Air Filter - Part Deux

As usual, click any image to zoom in.

The first attempt at a replacement air filter (see the blog entry here) has worked fine but Mark noticed that the cloth part of the filter hasn’t survived too well as you can see in the photo on the left

 

While we were out for a ride today, Mark picked up a set of “Splatter screens” from B&M for £1.29 and has made up a replacement inner part of the filter by cutting out two circular elements and mounting them at approximately 45º to each other to form a diagonal mesh.

 

He has been very careful with big, heavy scissors and managed to cut out both the circles from the larger splatter screen. There is still room for a third circle from the larger screen so not that I’m tight or anything but I’ll be able to make a replacement for mine from the same set. Cushty.

 

 

Running rich?

As usual, click any image to zoom in. 

Took the bike for a run last night and the bulbs lasted fine and no misfire - bonzer!

It feels like it is running rich though: a combination of a lack of grunt and a poor tickover that needs "tickling" of the throttle to keep it going at times.

I removed the air-filter to inspect thinking that if it was blocked it would be like having the choke "on" with all the obvious consequences. 

The active filtering area is outwards from the central rivet to about 2" diameter (up to the 2nd raised ring, from the centre). There is a circular piece of black cloth fitted between the black mesh and rear metal plate.  The filtered air is sucked through a circular rubber tube, of the same diameter, which then feeds the carburettor input.  The area outside of the 2nd ring is non-effective as it butts up against the inside of the battery compartment.

 

The reverse metal side of the filter shows a darkened area showing where the air has passed through in the past.  Holding the filter up to the light seems to suggest things are not that well with the airflow.  I am not suggesting this is the entire problem but it should help in weakening the mixture.

I'll try cleaning the filter in fuel and see what happens.