Triumphrat

skromfols · 06-12-2009, 12:21 PM

I've owned my 08 America (carburatored) for about 3 weeks now, and have spent at least 30 - 40 hours on this and other Triumph forums trying to get enough information to make good decisions on what intake and exhaust changes to make. This is far from my first bike, but I'm really confused.

It looks like the air cleaners are directly behind the carburators, and would be fairly easy to replace with K&N's or whatever, however I keep reading posts about the airbox and how removing it or at least modifying it really helps the intake. Then I read about NARK, ARK, FARK, and have no idea what the heck they are. I've used the search engine on this forum and read more and more information, but nothing that helps me understand how everything is related. I took the seat off my bike to look at the airbox and found the snorkle that I've read about, but don't see how it relates to the air cleaners.

I went to the Triumph dealer in Modesto yesterday and asked one of the salesmen some questions like this and he came back with the West Coast Triumph representative, who knew less about the air box and the modifications that people make than I did.

If anyone can point me towards a place where I can read or see how things relate I would greatly appreciate it. There is soooooo much great information on this forum, but I just need the basics so that I can put everything into perspective.

Thanks.

TB-T100 · 06-12-2009, 12:42 PM

You can have a look at the links under the heading "Suck" here:
http://www.triumphrat.net/blogs/twin...-mod-links-35/

Remember that there are many options. It all depends on what you want.

skromfols · 06-12-2009, 12:52 PM

Once again, that site has great information, but it assumes that the reader has a certain level of information that I haven't achieved yet. I would really like to see something that's more basic to help me understand how it all ties together.

marc hanna · 06-12-2009, 01:11 PM

The airbox is right under your seat, if you want to fit K&N's directly to your carbs, you have to remove it. Those are faux aircleaners that you see behind your carbs now, to give it a vintage look.

The snorkel is mounted on the top of the airbox, as you saw, underneath your seat. The snorkel orafice restricts air flow, but also, the snorkel extends down to the bottom of your air filter, further restricting air flow. You can just grab and jank that sucker right out and that will improve air flow. The real air cleaner/filter is directly below that snorkel. By removing the 3 screws in the eliptical plate around the snorkel you will be able to see your air filter.

Overkill0084 · 06-12-2009, 01:16 PM

ARK, FARK, NARK, etc - Airbox removal kit.
If your still learning the ins and outs of what's what, I would proceed slowly at first. Get a set of pipes and re-jet. Then work from there. I have never worked on a bike before this (aside from basic maintenance), and with each small task, I learn more. By doing one thing at a time you increase your knowledge incrementally and you keep your number of variables down. Just like modding your computer, you never throw all your changes in at once, because when things fail to work properly, you don't know which change caused the problem. I'm still on the low end of the knowledge level in this area, but I learn new stuff every day, and each time I change something on the bike.
I'm not trying to sound patronizing, so if I do my apologies, just my $.02

PieMan · 06-12-2009, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skromfols

NARK, ARK, FARK, and have no idea what the heck they are.

The ARK bit stands for "Airbox Removal Kit", the preceding letter usually relates to the person/company who made the kit. Generally they are a battery box with frame work to attach the various ancillaries that were attached to the original airbox. These kits mean you can remove the OEM plastic airbox/battery holder so you can fit pods to the carbs and hopefully increase power and torque.

skromfols · 06-12-2009, 04:24 PM

That's why I appreciate this web site so much. Everyone is willing to share information, and by getting everyone's ideas and help the learning process goes so much easier.

Marc, thanks for the information on the snorkel. I've taken the seat off to investigate and maybe after lunch I'll work up the courage to remove the snorkel. I rememer reading somewhere that someone had cut his snorkle flush with the airbox and it seemed to improve the breathing, and now I can understand why.

Overkill, what you said maked good sense. I found a thread that shows what the expected hp gain should be if you go to the Triumph off road pipes, K & N filters, block the air injection and change your needle valve (and it tells which to use). The rational there is that if you open up the exhaust your air intake will be the limiting restriction, so you need to open them both and rejet. Those seems like a good combination, but I'm going to do a little more research first. I'd also like to cut the snorkel.

PieMan, thanks, I should have thought that ARK stood for something like that, but I've just had an information overload. You've cleared up a lot with your answer. Thanks.

Thanks to each of you for helping me progress. Every little bit helps.

marc hanna · 06-12-2009, 04:59 PM

Don't bother cutting the snorkel, it just pulls out, you might have to twist and squish it a bit, but you can put it back in if you want. My bike is basically the same as yours and if you haven't done any other mods then you won't likely notice a difference by taking out the snorkel.

Dave2001 · 06-12-2009, 06:14 PM

Oooh, another airbox thread..... no, I must resist.....

Joking aside, I would recommend that you try and make everything you do reversable. For example, it would be better to just remove the snorkel, rather than cut it. That way if you don't like the results, you can put things back as they were.

Forchetto · 06-12-2009, 07:00 PM

There's this rubber velocity stack from Jenks Bolts that replaces the snorkel. At £22.51 it should work just as well as the £87 Norman Hyde alloy one.