Triumphrat

Thruxtoned · 09-06-2005, 02:53 PM

I was at a Triumph Dealer this past weekend and I was asking one of the shop employees about the pros and cons of removing the airbox. He told me that the NARKS worked well but that having properly jetted/tweaked,balanced carbs was the most important. He then asked my if my dealer removed my A/I. I told him no and then he told me that the dealers were supposed to remove the A/I before delivery and that they were having failures in the header due to excessive heating. This isn't a fairy tale I made up. Has anyone else heard anything like this?

boboso · 09-06-2005, 03:08 PM

My dealer (service manger and sales) was adamant about NOT removing my AI when I purchased my 05. I had the TORs installed at the time of purchase and due to my need to research anything and everything, found this board before my purchase as well as other discussions that stated it caused no issues to leave it on (bluing of the pipes may be increased) or take it off (some claimed performance gains). I left them on.

At my 500 mile service, the bike was running a bit rough and along with a front tire warranty issue was diagnosed. The service manager then performed himself the removal of the AI system along with a rejet tweak. Bike has been running great ever since, but my confidence in the dealer has lessened.

Long story longer - it seemed to have not effect one way or the other with the exception of less bluing on the pipes.

GrandPaulZ · 09-06-2005, 06:11 PM

Anyone claiming any performance gain is blowing smoke.

All you gain is the horsepower offset of the one pound less weight!

It does, however, substantially decrease the pipe bluing. If done before ever starting the bike, you'll never have severe bluing, only very minimal right at the head.

Thruxtoned · 09-06-2005, 09:02 PM

Let me rephrase: Has anyone heard that Triumph directed the removal of A/I by its dealers prior to delivery of Thruxtons to customers?

joeswamp · 09-06-2005, 11:44 PM

Quote:

Let me rephrase: Has anyone heard that Triumph directed the removal of A/I by its dealers prior to delivery of Thruxtons to customers?

Good Lord, No! Why would Triumph initally engineer and install the AI then?

Dealers can actually get into trouble for doing this, and technically you can too. It's against the law to tamper with pollution control equipment on a vehicle.

Now having said that, most states are pretty lax in enforcing these laws with respect to motorcycles.

Dave67 · 09-07-2005, 05:45 AM

isnt the bluing caused by the motor running too lean and too hot hence the blueing??

Its my understanding that AI recycles hot unburnt gases back into the airbox contributing the running hot and general popping and farting through the pipes.

I'd say leave it in if you like (i took mine out) - but make sure you check to jetting of your bike to make sure you aren't running lean/hot which is bad for the engine

GrandPaulZ · 09-07-2005, 09:54 AM

No, the AI injects air into the exhaust port at the exit point to provide the unburned hot gasses enough oxygen to re-ignite and burn completely. Rev your bike to about 2500 RPM in the driveway at night and see the results clearly.

The only recirculation is the crankcase vapors that are drawn into the airbox through the breather tube in the front of the primary case at the crank bearing.

The popping is from improper low speed mixture which is adjusted by the hard-to-get-to screws under the backside of the carbs, combined with overall factory leanness in the jeting, and exacerbated by any induction of air at loose header/muffler connections.

asphyx9 · 09-07-2005, 02:19 PM

GrandPaul,

If the AI is not the casue of popping on deceleration, why does popping practically disappear or get reduced upon removal of the AI system? Just curious....

GrandPaulZ · 09-07-2005, 02:44 PM

The AI does indeed contribute to the popping.
My comments in that respect were for CONTINUED popping, even after AI has been removed. This has been found to be a situation in many bikes; it is diminished, but not eliminated.

pubdraft · 09-10-2005, 12:35 AM

When I installed my Predators and Air box removal kit it was not only popping, it was back firing to the point flames would shoot out the pipes 6-8 inches. Although it looked cool, I removed the AI and have not had an issue since. As far as performance gains with the AI out, fat chance. Lastly, as far as I know, the dealer shouldn't remove the AI. Something about EPA regulations is what I was told. I am not sure if that only applied in the UK.

[ This message was edited by: pubdraft on 2005-09-09 22:36 ]