Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums Performance Mods air filter/pods---HELP...please...

well I got the pods I wanted but when ya try to tighten the clamp they just pop off....is there a "trick" that I'm missing or better yet a solution. Been work'n on bikes over thirty years, just don't want to go the glue/adhesive/safety wire route---unless there's no other option. thanks....

Got a picture of the INSIDE of the rubber connector? sometimes theres a ridge in them that can help OR hinder.. I actually cut them off before and they stayed on..

TrOjAn

Judging by the pictures, it looks like you forgot to put them on the carbs first.
Sorry, couldn't resist...

Are they identical?
Swap 'em over R/L?

Looks like they are round and would hit the frame to me. That would be why they pop off. The opening could be another reason or the location of the clamp, if the clamp isn't right over the rim of the carb but slightly behind it then the clamp will push the filter off.

they are identical r/l. they are not big enough to hit the frame. they fit just right but as you tighten the clamp....they slide right off. if the carb had a slight lip/edge that ya kinda worked 'em over it'd be perfect. thanks, guess i'll dig into my bag of tricks and come up with an answer...just like the good old days...for now an old pair of socks will have to do....

even the K&N pods slip off if you over tighten the clamp, try using a little less pressure, just snug tight.

I agree with Dave. I have the same filters and overtightening will make em pop off.

Too bad these don't have threads on the back like the old Amals did. There was a collar you could thread on the back of those to give you a wider clamping surface

Yeah Dog, I hear that. I've used these before on some old bikes--like the style--its win/lose, tighten too much...pop off...not enough...vibrate off. Learned to use a safety wire so when they did jump I didn't have to turn around to pick 'em up. Just seems the newer ['07]carbs have a smooth non stepped edge. A little frustrating, but when yer chop'n up your ride ya gotta go with the flow...

A possible solution?

Never tried 'em, but they've been around for a while

Or one of these

Or maybe one like a Fernco?

I had the same pods - you have to carefully seat 'em on the carb and hold them there while you carefully tighten the clamp just enough to get a good seal . It's easy .

I have those same filters or similar (UNI's). Haven't bothered to spend the time on a solution after trying to install them one winter.
One problem is they are soft. They compress when you crank hard on the throttle, then expand when you let off. In other words, they try to jump off. I considered building a cage to hold them on, I even bought 2 large freeze plugs from work with the idea of using them to retain the ends of the filters.
Seems to me you would have to come up with some sort of adapter - rubber to clamp to the carb and metal to give you enough surface to clamp the filter tight. But the added weight and length might just cause the problem all over again. I'm no engineer....

In other words, I have no answer, but I feel your pain...

I ended up cutting 2 peices of 2" copper pipe about 3/4 of an inch long to fit inside the hub so it cant collapse worked like a champ.