Good news about "pods"

And just to reiterate... I posted a video of my bike running, idling, revving etc. perfectly YEARS ago with pods and open exhaust. Now, approaching 25k miles later, it's running just the same. Surprise, no holed pistons, no backfiring, no misses or crappy acceleration, pulls strong through the entire power range straight to top speed. (id say redline but do not run a tach) My video has been reposted many times by others, but seems to get overlooked by the non believers.

P.S. I love stirring sh!t, and it's even better with video evidence to support my claims. Pods4life

 

im new to all this and now have an 82 xj750 rj and i'm restoring/modding it. but i was thinking, what if you put a shield around the pods, all of them.

basically have 1 oval piece of sheet metal mounted around all the carbs? I'm not too sure on what length it would need, probably a good point to start would be the same length from the base ot the pods to 1/4 in past the top of the pods.

would this create enough vaccum evenly for all the carbs to run the same?

 

There was a member (from England I think) that did something similar. His wrapped around the sides and top to about 1/4" from the ends of the pods. He only posted a few times and then dropped off. He never said anything about the tuning on his scooter...

skillet

 

bummer, i would imagine that it would have to help somewhat, cause your giving all the pods a central area for breathing

 

I was thinking about adding restriction and using the velocity stacks from the airbox.... w/ a combination of re-jetting..... my bikes way too lean + getting sick of too much downtime.... put my airbox back in.... maybe someday i'll mess with it again....

 

Update:

I took the front half of my air box, that I had held on to after cutting it out, cleaned it up and trimmed a little so I could get it back in without pulling the engine (had to still remove the starter). I installed stock springs and went to two shims at needle and kept the same main. Since this was an experiment I left it open at the air filter intake. Gave it a test run and had full throttle again. Checked the plugs and at mid and WOT they were a very light tan. Took it home and attached the stock filter with a thick bead of silicone. (I didn't really care if it would be a hindrance in the future, since silicone is easy to clean off and a filter is cheap, and would be better if the foam was gone. Then a mod could be done to make a better mating surface.) After that I went for a ride with the filter attached, the plugs were a perfect tan throughout the power band.

That was the first time I had to reinstall the carbs with the intake boots. :evil: OFMG! I am still thankful it worked, because I would rather rebuild an engine than wrestle with those carbs and a stock air box again! I don't know how you purists do it! God bless you!

The end scenario is that I still have the performance that was my ultimate goal in the first place, but it took the front air box chamber to allow the carbs to function. I don't regret anything, because I learned so much about motorcycles during this process. Had I not won those NOS MAC 4 to 1s for $30 on EBay in the first place, I wouldn't have opened this pandora's air box. I would still be an owner and not a mechanic if I hadn't though, so I cherish the entire experience.

I still love working on the bike in one way or the other even though it runs fine and looks good, because what do you do after you work on it? Ride it? Lol!

 

So after all that, the "good news about pods" turned out to be "put the airbox back in?" (The front half of it anyway.)

The front of the 550's airbox has this suction tube: http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=31872.html Did you eliminate it, or put a new filter in it?

 

Ah, yes! Couldn't help yourself, could you Fitz? (Redacted)

The air box had everything as it did stock. The only thing missing is the filter enclosure.

(Redacted)

(Redacted)

 

Nobody's being a prick.

You proclaimed "GOOD NEWS about pods" and I've been waiting to find out what the solution is; I have a couple of friends who are STILL struggling with them and I'm unable to do them any good. I'm open to suggestions, and yes, I've indeed read the entire thread.

I was HOPING maybe somebody did actually have some "good news." Unfortunately, you've seemingly learned the same lesson as the rest of us-- ain't no "good news" to be had.

You've proven it again; I didn't do anything except hope for some "new news" that didn't happen. The "fix" was reinstall the airbox, so no progress has been made in regards to pods.

Not trying to be a prick; just callling it like I see it. 'Twarnt no "good news about pods," you ended up putting your airbox back in.

 

I didn't bother to read your response Fitz, but I apologize for blowing up at you. I feel bad about it. You are an expert on our bikes.

 

No apologies needed; you're frustrated. Didn't turn out as planned. Endlessly struggling, pounding heads against the wall, looking for solutions...

That's WHY WE'RE HERE. To hopefully PREVENT some frustration, through sharing our real-world EXPERIENCE.

I understand that you thought, initially, that you would be sharing some positive experience in regard to pods, as you did it.

On the other hand, I DO HAVE some "pod experience" to share; unfortunately, it hasn't been a positive experience.

Sure, everybody could "find their own way." But that won't help them get their valves adjusted, clutch rebuilt, or their tach drive oil seals changed, will it? However, with some of the shared experience (and not just mine) avalilable here, that help is avaliable.

Unfortunately, sometimes the shared experience isn't what was hoped for. That's what happened to your thread. It's not because you didn't try; but Rick, myself, and others DO have experience to share in regard to pods. I apologize if it wasn't what you wanted to hear; and I wasn't trying to "rub in" the fact that you've now learned what we already knew from experience.

 

Mosh - thanks for detailing your journey for us. This is the kind of stuff that makes this forum invaluable. I tend to be very conservative in all of my views and that includes these old xj's - I like 'em stock. But I do love to watch what some of you guys do with your mods - very clever stuff. Thanks again.

 

I'm not trying to nit pick, but you said (Fitz) not to start this crazy dream without first adjusting valves and synching carbs. I did do that much and I wonder and bet that was a good portion of my new found horsepower.