carbs and air cleaners

htown16

htown16

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Going to install the carbs and stock ham can air cleaner. 73 850. First time I've done one with the stock set up. Install carbs first or put the air cleaner on first?
 
I always put air cleaner on first. It's very difficult, almost impossible, to get the front plate of the air cleaner into the gap behind the carbs if they are fitted first.
 
There a lot of threads re this so clearly it can be quite difficult. On my '73 I have never had much trouble installing the filter as per the Norton owners manual. I have always wondered if variation in factory Norton frames and/or possible variation in air cleaner cages causes the problem to be serious in some cases, and just a minor annoyance in others.
 
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I've only done it twice, but air cleaner first - with pre-lubed gaitor fitted, then carbs.
 
Carbs first, then front air cleaner plate with boots installed on the plate, then the filter element.
 
The real problem with HamCan is the steel grille. I've run a K&N filter in the HamCan without the grille, this makes removal/installing the can much easier as the filter can be 'rolled' more into position. I've always R&R'd the hamcan with carbs in place. With the grille, you just got to be more brutal with the rubbers. I pre place them onto carbs, pushed as far forward onto carb intakes as possible/well past their normal position. Then after front plate located, its a matter of pushing/proding/levering the rubbers into the plate openings and getting them properely seated. A long thing screw driver helps here.
 
Tornado said:
The real problem with HamCan is the steel grille. I've run a K&N filter in the HamCan without the grille, this makes removal/installing the can much easier as the filter can be 'rolled' more into position. I've always R&R'd the hamcan with carbs in place. With the grille, you just got to be more brutal with the rubbers. I pre place them onto carbs, pushed as far forward onto carb intakes as possible/well past their normal position. Then after front plate located, its a matter of pushing/proding/levering the rubbers into the plate openings and getting them properely seated. A long thing screw driver helps here.
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Yes! a bit of silicone spray helps a great deal as well
 
For using with th KN fitler, thee was talk of cutting back the grille to fit a shallower filter, giving more clearance for fitting nd removing. But we were unable to source a slimmer KN or alternative filter. RGM sells a slim hamcan grille and their disposible paper filter but didn't think having a regular replament item needing shipment from UK was wise.
 
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