Air Filter vacuum line removed/plugged?

[vv0350]

While crawling around this new 2002 bike of mine...polishing, buffing, etc...I noticed a vacuum line nicely plugged with a real professional looking plastic plug inserted into it.even had a little tab on the end to grab ahold of it with....then, right next to the line, there was a nipple at the bottom of the air cleaner, on the back side that had no line attached to it...I'm guessing someone took it off for a very specific reason...but I have no idea why....I put a rubber nipple cover on/over the exposed nipple for now.....
Any ideas..?

[redeye]

which air clearner are you talking about?

[macmac]

Is the bike stock? Is the plug red with a hole for a bead chain like is on some pull chain and ceramic light fixtures?

Is the air filter you see and are talking about on the right side if you are sitting on the bike?

If the bike is all stock the can on the right has no air filter with in it.. but it sure looks like it does, and so if you mean a nipple for a line at the bottom and at 6 )' Clock dead on there should be a line there crossing all the way to the left and ending in a plug. This is a sort of drain plug for water that may some how collect inside the far right can.

Getting back to the other line with the plug and tab I assume this is higher up and to the right of the throttle body. Near it there is a brass nipple coming out of the throttle body, and that should be blocked off if the line is for sure. The line itself is the lesser of 2 evils. So look hard for that brass port, and cap it off if it is open.

I need to know more about the bike to say what you should do next...

[vv0350]

I just went out and checked things....the line in question runs from a fitting at the bottom of throttle body can (r side) TO an area right next to the bottom of the airfilter can (L side) ..there the line ends and is pluged with the plastic plug I mentioned...AND, to the the casual observer, it might seem the line may have (possibly, at one time) gone to an open nipple I found on the back and at the very bottom of the air cleaner can..in any case ...I put a plug cover on it for now. Thanks for your time and help..

Originally Posted by macmac

...This is a sort of drain plug for water that may some how collect inside the far right can...

This is exactly right. It's just a line for the condensate to drain from.

[macmac]

That line was correct the way it was. I don't understand the plug cover? That line comes from the right to dead end inder the left side real air cleaner, in a black cap/pug which has a no holes tab to pull it out of the line, and is a water drain/oil/fuel drain, in the event any vabor build up as mist should collect in the lower right can.

There is another line on the upper right of the throttle body, going to the EGR like vac pod, and related hosing to the reed valves. I sort of forget how all that is, as i took it all off my bike long ago, and it sits in a box waitng for the EPA bean counters to find it.

Now if that line is plugged and the brass port it should be on isn't capped off you have a problem. I don't think that is the case, but it might be worth a look see, to make sure.

It might be all that stuff is gone, and then only the brass port is worth the look to make sure the cap is in goodd shape, and tight. if it is capped off, and the cap is good, then make note to check it on some interval. That should be no less than once a year.

To reach it I need needle nose pliers if the tank is on. It is critical the hose is on, or a good cap is on and seated well. Either one must be in good shape, other wise you have a air leak, more commonly called a vac leak, a misnomer, but hey I didn't make up the lingo. This sort of leak will lean out mix maddly.

[vv0350]

Ok, in the "Air Filter assembly" can (L side), on the back, at the 6 o'clock bottom position, is a nipple that is built into the back of the assemply...it points toward the right side...it is only an inch or so away from the end of the line that comes across from the throttle body and, as I now understand it, is a water drain. In any case, the nipple was open, that is it had an exposed hole in it that, I believe connected to the inside of the filter assembly...In order to stop any infiltration (in or out) I put a rubber cap over the nipple....I have no idea what it was for....I just have a hard time leaving open nipple fittings....

That's capped with a screw on my bike because I modified the filters setup (See the "Caddmann Kit" thread above) but if you have the stock left filter it should be left uncapped as it drains condensate from the dog bowl and also rain water if you're riding in the rain. Otherwise the stock filter will get wet if you ride in the rain long enough.

[macmac]

Yup, if the stock air filter is in there, it is above the level of that drain, and should be left open.

On the stock set up there is a big rubber mouth inlet for air, which contains water no matter how you look at it. Air born moisture will pass the filter and be breathed by the engine any time the engine is in use, even in Az. There is water in all air anywhere on Earth every day.

This drain is well out side the filter area, and any water that is rain drawn in, or made as condensed must be allowed to run out freely and not collect.

On edit: being a wise guy... "I just have a hard time leaving open nipple fittings" Thar can be no doubt janet jackson could use such service as you provide!

[Top Cat]

On edit: being a wise guy... "I just have a hard time leaving open nipple fittings" Thar can be no doubt janet jackson could use such service as you provide!

Good one macmac

[macmac]

Yeah I know, and I am just so sure he would somehow still have FUN! Who says boy's don't just wanna have FUN too?