RAIN Caused Problems! HELP NEEDED!

TCalYen · 08-16-2022, 06:54 PM

So I just left work and hopped on the Hawk to go home after a heavy rain a couple of hours ago. Bike started right up buy upon throttling it was bogging/backfiring big time! Barely no power at all…

I let it sit running for awhile and it eventually got better.

What is the reason?

Air filter looked fine coming off of the NIBI but the cone filter definitely could have taken water in. No water was in the gas. Plug wasn’t wet.

Any ideas… electrical?… or was it the water getting through the air filter?

Thanks in advance for your help!

Megadan · 08-16-2022, 07:01 PM

Foam air.filter or the pleated nibbi unit? If it's the pleated kind, they are paper instead.of cotton like a K&N and don't do well with water. They don't flow any air when wet, so it's like riding with the choke on.

TCalYen · 08-16-2022, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Megadan

Foam air.filter or the pleated nibbi unit? If it's the pleated kind, they are paper instead.of cotton like a K&N and don't do well with water. They don't flow any air when wet, so it's like riding with the choke on.

That’s it then! Pleated kind…. TY!

TCalYen · 08-16-2022, 07:38 PM

Should I get the foam kind? I cut the stick air box almost completely out. Want to try to prevent this from happening again. The cone is partial behind the side mounding. Don’t think I can get a zip lock bag over it… :(

Thumper · 08-17-2022, 07:01 AM

This is the achilles heal of pod filters. There is no housing to protect from water. I used to wrap my pods with a plastic bag on a Suzuki GS series 4 cylinder bike I had a long time ago when I had to park it outside. That was a real task with the throttle linkage interrupting the middle of the rack!

For these bikes, wrapping the pod might be easy, depending on how buried it is in the frame. But it generally works

Also, carry a rag (storage tube?) to dry off the frame nearby after removing the bag, before you start it.

TominMO · 08-17-2022, 07:40 AM

A small tarp or even part of a tarp would be very helpful in keeping rain off it in the first place--at least while you are parked. Just fold it so it's narrow, then roll it up with a bungee cord inside (hooks sticking out) and keep it on the bike.

For riding, you might be able to come up with a shroud for the pod filter that does not limit its air-intake ability. Something that covers the sides to limit water splash onto the filter. OR maybe extend the hose that connects it to the carb (with PVC or something), so it is in a more protected location.

XLsior · 08-17-2022, 08:21 AM

you could try and make a shroud out of a soda bottle or similar. cut the neck to roughly the same diameter as the intake filter boot, then cut to length. Cut slit up the side if you want to make it easily removable. Also in general get the type with a dog leg bend on the boot so you can angle the filter slightly downwards so any water will in theory be more likely to drip down the filter as opposed to running down the carb...

TominMO · 08-17-2022, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XLsior

you could try and make a shroud out of a soda bottle or similar. cut the neck to roughly the same diameter as the intake filter boot, then cut to length. Cut slit up the side if you want to make it easily removable. Also in general get the type with a dog leg bend on the boot so you can angle the filter slightly downwards so any water will in theory be more likely to drip down the filter as opposed to running down the carb...

I thought of a soda bottle too. Another way, if possible in his application, would be to drill a tiny hole in the end of the filter, and fasten the bottom of the bottle with a sheet metal screw. Cutting the bottle to whatever length worked for the filter. The bottle could even be cut unevenly, depending on where rain/splash coverage mattered most.

TCalYen · 08-17-2022, 10:39 PM

Got it… thanks for the ideas everyone. Appreciated. Really don’t want to get another kind of filter and have to re-jet the carb. They do make these 48mm filters with a housing already built into the filter with the opening at the end. You can find them on Amazon. Looks like I would likely have to re-jet if I switched to that kind.

For now I’m going to use a plastic bag and rag and will probably try the water/soda bottle shield idea.

08-16-2022, 06:54 PM	#1
TCalYen Join Date: Dec 2016 Posts: 24	RAIN Caused Problems! HELP NEEDED! So I just left work and hopped on the Hawk to go home after a heavy rain a couple of hours ago. Bike started right up buy upon throttling it was bogging/backfiring big time! Barely no power at all… I let it sit running for awhile and it eventually got better. What is the reason? Air filter looked fine coming off of the NIBI but the cone filter definitely could have taken water in. No water was in the gas. Plug wasn’t wet. Any ideas… electrical?… or was it the water getting through the air filter? Thanks in advance for your help!
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08-16-2022, 07:01 PM	#2
Megadan Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 8,030	Foam air.filter or the pleated nibbi unit? If it's the pleated kind, they are paper instead.of cotton like a K&N and don't do well with water. They don't flow any air when wet, so it's like riding with the choke on. __________________ Hawk Information and Resource guide: http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=20331 2018 Hawk 250 - Full Mod list here. http://www.chinariders.net/showpost....62&postcount=1 2024 Royal Enfield Shotgun 650 https://chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=34124
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08-17-2022, 07:01 AM	#5
Thumper Join Date: Feb 2021 Location: Kansas City Posts: 2,335	This is the achilles heal of pod filters. There is no housing to protect from water. I used to wrap my pods with a plastic bag on a Suzuki GS series 4 cylinder bike I had a long time ago when I had to park it outside. That was a real task with the throttle linkage interrupting the middle of the rack! For these bikes, wrapping the pod might be easy, depending on how buried it is in the frame. But it generally works Also, carry a rag (storage tube?) to dry off the frame nearby after removing the bag, before you start it. Last edited by Thumper; 08-18-2022 at 02:02 PM.
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08-17-2022, 07:40 AM	#6
TominMO Join Date: Sep 2021 Location: De Soto, MO Posts: 1,872	A small tarp or even part of a tarp would be very helpful in keeping rain off it in the first place--at least while you are parked. Just fold it so it's narrow, then roll it up with a bungee cord inside (hooks sticking out) and keep it on the bike. For riding, you might be able to come up with a shroud for the pod filter that does not limit its air-intake ability. Something that covers the sides to limit water splash onto the filter. OR maybe extend the hose that connects it to the carb (with PVC or something), so it is in a more protected location. __________________ 2021 Lifan Xpect--sold 2022 Lifan KPX 1972 Honda CT90--The Carrot 1969 Honda CT90--The Tomahto Cheesy is the WDK (workplace drama king). Now retired. Nope, back in the saddle. Climate: The Movie https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A24fWmNA6lM How our government really works https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjadCd0VRBw Question all authority.....think for yourself
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08-16-2022, 07:38 PM	#4
TCalYen Join Date: Dec 2016 Posts: 24	Should I get the foam kind? I cut the stick air box almost completely out. Want to try to prevent this from happening again. The cone is partial behind the side mounding. Don’t think I can get a zip lock bag over it… :(
	0

08-17-2022, 08:21 AM	#7
XLsior Join Date: Aug 2020 Location: Australia Posts: 1,298	you could try and make a shroud out of a soda bottle or similar. cut the neck to roughly the same diameter as the intake filter boot, then cut to length. Cut slit up the side if you want to make it easily removable. Also in general get the type with a dog leg bend on the boot so you can angle the filter slightly downwards so any water will in theory be more likely to drip down the filter as opposed to running down the carb...
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08-17-2022, 10:39 PM	#9
TCalYen Join Date: Dec 2016 Posts: 24	Got it… thanks for the ideas everyone. Appreciated. Really don’t want to get another kind of filter and have to re-jet the carb. They do make these 48mm filters with a housing already built into the filter with the opening at the end. You can find them on Amazon. Looks like I would likely have to re-jet if I switched to that kind. For now I’m going to use a plastic bag and rag and will probably try the water/soda bottle shield idea.
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