Running with open air filter ?
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,178
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From: SoCal.....I'm only here for the weather
Running with open air filter ?
I just replaced the football air cover with a 7" round that just covers the front face of my air filter, which is a K&N type. It exposes the entire fiter media and my question is, are there any negatives to running open. The obvious would be water in the intake, I don't ride in the rain but there is always that possibility. I have read where some will carry a plastic bag for wet conditions but then how does the engine breathe? I will put a bag over it on the rare occasion that I wash it but how do you run the engine with no air?
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,456
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From: PacNW; Beacon of Conservatism in a Sea of Liberals.......AZ Snowbird; Just another Conservative
Check the K&N site; they make a special "breathable" sock for a lot of their filters. Here's a picture of the one for my H-D SE HB...same-same.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 4,007
Likes: 159
From: Mount Laurel, N.J.
K&N makes a rain sock, which wraps around the filter. Blocks out water but lets air thru. I have a 3inch K&N filter which sticks out from under my S&S cover. Bike sat in the rain while I was at work. Even without the rain sock, no problem with water getting thru the air filter when I started the motor.
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 809
Likes: 4
From: Oregon / AZ
For me nnooo.really don't like the look of a big sucker on a bike,unless it is some sort of a custom build,the ham can yeah not the best looking but with just a stage one its good,plus you don't have to worry about it...my .02
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2006
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From: Eastern NE
What do you mean by "K&N Type ? If it is a filter that you OIL, like K&N, Ness B/S and others, then I wouldn't worry. I ran that way for many years and never bothered by rain. I've changed to the SE Heavy Breather (K&N Filter) and it comes with a rain sock. There is also a rain sock available for K&N HD-0800 filters and filters of that type.
Last edited by Cornhusker; Aug 15, 2009 at 04:28 PM.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 3,572
Likes: 5
From: Templeton California
I ran open for awhile more than anything else I didn't enjoy digging bugs out of the pleats of the filter.Now I have a round cover with the opening turned toward the rear.I think the bike runs a tini bit smoother with a cover of some kind and I have been told by a tuner that you get a few more HP with a less restrictive cover than you will running wide open. That said I run open K&Ns on my Suzuki and have never had a problem.
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,027
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From: Eastern NE
The HD SE Cone type heavy breather doesn't require a sock, it can be run in rain like any other oiled K&N. The sock just happens to come with the a/c and socks are available for other types of K&N filters.
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Elite HDF Member
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I run mine open and always have. I'm not one to set out in the rain on purpose either but have gotten caught in it before and once was for quite a while and in a considerable amount of rain. I had no issues riding or after riding. I wouldn't ride with a plastic bag over it - that would be way worse than riding in the rain. I always throw a gallon size plastic bag over mine when I wash the bike just to be careful but other than that, I just keep it cleaned and well oiled.