Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums Performance Mods K&N Pod Problem

Ok, folks -- I have a stupid problem and would like some suggestions before I do something even dumber.

I did the Ghetto Freak. Works like a charm, except... the #$%@#$^ pods keep popping off!

I've had it happen sitting still or at speed. Wet or dry. With the clamp tight or loose, or somewhere in the middle... but it's really #$%@$%@$^ annoying now!

So, any suggestions on how to keep 'em on? I'm afraid to score up the edge of the carb mouth (that just seems like it's asking for trouble)... maybe a little rubber cement on the edge? Or some grip tape?

Suggestions?

--Jaeger

Sounds like you over tightened them and maybe deformed the opening that fits the carb. I have never had that problem with either of our bikes , our pods stay on unless removed by me. You could maybe wrap a piece of flashing around the carb then clamp the pod over it, that may stop it from slipping off.

2 things....

did you buy a left and a right pod?..they should have 2 different model numbers.

do you have left on left right on right?

Also when you cut the airbox did you leave enough room for the pods?...if the airbox is touching the pod slightly then the vibration from the carbs moving back and forth would wiggle the pods loose.

Also did you ad a carb brace? also could be a problem.

I had this sorta problem when i had the 180 turn pipes on the filters. That offset each filter has is needed for clearance.

There isnt much on the carb to hold pods but its enough to hold it when theyre hooked up properly.

Yes, I have R/L pods -- which I've reversed so they fit around the center post better. (This was actually the suggestion of someone else on here, I think.) Should I try swapping them? (I mean, will it make a diff?)

Originally when I did the Ghetto Freak, no, I didn't leave enough room -- a little fussing with a saw and a file fixed that pretty quickly. Right now there is 100% clearance around the pods.

No, I did not add a carb brace -- for vertical support I've been using (heh) a zip tie. Seems to work pretty well (never had the carbs pop, anyway) but I'll strongly consider the brace if folks think it'll make a big diff. They do vibrate a little when the bike runs, but i think they do that regardless... right?

--Jaeger

Yeah, keep the offsets to go around the frame. I coulda sworn that way was R on R and L on L though?

If youre saying the pods arent hitting the box at all Then Im guessing carb brace maybe. I know my carbs move alot back and forth even with a brace, so im thinking you'd have up and down movement maybe without a brace that you would wanna get rid of.

Of course I rode without a carb brace for a while after chopping my airbox because i didnt know you needed a brace. And my filters never fell off.

See i had alot of problems with my pods just because when i bought it i had the 180 turns which ruined the filter coupling. It pinched the filter inlet inward to the point where it couldnt fit around the carb anymore and split. So for a while i had a rubber coupling hose clamped around the filter inlet and then clamped around the carb. So you could do that if youre desperate to ride or something. But it will deform the filter inlet eventually.

maybe this will help... Filter Sealing Grease

actually on that link it says "not to be used with clamp on filters"

it seems like that grease stuff is more like a sealant without being an adhesive so it'd probably make the filter slip off more and not glue on.

A turn buckle with a hook on one end and an eye on the other makes a very good carb brace. Hook the hook on where the freak carb brace would go (The rigid tube going between the top of the carbs towards the rear.) and bolt the eye to the engine mount.

I don't have the ghetto freak - I have a homemade battery box, but the issues are the same. On my first set I tightened them down too hard and deformed the mating surfaces so that they just wouldn't stay on the carbs. Don't over-tighten and make sure all mating surfaces are clean and dry.

Also, as a safety precaution, I ran a safety wire to the upper motormount. One time a filter came loose and just hung there resting against the carb. I almost didn't notice it was loose. But I didn't lose it.

also jaeger, another thing I did was use a wider hose clamp...the ones that come with the k&n are sorta thin..so if youre tightening them down and theyre not at the very edge of the filter then its actually squeezing it off.

If you use a wider clamp it sorta provides pressure down toward the end of the inlet and provides more squeeze to the very end of the filter coupling and then across the whole width of the filter flange. With the amount of carb you have to grip on to, you need all the pressure at the very end of the filter and not the middle...ya know?..haha

+ 1, I put regular hose clamps on and haven't had a problem since.

Carb brace, ya gotta stop the bouncing. I made mine out of a strip of aluminum (from an old pa rack mount) with a drill, hacksaw and file. Took about 35 minutes, problem solved.

I've had the same thing happen a time or two, you're not alone. Seems like good suggestions mentioned above. The times it fell off, I'd overtightened the clamp, and I believe had it (clamp) out of position on the carb mouth.

Thinking of which, a few years ago I'd let the filter get pretty dirty and after cleaning with the K/N kit was surprised how much heavier the "before & after" filters were, Yikes!! Instead of routine cleaning this last time, I simply ordered a new set.

Good luck

jh

I had the same problem, my solution was a little different and i dont know for sure if all the years use the same carbs but, there are 2 little nipples 1 on each side of the carb not sure why they are even there. They are only about 1/4 in in from the intake, and seemed to be stopping the pod from going over the opening far enough to seat good. Anyway took my mototool with cut off wheel and zipped them off took about 1 minute each carb and havent had any problem sence. Mines an 07 not sure if only the newer models have that or what......

Thats a good idea...i always hated how those little pieces stuck up and didnt let you wrap the filter all the way around. I gotta choke up some confidence to take the dremel to the carbs though....(shot of vodka for a steady hand of course)..haha

yea, i was alittle nervouse when i did it, you cant see the inside ones all that well ...just have to go with the feel and a shot..

Cool. Thanks for the input, folks -- the wider clamps seem like the most immediate and easiest fix to start with. I've been avoiding the carb brace simply because I like being able to pop the carbs off by just removing the pods and the boots...

Thankfully, the way they arey currently, if/when they fall off they get caught by the remnants of the airbox -- an added benefit, it turns out. Considering it's happened at highway speeds and taken me a few minutes to notice, it's a a bloody good thing.

As for "working like a charm," yeah, I really meant just the airbox mod. All I can tell ya is -- it works great -- until it doesn. :P

The stops on the carb seem like good things to me, and I've no intentions of getting rid of them... yet. Let's hope the new clamps and maybe a carb brace solve the problem, eh?

I'll let you guys know how it goes.

Cheers!
--Jaeger

I think the carb brace will do you some good. hey man, when might you be free for a ride?