Looking to get some opinions on air cleaners by forcewinder. I was planning to install it on my 2003 Night Train (fuel injection).

How would do these air cleaners affect performance, if any? Any bad side effects?

How difficult is the install?

What additional parts (i.e. brackets) would I need for my bike?

Any significant difference between the Forcewinder XR and Forcewinder XR-2?

Would you recommend any other air cleaner with a similar look?

Thanks in advance.

 

Before you look into a forcewinder, check this site out. www.wimmermachine.com/ They have the Horsepower charts available on there site for the various types of air filters. They are the top of the line also.

 

Thanks for the reply and info.

 

Wimmer Spike with top breathers.
230CFM. The CFM is as much, and probably more than most aftermarket filters on the market.

 

The Wimmer is a great peice but it's about twice the price of a Forcewinder.I don't like the xr2 because it put's oil back into the breather.I have the regular forcewinder and love the look and performance.

 

jimb ..... Thanks for the info. How hard was the install? Did your bike require a bracket for install?

 

I bought a Kuraykyn carb support bracket for about 40 bucks.It took about 20 minutes to swap it.

 

I just installed a forcewinder unit on my xfstc, this unit performs much better than the doherty machine set-up that I was running before, and I am not saying this because I got the thing for free(I know the owner, pictures of my bike will be on the site) it really works...

 

I just installed an XR (XR is first gen version. XR2 has the breather kit and modded filter) on my Springer. I haven't studied the air flow charts or specs but I'm certain I'm pulling at least as much air as the SEAC.

I understand the concerns mentioned about the XR2 breather piping routing back to the filter. On top of concerns of an oil collection issue, I was also in search of a breather setup that didn't require a lot of piping. Turns out there are a lot of mounting brackets that double as breather assemblies and will route breather gasses back into intake similar to the OEM setup, bit with a much more sexy look. For example, see the attached pic. Now many of these brackets will cost more than the filter kit itself, but then again, it looks good and lacks any external piping or hoses. Another place to look is at HD. They have the new Forcewinder-like AC on the SE Springer. Not sure if its in the accessory catalogs yet but they make brackets like the one shown for every model.

I talked at length with a local indy about the breather setup. He said to avoid oil collection, the most preferred setup was routing an open ended hose down under the bike. Since the oil that is coming out of the heads is heated, and in vapor form, an open ended hose will vent most of it and very little will collect, spray, or pool. The oil dripping/collection problems start to occur when you try to collect, or filter the air. That makes sense. Routing back through the filter will quickly cool the breather gases. As the oil cools, it condenses and collects in your filter.

I didn't want the XR2 setup or the associated price tag. Nor did I want to route an unsightly hose under the bike. Instead, I sort of compromised and bought these: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/SIFTO...spagenameZWD1V
There are plenty of breathers like these out there. I chose small, cap mounted units over the teardrop flavors for simplicity and looks. Most, or all contain some simple sponge filter material. If they become oil saturated over time, they are very simple to remove and clean.

No major concerns about water. They come with a black precharger that will repel a lot of water but still allow airflow. Colored versions are available also. Where I am in CA we only get rain half the year so most of the time I have no issues. Besides, short of letting the bike sit in a downpour, I wouldn't think the Forcewinder would collect any more water than a SEAC with the football cover; the rear of the filter is exposed there too.

So after all that commentary, what's my verdict on Forcewinder? I like them. Good flow, looks good. Here was my recipe:
Forcewinder XR $150 Ebay
Mounting bracket: Drag Spec part no DS289190 $28 through local indy
Sifton minibreathers $50 Ebay

That's roughly $230 total and I am rolling. I think the cheapest I found the XR2 was right at $300 and I'd still need a mounting bracket after that.

Hope that helps.


[IMG]local://upfiles/5927/4332DCF715B3482CBEF1DE1D9FFB7DBF.jpg[/IMG]

 

Yeah yeah yeah, its an old thread. I know. But someone somewhere is wondering the same thing.