so much simpler.

grcamna2 · « **Reply #26 on:** May 01, 2012, 08:42:02 AM »

Hush,
What's inside that triangle shaped chrome cover between the cylinders on the right side that looks like an air cleaner ?

Hush · « **Reply #27 on:** May 01, 2012, 03:20:19 PM »

Ah inscrutable Nippon trick played on Harley owners, it's just for show and holds the tool kit!

Actually with a little better planning they could have located the front air filter in there!

grcamna2 · « **Reply #28 on:** May 01, 2012, 03:32:28 PM »

That's for sure

.

Terry in Australia · « **Reply #29 on:** May 04, 2012, 07:29:36 PM »

Quote from: 754 on May 01, 2012, 07:43:29 AM

I think those aircleaners are designed for the dealer to be able to book in Service work. When you want to build "better" v-twins, it gets complicated..

Terry, I did a quick search one day for Kicker equipped BMW RT's.. and there was scads of them... maybe not in OZ.. but a lot of the rest of the world...just saying..

No worries Frank, I thought about converting mine when I first bought it, but then I found that I could buy the 450W alternator conversion which replaces the OEM 220W system, so no need now mate, I bought and installed the new alternator (rotor, stator, diode board, brushes, springs, regulator etc) and now that it pumps out 13.5V at 2000 RPM, I should never have a flat battery again! Cheers, Terry.

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Author Topic: Never ever moan about removing your airfilter again! (Read 3127 times)