what is it and why does it smell of fuel

[P_J]

The very first time I dive under the tank and decide to strip something down, i get stuck.

That huge black box under the tank of my NSR, now, whats inside that,,, nothing. i got a kind of vent facing to the rear of the bike, a lump o sponge, and a stink of petrol.

Im assuming its an air filter, but not like ive ever seen in a car of was expecting to see on a bike. what good is a crappy little bit of foam gonna to. and why does it smell of petrol. is it ment to? do i wash it?

I know i cant learn without having a go but i think id feel safer with a haynes manual (or equivelant).
____________________
Dreams will get you nowhere, a good kick up the arse will take you a long way.
Only1PJ.co.uk

[McJamweasel]

That, my anally retentive friend, is your airbox. And it smells of petrol because it leads directly to the carb.

And that bit of foam is indeed the air filter. Try washing it out and you'll see what it will do for you.
____________________
BCF: Be yourself, just don't be an arse.

[TGE125NSR]

LMAO

Thats a air filter

It smells of petrol because its near a carburettor

It filters the dirt out of the air going into the carb

You can clean it

Good Luck

[P_J]

its actualy soaked in fuel though.

Squeeze it and it would drip all over.

how can the carb spew fuel that far?

Surely the filter being wet isnt right?
____________________
Dreams will get you nowhere, a good kick up the arse will take you a long way.
Only1PJ.co.uk

[McJamweasel]

Are you sure its wet with petrol? To find out try holding a match to it.
____________________
BCF: Be yourself, just don't be an arse.

[kev]

don't listen to them is a bomb, run for your life.
____________________
20:02:36 Jammy-R6: any holes a goal
20:02:48 kev: even if its a hairy mans arse
20:02:56 Jammy-R6: hell yes

[P_J]

You know, on any normal day, id belive everything you lot told me... tonight though, i'm feeling slightly suspicious so i might give the match idea a miss.

Anally retentive, McJ, thanx mate! Thats the nicest thing anyone has said to me today

Doesnt working in a call centre make you feel special and loved by all

Grumpy Mother F's

I washed previously mentioned filter and there was a shed load of creamy coloured gunk came out of it.

No sperm / masterbation jokes please children. My man fat doesnt smell of petrol, and no one else has been using my bike.
____________________
Dreams will get you nowhere, a good kick up the arse will take you a long way.
Only1PJ.co.uk

[Lee]

its most likely just water. In the rain (or ride through a puddle or a wet road) water gets into the airbox via the fake ram-air pipes and from the front of the bike to some extent, and the foam just absorbs it to stop water and shite getting into the fuel mixture. If you run the filter element (sponge) under a tap i bet the water comes out the other side a dirty colour, and there are usually flies & bits of gravel etc stuck on there.

And as has already been said, it smells of fuel as it is connected to the carb.

You could run without and airbox / filter, but then you are letting all sorts of shit into your engine, and it will cost you in the long run!

EDIT: the creamy coloured gunk is a spray which is sprayed onto air filter elements which absorbs water and sticks to bits of crud that get sucked into the airbox. You can buy the spray from motor factors etc, and usually you get it supplied if you buy a K&N / pipercross filter.

[P_J]

hmmm, i washed that 'gunk' out of the filter. that a bad move?

Started the engine with the filter in and the top of the box off, lifting the foam up and down whilst reving at the same time. The noise difference was quite surprising. Is this just show or will it make a difference, good or bad, to performance.

Seemed to start on first click. doesnt normaly. Obviously if the engine doesnt get the air it needs, its going to struggle.

What difference, if any, would it make to running without the filter, or changing for a different (thinner but just as effective (even home made)) filter.
____________________
Dreams will get you nowhere, a good kick up the arse will take you a long way.
Only1PJ.co.uk

[cagiva gezzer]

What did you wash it in?????

PETROL i hope!

If you were a bit thick and washed it in water, the creamy stuff is the oil emulsifying in the water.

It wouldnt be soaked in petrol as petrol will evaporate. It was soaked in air filter oil. Air filter oil is like normal oil, but very very sticky. Before you put it back in you need to re-oil it with proper airfilter oil.

Anymore questions?
____________________
"because one stroke isnt enough and four strokes waste two"

[cagiva gezzer]

The fact that it starts better without the filter would suggest that your carb isnt set up right. Prob needs the idle circuit adjusted.

Removing the air filter would mean you need to re-jet the carb due to more air getting through. It would be a lot louder and your piston would be shot blasted by all the shit that gets sucked in.

You could make a thinner filter, but you would be better putting your time and effort into opening up the intake of the airbox.
____________________
"because one stroke isnt enough and four strokes waste two"

[P_J]

yeah, where do i buy a new one

[cagiva gezzer]

Air filter or air filer?

Anyway, air filter oil is VERY sticky, almost like hair gel.

Normal oil wont stick to the filter and wont trap the shit.

Air filters cost 10-15 quid, but generally come dry.

Best bet, soak your filter in petrol, dont wring it or scrunch it up, just press it between your palms. Take it down to your local bike shop and ask them to oil it.
____________________
"because one stroke isnt enough and four strokes waste two"

[Robby]

Or you can oil it with 80/90 gear oil. Haynes recommend that for foam filters.

[P_J]

£10 / £15 quid for a regular foam filter?

Looked at KandN page and there doesn't seem to be any bog standard ones for NSR(just had a quick look though).

Also saw on another page somewhere that the NSR airbox was taken off all together and replaced by KandN filter.

Is there any point or benefit to doing that?
____________________
Dreams will get you nowhere, a good kick up the arse will take you a long way.
Only1PJ.co.uk

[cagiva gezzer]

If youve got 80/90 gear oil sat in your garage, you are more than likely to have oil filter oil.

Wank on it?
____________________
"because one stroke isnt enough and four strokes waste two"

[Kickstart]

Hi

Never yet seen a K&N replacement airbox element for a 2 stroke.

A single filter may give a small improvement in performance. Depends on how good the stock airbox is, and how well you insulate the k&n from warm air from the engine. It will make a fair amount of extra noise and be a pain when it gets wet

All the best

Keith
____________________
Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[cagiva gezzer]

K&N - more peak power, less every where else, more peaky, more likely to feck up in the rain or damp, loud.

K&N generally only make for 4strokes.
____________________
"because one stroke isnt enough and four strokes waste two"

[Lee]

[Kickstart]

[Lee]