Topic: Has anyone tried this before?

[Deltarider]

Maybe this is an idea. When the maid was hoovering around the legs of my deskchair (shoo, shoo, girl, can't you see bossy is busy?!), I couldn't help noticing a tiny window on top of her vacuum cleaner. Whenever one of my papers would block her nozzle an orange coloured piece of plastic appeared in that window. Activated by underpressure, it's in fact an indicator that tells her when to replace the dustbag inside by a new one. Wouldn't it be nice if we had a similar indicator that informs us whether an airfilter element is still good or has reached the end of it's lifetime. I believe the type of plenum that's on my CB 500 offers a possibility for just that. Have a look at the picture of that plenum, if you like. At the bottom there's a small tube attached ment to drain any fluids from the plenum. What if I - temporary - extend that tube and attach a simple vacuummeter at it's end. I could go for a testride and check at various speeds and RPM's if there's any significant change in underpressure in the plenum. I could compare the values of a new element with those of the old ones I still have and proof they're still 'open' enough. Now I myself will not ride shortly (it's still too cold here) but if anybody wants to perform this experiment, I will be very interested in testresults. Just a tube and a simple manometer. If you have a set of manometers (to sync carbs), you could use one of those. Or am I talking crap and will differences be to small to notice?

After defining the treshold value one could change the vacuummeter for a whistle that starts whistling whenever an airfilter is done (kind of pivot tube)
(No officer, I wasn't whistling at you)

[Bob Wessner]

We have a vacuum here at home that displays the same indicator. Bear in mind, the fact that the indicator displays this is because it is restricting airflow (vacuum). The vacuum also has several different levels of vacuum depending on what your are cleaning. On it highest vacuum level, e.g. deep carpet, more of the indicator shows. It seems to me, it would be a lot easier to simply change the air filter at the prescribed intervals. Just my two cents though.

[Deltarider]

Yes, but so far I succesfully doubled my intervals with stock filterelements! And there's a lot of discussion in this forum about airfilters, snorkels and restriction. That's why I've asked if anybody did the scientific approach.

[bryanj]

A lot of commercial vehicles already have this facility as a simple indicator in the induction tract

[Johnny5]

Snag a K&N and clean between intervals? Save money over time.


I like your idea though.

[jonbuoy]

You have a maid?? 

[FLo]

You have a maid?? 

Is she ugly?  They clean better. 

As far as your experiment, I'm keeping this thread on email notify.  Very interesting stuff.

[Sporkfly]

You have a maid?? 

Is she ugly?  They clean better. 

And then you're not tempted to... Erm... Interrupt her work.

Personally I'd just go with a filter you can clean or replace with a stock element at the interval. I'd say that's a pretty tried and true method.

[Alan F.]

At the day job, a machine I maintain has pressure sensors that compare inlet and plenum pressure of a vacuum system's filter.  Simple vacuum operated switches are available, and the electronics to compare the two readings and light an LED signaling when there's a significant difference should present no challenge in present company, but we'd need to know what pressure is measured on each side of a clean filter so as to select the correct sensors.... I smell another project....RUN!!!!

[upperlake04]

We have a vacuum here at home that displays the same indicator. Bear in mind, the fact that the indicator displays this is because it is restricting airflow (vacuum). The vacuum also has several different levels of vacuum depending on what your are cleaning. On it highest vacuum level, e.g. deep carpet, more of the indicator shows. It seems to me, it would be a lot easier to simply change the air filter at the prescribed intervals. Just my two cents though.

 For a Global Moderator of the worlds' largest sohc site, you seem to know a lot about vacuum cleaners...

[Bob Wessner]

 

[heffay]

Maybe this is an idea. When the maid was hoovering around the legs of my deskchair,

i'm sorry... i just couldn't make it past here ^      awesome, props.

[kerryb]

Thankyou Jonbouy for inserting the perfect comment at the perfect time...I'm still laughing...thankyou!

[strynboen]

hey delta..here is the vaccum unit i had on my farming  Machinery..a clayson combine..it are koupled in on a line to the front of the airfilter..and vill give a indikation of the heigest vaccum the engine have made in the intake..and Lock on it..some units vill just Lock a red dot..vho can be redone by press a relese buttom..and the unit vill zero aut..dont think a thanging in vaccum bu driving the bike vil make problems for the unit..it Lock on the heigest possibel vaccum..and then Lock on that..

but diesel engines have a regulator..and is stabilesed a bit more then motorcykles..so" spike" vaccums vill been more often  often on bikes

[Deltarider]

Thanks mate. It's actually the degree of underpressure I'm interested in. Yours measures in ?in H₂O? I must confess I've actually never tested my idea with one of my vacuum meters because I would expect such a light degree of underpressure would not show on my meters, but I will try next week. I'll do some tests by manually closing the intake and see what readings that will result in. If anyone knows what underpressure is still exceptable and what not, please, I like to learn.

[strynboen]

 vaccumcyncro ..vill give a heiger mesurings ,,as it take the vaccum in front of the venturi..engine side...to make a messuring in front of the filter element vill give a mutch different..but think you can use the same meters to.do the job..mine can take both pressure and vaccum..and is the thepy set..but do a fine job(..vhen i adjust them all to same reading on one kaburator..)..i use them any 4 year or less..all rubber boots rotten avay betveen the using

[Deltarider]

I'll try. It's just a fun experiment. I like these simple things. I still fantasize of a very simple transparent vinyl tube to be placed between two vacuum measuring holes with a steel ball inside the tube that must be kept in the middle to have two carbs synced. The vinyl tube must ofcourse offer just enough drag so the steel ball can move but dampened.

[strynboen]

i vas thinking to ..just konnekt all intakes togerther to align vaccum..if it vorks its a simpel easy vay to get the same vaccum..but then you can not finetune eatch cylender...but do ve need it..to get a normal ride..even vith four caburettors

[madmtnmotors]

In eight years you haven't built one yet?     

[scottly]

I'll try. It's just a fun experiment. I like these simple things. I still fantasize of a very simple transparent vinyl tube to be placed between two vacuum measuring holes with a steel ball inside the tube that must be kept in the middle to have two carbs synced. The vinyl tube must ofcourse offer just enough drag so the steel ball can move but dampened.

A steel ball is too heavy, and the tube used in standard floating ball type flow meters has a very slight taper. To measure low pressure differentials, a manometer is used. One can be constructed easily with a length of vinyl tubing using water as a working fluid.
 

[Deltarider]

In eight years you haven't built one yet?     

I'd rather be lazy than tired.  Thanks Scottly, for the PDF. That will keep me busy for the rest of this rainy Sunday.

[Deltarider]

Good Lord! I think I prefer the rain...

[Old Moe Toe]

I can't believe you have started a thread about vacuum cleaners!
Don't you know what they SAY about men with vacuum cleaners?.

[Deltarider]

Well, I couldn't blame the maid for using one, now could I?