air filters

[dfunkesq]

Has anyone ever tried to get rid of the air box and put in individual air filters on each carb?? If so, which filters did you use?

[gearheadfla]

Has anyone ever tried to get rid of the air box and put in individual air filters on each carb?? If so, which filters did you use?

Haven't done that no, but I am running a K&M filter in place of the paper stock type one.

[Mr Jensee]

If you do that it is isn't likely you will improve the performance of a touring bike. The original filter and box were designed for the best overall breathing of the bike. If you go to pods you will have to rejet and that is a trial and error issue to get it to idle and run right.

[dfunkesq]

I am not looking for any performance change. I am rebuilding the carbs and what a pain in the butt the air box is to take out, I bet its even harder to put back in, so I was just trying to make things a bit more simple.

[doug of so fla]

One tip to help make the job easier is the rear rubber hoses that need to be inserted in the box , wrap a string or shoelace around the groove in them and lube them a little and pull them thru the hole. You probably already found the one bolt that is kinda hidden to get the box off..

[Mr Jensee]

I had the same problem pulling the carbs off a ZRX1100 Kawasaki. You think the Voyager was hard?? What I ended up doing to reinstall was using silicone spray to lube up the carb boots on the filter side. I also had to put the clamps on the box side before I put on the carbs. It took nearly 2 hours and numerous four letter words before I got them on. Actually I know of very few in-line 4 cylinder bikes that removing and reinstalling carbs on are ever easy.

[SgtSlag]

If the Voyager has Constant Velocity (CV) carbs, putting pods on will NOT work. Honda's iconic CB750's were equipped with CV Keihin carbs, starting in '79, with the advent of the DOHC engines. Pods worked great on the CB750 SOHC's, with non-CV carbs, but they cannot be made to work on the CV's, period, no matter how you jet them. The issue is that the CV carbs are very sensitive to proper vacuum balance, which is achievable with the OEM air box, only.

This may, or may not, apply to the V-XII. I'd suggest asking Carl Leo. His contact information is listed at the top of the forum listings. Cheers!

[ekap1200]

I would have to agree with Sgtslag on this one. Keep it stock, and like everything on the XII , once you do the task once, the second time is a snap. If you keep this job clean and back together stock, you shouldn't have to take them off for many,many miles. Iv'e found if you keep good fuel filter changes, drain the carb bowls routinely, and take extreme care in the simple task of air filter replacement you can go 50 thousand miles without a carb rebuild. Gene Kap.

[gearheadfla]

I had a 1100 Yamaha V-twin that would not even start without the stock air filter on it, I found that out when I put a set of pipes on it and re jetted the carbs, I just wanted to hear it before I got the air cleaner on and she would not start, freaked me out just after I had the carbs all apart I went ahead and put the air box and cleaner back on and she fired right up. Sounded good too.