Open intakes and water?

[caddman11]

I've been looking at modifying the intake on the old Nomad, but the one thing that keeps holding me back is "driving in a hard rain". How do you keep water out of the intake. Is it not an issue? I can understand putting a plastic bag over the air cleaner when washing, but I've always learned that water and gas don't mix.

[phenrichs]

It depends on what you mean by hard rain. If you are talking about putting on something that looks like the SS supercharger that people put on HD's then you will get a rain guage effect and it will collect water in HARD rain.
I have found on past machines with open style air cleaners that when the rain gets hard enough that I would be concerned about the air cleaner I have probably already pulled over. The position of the air cleaner protects it pretty well and the heat from the engine will help to keep it dry as well.
I used to ride a vmax which had large intake horns on each side of the "tank" area. they were about 6-8 inches tall and 3 inches wide. I rode in some pretty heavy rain with that and it seemed ok. It is surprising what they can handle.

[phenrichs]

Oh I think there was some mention of this either in an old post or on gadget's site too. you may check there.

[cactusjack]

I had the misfortune to ride my bike 150 miles or so in a heavy rain a couple of weeks ago. I have the K&N 9"x2" open air filter on the right side. No issues. I'm sure a "scoop" design where water could collect inside would be a different matter altogether.

A little bit of water won't hurt anything, it would be turned to steam in the combustion chamber and would clean carbon off the piston and valves.

I don't worry much about this because it rains very little where I live.

[doctorgski]

Cactusjack is correct. In the old days, they would spray water into the intake while the motor was running to bust up and clean carbon off the pistons and valves. Just remember, that's on the air side of the combustion, water in the gas side is a problem. ;)

[ringadingh]

I have an open K&N filter and Ive ridden in some very heavy downpours with no problems, Starting the bike after its been in a heavy rain has been a little harder but it always starts. I will cover it up with a bag if Im at work and a heavy thunderstorm is passing through.

[classic1]

I have the Cadmann mod and have ridden in downpours with no problems. The surface area of the filter is large enough to let some air through.

Having found a link on this site to the "Dragtron" air kit - I think I'm going to go with that. I like the look of it, and it looks like it would deal with rain well. My second choice would be a Thunder - they have always had good quality. I have never heard of anyone have problems with them in the rain.

[cactusjack]

Originally Posted by yridehd

Having found a link on this site to the "Dragtron" air kit - I think I'm going to go with that. I like the look of it, and it looks like it would deal with rain well. My second choice would be a Thunder - they have always had good quality. I have never heard of anyone have problems with them in the rain.

I know Thunder is not your first choice, but you should read this thread:
http://kawanow.proboards77.com/index...ay&thread=8663

[spirello]

I have the hypercharger pro series it is a big a$$ scoop and I have ridden in pouring down rain and hail never had a problem.