Almost FREE "cool" air mod

[Dlweeds]

I haven't seen anyone mention this mod so thought I would share. I opened up the stock left side air cleaner cover to get outside air into the intake. I don't have any dyno numbers to substantiate any improvements, but it's got to help some.

Did it for about $15, and half of that was a can of Graphite colored paint and a roll of pinstripe tape.

[blowndodge]

There is a filter behind that right?

[Dlweeds]

Originally Posted by blowndodge

There is a filter behind that right?

Yes. The one photo was taken before the filter was installed.

[vaquero convert]

How does she run now based on your seat-of-the-pants dyno?

[Dlweeds]

Originally Posted by vaquero convert

How does she run now based on your seat-of-the-pants dyno?

It seems to pull a little stronger, but hard to say definitively. My before and after rides were six months apart due to living on the frozen tundra.

[0vationdave]

what did you use for the screen?

[ta-kid]

This has been done before by Ray in Florida who has done a lot of experimenting with air flow and dyno tests.He has shown an actual slight power loss with his tests doing this with stock air box.But I know he relates a lot of peak numbers in his testing with wide open throttle runs.It may well be a bit more responsive and more torque at lower rpm,but he has proven a loss at higher rpm.

[Dlweeds]

Originally Posted by 0vationdave

what did you use for the screen?

Picked up a piece of perforated steel at the local steel supply house.

[Dlweeds]

Originally Posted by ta-kid

This has been done before by Ray in Florida who has done a lot of experimenting with air flow and dyno tests.He has shown an actual slight power loss with his tests doing this with stock air box.But I know he relates a lot of peak numbers in his testing with wide open throttle runs.It may well be a bit more responsive and more torque at lower rpm,but he has proven a loss at higher rpm.

That could very well be true, but since i don't ride at WOT all that often, low end torque is more suited for my riding. I was also hoping there might be slightly lower operating temps due to the somewhat cooler air.

[cactusjack]

That "cool air" is getting sucked through a tube that passes between the cylinders on its way to the intake on the right side. I think that probably negates any perceived cooling benefit.

[dshelly]

Not real sure what Ma Kaw was thinking when she designed that air tube between the cylinders. More power and cool air have been known to go together since the invention of the internal combustion engine.

If you really want some more low end torque, I think chuckster makes a true right side intake for the 1700's .

[dmyers]

I wonder if any one has tried doing a similar mod to the right side cover.
You would have to block of several holes. I suppose if you have the talent to make that work, You could fabricate you're own intake though.

[Dlweeds]

Originally Posted by cactusjack

That "cool air" is getting sucked through a tube that passes between the cylinders on its way to the intake on the right side. I think that probably negates any perceived cooling benefit.

True. But before the mod it's being pulled from between the cylinders, then routed back through again, to the right side. Only making one pass through there should have SOME impact on the air temp.

Not ideal, but what do you expect for a couple hours time and practically no money.

[RACNRAY]

Originally Posted by Dlweeds

I haven't seen anyone mention this mod so thought I would share. I opened up the stock left side air cleaner cover to get outside air into the intake. I don't have any dyno numbers to substantiate any improvements, but it's got to help some.

Did it for about $15, and half of that was a can of Graphite colored paint and a roll of pinstripe tape.

Substantially opening up the left side cover to increase airflow will only offer very small improvements but ONLY at very low speed/small throttle openings. At larger throttle openings and higher rpm the air "chokes" as it tries to flow thru the cross tube. When I did my mod to the left cover waaay back in 2011 the dyno results showed this to me, and the diameter of the hole I made was substantially smaller than what you did. @ 2200 rpm there was a 1.4hp/3 pnd loss in torque. @ 2,750rpm a loss of 1hp and 1.7 pnd . @ 4000rpm a loss of 1.5 hp and 2 pnd. The higher rpm showed how the airflow was severely compromised as the loss @5,500rpm there was a 5.5hp and 5.3 pnd loss. The biggest loss in power was at the higher rpm. Stock 1700's make peak power at about 5,500rpm, the opened up left cover had peak power occurring at a lowly 4800rpm. This would not be so bad if there was a HUGE gain in the low to midrange, but there was not, just losses.

Originally Posted by dshelly

Not real sure what Ma Kaw was thinking when she designed that air tube between the cylinders. More power and cool air have been known to go together since the invention of the internal combustion engine.

If you really want some more low end torque, I think chuckster makes a true right side intake for the 1700's .

The intake system on the 1700's was designed with 2 main goals. First is noise suppression emanating from the intake. This noise has to be suppressed to help the 1700's meet our noise limiting regulations as decibel meters do not differentiate between noise from the exhaust, engine or intake systems. Just ask any of us who have installed BAKits on our 1700's and the intake noise that occurs as a result, loud enuff some have reverted back to stock.

Secondly the stock intake is a "tuned" system. Kawi was very careful in designing the intake to provide proper resonance and airflow characteristics for a smooth power band and engine running characteristics.

Originally Posted by dmyers

I wonder if any one has tried doing a similar mod to the right side cover.
You would have to block of several holes. I suppose if you have the talent to make that work, You could fabricate you're own intake though.

Modifying/opening up the right side would be a no-no as this would allow air into the intake AFTER the air filter, not a good thing!

I fabricated my own design of BAK waaaay back in 2011 that incorporates the entire intake system, tho HIGHLY modified. This intake has allowed my skoot o make about 4 more hp and 6-8 pnds more torque than any other 1700 with the Big 3 that has been on my dyno, and in easy ridin I have seen 47-50 mpg, but that drops at the higher speeds and rpm.

RACNRAY

[cactusjack]

Originally Posted by Dlweeds

True. But before the mod it's being pulled from between the cylinders, then routed back through again, to the right side. Only making one pass through there should have SOME impact on the air temp.

Not ideal, but what do you expect for a couple hours time and practically no money.

I wasn't saying there was anything wrong with your mod. It's just mostly a cosmetic change and won't result in much performance change. If you really want a performance improvement, the changes would need to be to the right side, as the crossover tube from left to right is a bottleneck that limits the potential amount of air getting to the intake. However, as others have pointed out, that has its own drawbacks.