Kind of exposed to the weather eh?
Given that I tend to ride in all kinds of weather, I'd been working on some kind of air box to shelter the air filter used by Fiona, to keep water out you know, when out playing in rain and snow for example.
Several options were thrashed about in my head over the last month of so, options were tried and discarded, and finally Bural, a.k.a. Richard Winter came up with an idea that stuck. He'd told me, why not try the air box by the 2014 and newer URAL rigs?
I called up Randy, the URAL dealer in Fort Collins and he happened to have a discarded air box that he'd let me have to try things out!
Got the airbox, some test-fitting and discussions with Bural, RichardM and Darrell later, I decided to try it using CEET aircraft tubing which I ordered last week and it arrived today.
A few minutes of measuring, cutting and hose clamping later, Fiona and I headed out for a test drive.
She did great with the Ural air box! Got her on the tollway and up to almost 70 mph with no issues with air flow to the engine!
It's a somewhat tight fit but nothing touches it except for the CEET tubing and the bottom portion of the bike frame under the seat along with the box resting on top of the gearbox. There's clearance for the clutch cable, and clutch actuating lever. The kick starter comes up just shy of the bottom of the air box. I'll work to further secure it but really, the air box is not going anywhere.
Here's views of the air box, mark 1:
Left side
Right Side
closer view of the air scoop
I still have to route the crankcase hole into the air box, but first must find a suitable grommet as the tube coming from the engine is smaller than the hole in the air box.
I might, also, install a small shield on top of the Beemer engine, near the air scoop, to block water/snow before it reaches the air scoop.
I also, on Bural's advice, going to coat the CEET tubing with the rubberized undercoating spray one uses in fender wells of cars and such. It keeps the elements from degrading the tubing. The tubing was designed to live inside airplane engine compartments you see, not exposed to weather.
Now for some more riding to test things out further.
6 comments:
I like it. You had an earlier photo with the air box turned around. What made you change it around?
And the crankcase vent will be going in below the filter. Now, install one more tee into to right fuel line of and put on a length of clear line between it and a vent line (another tee) and you can have a gas gauge of sorts. The gas in the clear line will be the same as the level in the tank.
Basically it was good either ways RichardM, the top cover fits better facing forward due to the curve of the frame. Having some issue re your description for a gas gauge of sorts however. Not sure I want to intro even more tee fittings anyways.
Since you lost a "reserve" setting, this would give you some way to know when you're running low besides just the odometer.
BTW, where did you find the brass tees?
Pepboys had the Tees.
Looks like it was made for it! To follow up Richards question, If the opening was turned around wouldn't the air taken in be cooler? Cooler air equaling better combustion. Also wouldn't have to worry so much about sucking in snow/rain. No matter which way it goes, it is better than it was.
Thanks AZ HD. In a way, the air box was made for it truly. I might try facing the scoop backwards next time I have it off to put a new filter in, used the "get me home" old filter from Scarlett for the testing.
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