Topic: STEEL DRAGON AIR BOX ?

[FlyingLowStevo]

Anybody have experience with Steel Dragon Performance's sweet looking single airbox ?
http://www.steeldragonperformance.com/air_boxes_7.html

I scrapped the stock one from my 78 CB550K barnfind (I know, I know, they work great...)
Sending out the carbs to Harisuluv for rebuild & need to make some decisions about jetting...
Just read the long thread on Velocity Stacks & Pod filters......
Perhaps this airbox would be a better & less problematic option for my Cafe Racer build.

Any advice on this setup?  tips for optimum Carb Jetting, etc ?   
Much appreciated & Happy New Year from this Newbee in Poughkeepsie   


 

[Jkstull]

I don't know anything about it, but the 2 into 4 boxes look great. I'd try emailing the company and see what jetting would be required. Post what you find and keep us updated. I'm curious to learn more.

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[BomberMann650]

It is a gorgeous and functional filter.

You might end up with 105 jets, depends on your exhaust pipes

[Scott S]

I scrapped the stock one from my 78 CB550K barnfind (I know, I know, they work great...)

 Should have saved it....
 Someone here would have bought it. And you'll be looking for it later on, more than likely.

[gwallis]

I have one on my 1976 CB550.  Very good quality.

I did have to go to the next larger main jet... and I got much better results when I covered the top holes with a black plastic material.  It was running much too lean without covering the top of the 4 into 1 air filter.

All in all the bike runs great with my current 'setup'!

[Scott S]

 I never understood the guys that run pods and such "for better breathing" and then tape up or otherwise restrict them. To each his own, I guess.

[gwallis]

Tapping the top of the Steel Dragon was just a quick fix as opposed to removing the carbs (again) to add larger mains.  I had to find out if the 4 into 1 air filter was going to work... or return it.

I am sure if I had went one more size larger on the jets it would have corrected the lean condition.  However, covering the the top holes made the bike run so much better I decided to leave it alone for the rest of the season.  Planning on pulling the carbs and adjusting the jets some time soon.

I mentioned the using the tape only to confirm that anyone using this air filter will need to rework the main jets.

[FlyingLowStevo]

I have one on my 1976 CB550.  Very good quality.

I did have to go to the next larger main jet... and I got much better results when I covered the top holes with a black plastic material.  It was running much too lean without covering the top of the 4 into 1 air filter.

All in all the bike runs great with my current 'setup'!

Looks from your photo that I have the same 4 into 1 exhaust.
So what size Main jets would you be using without covering the top of the air filter? 
Also mine is a '78 so the carbs are not the same I think.  Maybe 2 sizes up on the main jets ?


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[Scott S]

The only TRUE way to answer that question is to do proper plug chops.
 Don't even try to tune the carbs until the 3K mile tune up is done, though. And anything he did on his carbs won't directly relate to the PD series carbs.
 Short answer: stock up on jets and spark plugs and be prepared to R&R the carbs a few times.

 I will say that in my experience the PD carbs don't run as lean as everyone thinks. But I was using the stock air box (but with other engine mods: P&P head, CB650 cam, 4-1 exhaust, UNI filter in stock air box).

[garyS-NJ]

Don't listen to the fearmongers.  Its not that hard to jet a carb.  Pods, jetting, and exhaust wakes up a bike.  Stacks work too but are less streetable.  That dragon box looks nice

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[FlyingLowStevo]

I scrapped the stock one from my 78 CB550K barnfind (I know, I know, they work great...

 Should have saved it....
 Someone here would have bought it. And you'll be looking for it later on, more than likely.

Actually have the stock plastic air box but trashed the rubber stacks going into it cause they were so dry and rigid, got frustrated trying to get the box out so cut them out (My bad!) Anyone know of a source for replacements?
Still like the clean look of Steel Dragon unit, but wondering about performance. Their integral stacks seem kind of short in order to fit the air box in front of the diagonal frame member & not behind it as the stock air box/filter is positioned.
Thoughts?

[FlyingLowStevo]

The only TRUE way to answer that question is to do proper plug chops.
 Don't even try to tune the carbs until the 3K mile tune up is done, though. And anything he did on his carbs won't directly relate to the PD series carbs.
 Short answer: stock up on jets and spark plugs and be prepared to R&R the carbs a few times.

 I will say that in my experience the PD carbs don't run as lean as everyone thinks. But I was using the stock air box (but with other engine mods: P&P head, CB650 cam, 4-1 exhaust, UNI filter in stock air box).

Thanks Bro... I guess I'm just trying to figger out what jets to start out with since Harisuluv is doing the rebuild with new jets and I'm leaning in the direction of that new fancy air box...  get her up running, then trial & error over time.


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[FlyingLowStevo]

Don't listen to the fearmongers.  Its not that hard to jet a carb.  Pods, jetting, and exhaust wakes up a bike.  Stacks work too but are less streetable.  That dragon box looks nice

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Thanks for the encouragement Bro!
Got a long way to go, but having fun : )
Living out my boyhood dreams now that I'm a senior...

[FlyingLowStevo]

The only TRUE way to answer that question is to do proper plug chops.
 Don't even try to tune the carbs until the 3K mile tune up is done, though. And anything he did on his carbs won't directly relate to the PD series carbs.
 Short answer: stock up on jets and spark plugs and be prepared to R&R the carbs a few times.

 I will say that in my experience the PD carbs don't run as lean as everyone thinks. But I was using the stock air box (but with other engine mods: P&P head, CB650 cam, 4-1 exhaust, UNI filter in stock air box).

Hey Scott,
Assuming the stock stacks are engineered as optimum length (between stock airbox & carbs) could anyone measure that length  to compare to the Steel Dragon setup?
Am I even making sense here?


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[Scott S]

 Didn't say it couldn't be done. Just said there's no cheat sheet for it. Jets-R-Us, Sirius Consolidated or 4into1.com all have jets. Stick with genuine Keihin when possible and order up a few sizes up and down.

[FlyingLowStevo]

Didn't say it couldn't be done. Just said there's no cheat sheet for it. Jets-R-Us, Sirius Consolidated or 4into1.com all have jets. Stick with genuine Keihin when possible and order up a few sizes up and down.

Will do


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[Scott S]

The only TRUE way to answer that question is to do proper plug chops.
 Don't even try to tune the carbs until the 3K mile tune up is done, though. And anything he did on his carbs won't directly relate to the PD series carbs.
 Short answer: stock up on jets and spark plugs and be prepared to R&R the carbs a few times.

 I will say that in my experience the PD carbs don't run as lean as everyone thinks. But I was using the stock air box (but with other engine mods: P&P head, CB650 cam, 4-1 exhaust, UNI filter in stock air box).

Hey Scott,
Assuming the stock stacks are engineered as optimum length (between stock airbox & carbs) could anyone measure that length  to compare to the Steel Dragon setup?
Am I even making sense here?


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 I don't have a bike with PD carbs anymore. And it's not as much about the length of the velocity stacks as it is the chamber of still air that the stock air box/plenum has to pull from. You lose that plenum AND you're introducing changes that may (or may not) make the bike leaner or richer.

[seanbarney41]

You can try everything including sticking a tuba on your carbs, but nothing is going to make more power than the stock air box...Until you modify the cylinder head internally.  The airflow obstruction is in the head.  The stock air box provides ample still, laminar air for well beyond stock airflow and power level s

[flatlander]

Tapping the top of the Steel Dragon was just a quick fix as opposed to removing the carbs (again) to add larger mains.

that sounds over complicated. you don't need to remove the carbs to change jets, just drop the bowls.

[Scott S]

Tapping the top of the Steel Dragon was just a quick fix as opposed to removing the carbs (again) to add larger mains.

that sounds over complicated. you don't need to remove the carbs to change jets, just drop the bowls.

 I got to where I could R&R the carbs quicker than I could pull the bowls on the bike!
 But....that said....with pods or an air box like this, you could have the carbs off in about two minutes.

[flatlander]

ah yes, didn't consider pods etc (i'm still in good old airbox land) in which case removing would be as quick or quicker than fiddling a piece of plastic to the right size and sticking it inside that filter box!

[sixthwisconsin]

I'm running the same air box on a 1974 cb550k0 with 022A carbs. I switched from a "TinTop" filter which I had problems with fitment but loved the design.
I have a 550f header a 12" cone engineering reverse megaphone.
Jets are 125 main and 40 pilot with the needle third up from full rich and air screws at 1.5. I think I'm pretty close but I was fat on the idle circuit and just went back to 40.

[madmtnmotors]

Don't listen to the fearmongers.  Its not that hard to jet a carb.

Then why do so many struggle with it and so few get it right?

[garyS-NJ]

Factory pro has rule of thumb stuff to get you in the area, perhaps right on.  I like what sean barney said about the tuba and I hear him a little but i think factory tunes for emissions and quietness and all around rideability for your average Joe and everything is a compromise.  I kinda remember air intake restricts before exhaust, but opening up your exhaust will make it run leaner (because more air).  And more air is more horsepower.  And so after intake, jetting, and exhaust, the next improvement (still a compromise, you might loose some idle or low end torque), is a cam change..  Then you could start flowing your head and changing valves but that's out there with higher compression pistons, bigger bore, stroke...  Cheapest hp gains are bigger displacement bike to start with. 

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[garyS-NJ]

Maybe people struggle because they don't think or research.  And for whatever reason, a lot of folks don't share their results

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