What do you guys clean your pod filters with?

[agentbad]

Doing some carb work today and was wondering is there anything special I should use to clean my K&N pod filters with. The pod on my crankcase breather is especially dirty at the moment. I usually just use a tub of mild dishwasher soup and water. I know K&N makes there own cleaner but do you really need that?

[cbinker]

run water inside to outside and air dry overnight.

[subxero]

i use the no toil filter oil for my pod so i use the no toil cleaner, i use kerosene for foam dirtbike filters

[Ghostt]

I personally use a mix of water and Dawn to clean my K&Ns .

BTW I thought we covered the whole pod filters are bad thing for the carburetors?

[subxero]

^ but mom... all the cool kids are doing it

[rollo19]

K&N Cleaner let dry overnight, then apply K&N oil.

[TBC]

Originally Posted by Ghostt

BTW I thought we covered the whole pod filters are bad thing for the carburetors?

Why is that?

[Ghostt]

Originally Posted by TBC

Why is that?

Okay you asked for it, so here's my 2¢ write-up on the subject,

I would highly recommend that you DO NOT REMOVE THE AIR BOX, the carburetors on the bike are CV type and need to box to function properly, buy a K&N that fits the OEM airbox(K&N KA-2508 Kawasaki High Performance Replacement Air Filter by K&N* *Amazon.com: K&N KA-2508 Kawasaki High Performance Replacement Air Filter: Automotive* ) that's the short version.

Long boring but important answer, CV carbs stands for "constant velocity". The function of the carbs is dependent on having a calm reservoir (airbox) from which to intake air at said constant velocity. Pods draw from the turbulent, unpredictable air swirling past them as you ride, which is anything but constant. Other carbs work fine with pods. CV's = no bueno, save yourself the headaches.

Now onto jetting, first you need to tune the idle mixture screws first, I recommend 3 full turns out from bottom as a good starting point, then fine tune them afterwards. As far as buying a jet kit, I personally don't have one on either my 250, or 500 ninjas. I did got up one size on my main jets, due to they are lean from the factory, and shimmed the main needles with a small washer.

Let just take a minute to think about Kawasaki invested so much time, materials, and money into the airbox?

Do you think for one minute if they could get away with a simple pod filters they would have done that already.

[TBC]

What's the result of providing the carb with turbulent air? Is it just inconsistency in the tune?

Not trying to give you a hard time - just curious.

[gantt]

The airbox is also designed to quiet down the intake side. Part of the noise and emissions regulations. Its been proven the pods make more peak HP. But to each his own. Not a huge difference in any case. I did away with it for the ease and convenience after removing the airbox.

[BlownWideOpen]

+1. Life is just easier without airboxes. Why can't people just do what they want?

[agentbad]

Originally Posted by Ghostt

I personally use a mix of water and Dawn to clean my K&Ns .

BTW I thought we covered the whole pod filters are bad thing for the carburetors?

Now you tell me.

[crazymadbastard]

Originally Posted by agentbad

Now you tell me.

Welcome to the darkside!

Maa Kawi designed a wonderful machine, does not mean it could not be made better, or at the very least modified to one's own preference. I just cut the frame on mine, jus cause.

[Ghostt]

I'm not arguing that fact the pods don't make more peak HP, although marginal, but for everyday street use, your better sticking with the OEM airbox, better, smoother and more reliable performance.

After all a dyno is a stationary device, so the air flow the carburetors are less prone to air turbulence, as in the real world or riding on the street. Try your dyno run, and then wave a fan around the carburetors to disrupt and cause turbulence.

If your building a track bike, then by all means go pods, after all on the track your running in the upper RPMs, so no worries about street ability.

I'm not say that the bike won't run with the pods, it will. I'm just saying for street use they simply are not worth the aggravation they cause.

Been there, done that, smoked that.


If you truly want to improve the carburetors, then spend the money and time and replace the CV ones, with Flat Side type carburetors, but these also have a downside.

keep in mind that flat sides are great. Around the street, normal driving, not as good as a well tuned CV carb. Flat sides are mostly for race track use.

CV carbs, when working properly, give better low RPM and throttle change performance. Flat sides can bog on large throttle changes. Racing is mostly large throttle conditions, not stop and go traffic....

Fuel economy suffers too with a flat side.

It like asking are racing slicks better then regular street tires?

The answer depends...If you are on the highway in a light rain, racing slicks are awful....

If you are racing, racing slicks are perfect for the job.....

IMHO, and price was no object, replace them with a VM series round slide mikuni and be done with it.

As my famous saying goes,

I'm not your mom and I'm not paying for your parts, so do whatever you want with your own bike.

[agentbad]

If I were to replace anything it would be swapping the carbs for EFI. I do agree with getting things right on the carbs is a hassle but it's worth it when you hit the highway.

[Ghostt]

Originally Posted by agentbad

If I were to replace anything it would be swapping the carbs for EFI. I do agree with getting things right on the carbs is a hassle but it's worth it when you hit the highway.

Now your talking, that would be the end game for sure.