Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums Performance Mods K&N Filter Trouble

Does anyone else have a problem getting the K&N's to stay on? What is the trick?

Rich

Several tricks, one is thoroughly degrease the carburetor mating connection, as well as degrease the inner diameter of the Pod throad. Also consider a strategically-placed dab of RTV, then just seat the filter onto the carburetor as squarely as possible, then tighten the clamp down. Don't tighten the clamp down too much though, as it's possible to distort the rubber, which will compound the problem.

Michael covered how to keep them on. If you're not running your stock covers, this is how you can keep from losing them:

Man that sux a $300 mod and the filters blow off so you have to have that ugly wire holding them on. Am I missing something here? Is this a Freak or no?

Nothing wrong with the mod itself, just a little extra attention to detail that's all. Me personally, I've only had a pod fall off once (after dealer service) and that's after almost 20,000 miles.

I don't want to get scared away from the mod. It's my next big move.

Do it!!!!! Spend the money, install, weep with joy like a little girl with a new doll when you whack the throttle open and your intake actually drowns out your exhaust. Build an altar, don the sun god robes, and sacrifice your airbox afterwards. It's all good.

Allah is that you? I'm coming. I must muster up some cheese first and then I shall weep at all with airboxes. In the mean time... I must suffer.
Thanx because I got worried for a split second.

I don't have the freak, I have a one-off battery relocation box under the seat. Shortly after installing the battery box I lost two K&N filters. One disappeared and one was destroyed in highway traffic (still have it). I was desperate, hence the safety wire. It's crude but it works. In fact it saved the right side filter on three separate occasions in British Columbia last month, but I got through the entire Idaho Invasion without any trouble. Eventually I'll design a better solution. If I had the Freak and the stock covers I may not need the wire; for all I know the stock covers would keep a loose filter from being lost.

I did notice that the wire does ride high enough to where you probably can't see it with the tank on. I'm not dumpin on it. I swear, I just was amazed that for $300 you would have a problem like that. You know sorta like a brand new bike thats airbox explodes. Puzzleing huh?
I'm jealous because I don't have one.

Mine on the right side would pop off at first, the little dab of RTV and tighten them good, no problems for two years now.

Quote:

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for all I know the stock covers would keep a loose filter from being lost.

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Yup, they'll catch the filter, ask me how I know?

Reid, using black wire instead of red would be hardly noticable.

Thanks Pat, I'll try it tonight.

One suggestion, on a previous thread, was to completely loosen the mounting clamp and this allowed the K&N filter to slide on an extra 1/8" to 1/4 " more and they were secure after that. I would at least try that before I started wiring and putting glop all over the joint.