Foam filters

[oldboyonrgv]

HI Guys
I want to release the space that the airbox takes up so that I can centralise the electrics (ie move the bundle in the headlamp and the stuff on the rear mudguard) , any way after trawling the web and reading here I ordered some Ram air foam pod filters, and a small filter for the engine breather - all good so far.

I then got hold of some main jets, pilot jets and spacers so that I could re-set the carburation once I fitted the filters.

So last night I removed the airbox and carbs and went for the richest set I had to give me a start point (I know about setting the main jet first etc - that will be done once I am in the ball park)

so with carbs jetted up spacers under the needles and breather filter fitted I started her up - what a mess!! the bike would tick over happily but once off 1/4 throttle it would die,  I mucked about  with different settings but found that no set up would give me any throttle response so I ditched the idea and put the airbux back in  with the larger pilot jets and the air screws opened up to 2.5 turns ( I had been needing to do that because I have only slightly baffled exhausts)

Rode the bike to work this morning - and it feels  much better than before - But I still want to use the foam filters.

Now I have done similar mods before on bikes so I was expecting some playing around before I get things right.

The problem would appear at this time to be the fact that the CV carb requires a decent air pressure difference across the venturi to force the piston up and thus richen the mixture, the foam filters offer no resistance to incoming air (suck) plus the air is not guided so air flow is very turbulent ( the airbox has quite long trumpets to guide the air and has small outlets to create the vacuum)....

OK so heres the plan - within the filters I am going to create some trumpets to spoof what the airbox does - If I do this right I should be able to improve the volume of air  thus requiring the bigger jets and get an increase in performance - although as I said earlier this is not the primary aim which is to release the space the airbox takes ready for my next series of mods - I started a thread here to show the mods as they happen 
 

[Blaine]

I fixed this problem by cutting 3 coils off the diaphram spring.Less spring pressure..less resistance & the slides will move easily.

[eaglerider]

We have found that the foam filters do not work well with this engine...They are TOO free airflow. We have had best results with the Emgo cone filters, and those are what we recomend.

[oldboyonrgv]

Agreed chaps..... but I already have the foam filters - I will let you know how it goes.........If I cant get em working then I will probably end up doing one of the above :-)

[oldboyonrgv]

The tube mod worked a charm, bike pulls like a train from tickover to 11000RPM VERY pleased.........Might wip it onto the dyno just to see what I've got soon...

[eaglerider]

At 11000 RPM, you are over-revving the engine by 1,500 RPM.......that will shorten the life of the engine, eventually. The factory redline for the 454 is 9,500 RPM, the redline for the Vulcan 500 is 10,000.

[oldboyonrgv]

Thank you for your concern of my 27 year old bike.

[eaglerider]

Don't want you to ruin a good engine.....We have record of one running over 150,000 miles, never had the head off!!!
With good maintenance, these are very durable engines.

[oldboyonrgv]

Ok thank you for your concern, pease bear in mind that I saved this bike from the scrap yard and have brought it back to a good usabe condition along with some gentle customisation which is reversable. As such I reserve the right to treat it as I see fit. 

As regards your comments, I have been racing and tuning motorcycles since 1980 - both 2 and 4 strokes, now this engine has been treated to a full service and set up along with de-restriction of both the exhaust and air filter, it has also been treated with friction modifier and the best racing oil money can buy (something I always run my engines on and have been for  the last 5years) the engine vents have also been opened out to stop pumping losses, when I ran it to 11000 RPM it was under controlled conditions with the intent of checking the set up and venting was working - it was, It is true that the cam and ignition timing tail the power off once 9700 has been reached - however during  downshifting it is possible to over rev the engine so it is important to ensure overrev can be attained for short periods. The work I have done so far is partly in readiness for a full engine re-build over the winter months along with some further intrusive tuning - we previously got 75BHP out of a GPZ500s and over 100BHP out of a ER6, with careful sensible modifications which I am applying to this engine, I am also undertaking a major lightening regime with this bike because as standard it is over weight and my ethos is lighter, stronger, faster......

[eaglerider]

Of course the bike is yours to do what you want.....sorry if my comments offended you, I will make every effort not to do so in the future. Our purpose, and the purpose of this forum for the past 12 to 15 years or so, is to Keep the 454 alive and well and to help members, not offend them, nor tell them what to do with their bikes.

[oldboyonrgv]

No problem.....

I will of course document my mods/updates on the MY EN450 thread..

[scran0801]

What all did you have to do for foam filter mod? I also just switched to UNI filters because pod filters have been such a pain and any help would be appreciated

[Blaine]

Nov 17, 2014 16:21:39 GMT -6 scran0801 said:

What all did you have to do for foam filter mod? I also just switched to UNI filters because pod filters have been such a pain and any help would be appreciated

Most of us use pods (Emgo) as the foam filters are too free flowing & don't work well.