Putting in K&N Pod air filters

Well. Why didn't I find about you all a year ago? My fault.

Just today when I found xjbikes.com for the first time, my K&N filters for '82 Seca arrived from Amazon. I had been figuring out the best way to cut out the air box this morning.

I read the thread about it and of course am worried.

I wanted to put them on because getting the carbs back in is so difficult for me...and the KN filters look pretty cool.

What is the best and the worst that could happen if I took out the air box and put them on?

Thanks. Bought the bike new in '85 or so.

Mike
Winchester VA

 

Since you have a Seca, my advise to you would be: Keep the airbox and get rid of the pods. If you had a Maxim I'd say go for the pods. The pods look cool but you'll lose performance on the high end of the power band unless you replace the CV carbs with some race style carbs.

 

Actually orange and black, you lose performance in the mid range. You gain performance in the top end, arguably of course. I will say however, stay with the airbox.

 

KEEP the airbox and return the K&N's. Get a new stock filter.

Honest.

 

I hear you, thanks. There's no turning back if I cut up the airbox for sure.

Any more experiences with these? Has anyone put the K&N pods on the stock carbs with acceptable results? Not worried about performance, just reasonable driveability.

Mike

 

Test your drivability then - similate the unrestricted airflow by loosening and retracting the 4 intake boots away from the carbs, go for a short test ride (no dirt roads!) and report back. Or test with the filter and lid off.

The airbox is worth saving intact.

 

You can get it to run fine. It is just a matter of your skills. If you have never done carb tuning it will be harder to do. Not impossible. Just jetting and adjustments to the needles and pilot screws. Not really something that can be done by the impatient, easily frustrated type of person.

 

Thanks, all. I'm going to double check I have that return form from Amazon for the pods!

Air Box Mike

 

Hi all, i want to remove my airbox and go with pods on a 1984 XJ 600 (pre-diversion). I've heard it can be a nightmare with performance issues etc. And since the engine has to come out to remove the airbox i'm seriously thinking about cutting it out (yes I hear all the cries of dispair!). So I test ran without the filter or the airbox side panel attached... the result? Not a bit of difference as far as I could tell, just throatier! If the vortex rubbers were removed from the carbs would this make a difference to the performance does anyone know? Cause i'm now thinking that my bike will run just fine with pods and no carb adjustments?? Any advice out there?? Also got a clutch question that I'll post in general chat.

 

Seriously, do a forum search for pods. This has been covered to death.

You'll find hundreds of these threads all over the place and the consensus is NO, as stated by the veterans above. The only workable solution I heard of is a combination of velocity stacks and a dynojet kit.

 

Thanks... nice answer! Of course I read all the threads... just thinking that someone who has a clue what they're doing just might want to help out!
And I don't think that the consensus is NO, plenty of riders have had success with pods and I just want to be one of them! Seriously! :evil:

 

It might have "run fine" but what you aren't noticing is how lean the engine was running.... As OnB, streetbrawler, and sektorgaz stated: some people are somewhat successful, but they are very few and far between...

 

Removing the airbox sounds like a very, very bad idea but sadly, for me, it was done by a PO so it's out of my hands
Spares are very hard to come by over here in the UK so I am forced to find a way to make pods work as well as they can

Lots of trial & error seems to be the only solution 'til you hit the right combination

On a slightly different tack, is there a way to restrict the airflow to match that of the OE filter?

 

You could make a custom airbox or try a breadbox filter. Just remember to put a velocity stack between the carbs and the box or pods if you go that route.

 

Thanks, I'll look into that

 

My airbox was gone when I got my 750. Each carb has it's own filter. Seems to run fine that way, but I'm no expert, just love to ride.

 

keep an eye on your plugs, expect it to run lean.

 

Solid advice. Stay on top of the valve clearances and read the plugs regularly. The XJ motors LOVE being too lean right until they blow up.

It does happen, we were just discussing this in the thread by the guy that may have just blown up a 550.

Ignorance is not bliss in this circumstance.

 

I always puzzles me why folks play around with the setup of engines. It seems to me that the really smart engineers that designed, developed, and tested the machine had a good reason for setting it up the way it came. So, for me it's always stock or nothing.

 

I'm reminded of that every time the tach hits 10K...

 

Keep it stock....you will only have problems going to pod air filters......trust those that tell you this.......rejetting is a strong possibility & re-vacuum sync'ing & colortune the plugs is just the start of the headaches you will incur if switching from stock airbox to pods......

 

Come on,Not everybody that has pods has a lean running bike.
It is difficult to tune it right, can be a PITA. Read this: http://www.xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic ... ories.html

 

I have pods on mine for 4 years now. I have no stack plates or have not changed any jets. Screws are set at 2 1/4 turns and I still get 43 miles to the gallon which I was getting with the stock air box, A lot of people have problems with the pods and a lot have had success. In the end its up to you,