Dominator 88SS air filter?

Hi gents of vast knowledge!
My Dominator 88SS has a somewhat uncertain history as some of you may have seen in my previous thread/s.
The engine looks a genuine 88SS of 1961 manufacture, the head is of the type seen on Norton Mercury, and with a downdraft inlet tract. It is currently fitted with a single 28mm Amal Concentric.
The frame, and I assume the attached tinware is from another model; the frame number corresponds with a 1962 build date. There's a circular cut out in the front of the pressing which I assume was intended for a rubber bellows or similar to an air filter in the "tin box" behind. The cut out is way too low however for the downdraft orientated and therefore higher inlet on the carburettor bell mouth and air intake.
Currently there's no air filter, which I'm not too happy about. But it's a pretty restricted space between the carburettor in front, the frame above, and the pressed metal fittings behind.
Can anyone suggest where I might source an air filter that would fit?
[ATTACH=full]68155[/ATTACH]/url]

Not sure whether it will fit but this is the only filter type for twin carbs that i have seen - but i am far from an expert on these.
http://www.norvilmotorcycle.co.uk/025403.htm
For single carb twins (presumably non downdraught) a different filter type was fitted in the tin box.

ntst8 said:

Not sure whether it will fit but this is the only filter type for twin carbs that i have seen - but i am far from an expert on these.
http://www.norvilmotorcycle.co.uk/025403.htm
For single carb twins (presumably non downdraught) a different filter type was fitted in the tin box.

Click to expand...

Thanks for that. Yes I'd seen that one too in my searching, and wondered if that might not do the trick.
It looks like I'd need to configure a new base plate with a single opening, which, since it's a flat sheet, should be simple enough to do.
The mild steel example from Norvil that you've shown looks a bit rough and ready in their photos. The stainless one looks much nicer, and probably would be worth the not inconsiderable extra cost. http://www.norvilmotorcycle.co.uk/033030SS.htm

I think it may have come with an air cleaner that fits between the oil tank and battery box....Even if you found one it would need to be modified for the concentric carb ....It looks like most people just use a universal cone filter for these bikes....I found this example but not sure if it would be correct..

http://en.vintage-motorcycle.com/index. ... 0&limit=90

My guess (because I have little proof)
What you have is a 62 originally for a non downdraft head since you have the one hole shielded oil tank. I think 62 is the last year for this shield/tank. This shielded tank WAS used on dual carb 650 manxman(verified) and 88SS and...early style head single carb models.
The double dimple air cleaner show on the norvil site is for a 66 which is the only year for the 389/689 carb combo. before and after 66 had a single dimple on the LH side. The third air cleaner had no dimples due to concentric carbs 67/partial? and 68.
Your bitza single manifold on a downdraft head is what makes your setup a problem that custom engineering will solve...not a OEM production piece.
AFAIK The double dimple norvil air cleaner can be used on all dual concentric and monobloc carbs used on the SS head.

Thanks guys.
Beach, I don't think I could make that Vokes air cleaner fit neatly. My 1962 MGA MkII coincidentally runs a pair of original Vokes air cleaners, but with a few subtle hidden internal mods of stub stacks and K&N filters
Dave and ntst8, I think the Norvil filter might be the best option, unless someone posts a better alternative later. I realise this filter is for a later model, but the bike is unfortunately already not an original matching numbers bike and the Norvil filter looks likely to fit in the awkward space.
The filter obviously will need a new face plate adaptor for the carburettor side. I might have to find a neat way to brace the unit too, because I'd not be surprised to find the filter in use wanting to turn around the single circular carburettor inlet with engine vibration.
I should be a able to find a black rubber bung to make the open hole behind less offensive looking.

What about one of these, like Triumph used.
It might not have huge airfiltering capacity, or air flow rate either,
but its better than rocks going down your carb throat !
It might just fit in that space...

ntst8 said:

Not sure whether it will fit but this is the only filter type for twin carbs that i have seen - but i am far from an expert on these.
http://www.norvilmotorcycle.co.uk/025403.htm
For single carb twins (presumably non downdraught) a different filter type was fitted in the tin box.

Click to expand...

I think there is a guy in western canada that makes repop all 3 styles that I described. A search might yield them able to make a custom one (no holes).
By 62 the air cleaner was an optional extra, not sure for 61 as the manxman was the only down draft offering (unverified)

Rohan said:

What about one of these, like Triumph used.
It might not have huge airfiltering capacity, or air flow rate either,
but its better than rocks going down your carb throat !
It might just fit in that space...

Click to expand...

At least it looks like an old bike filter. Looks like it might fit the space too, but not sure.

There is a suspicion that ones like that, with the mounting stub recessed into the front plate, may be restrictive if they don't have the back plate with the "top hat" bulge, like this:

I believe that Norton when they went to the downdraught head made an air filter but the reason you don’t see many about is because like the side stand it was an option extra

Whichever option check that filters are availiable , Norville does a box that fits to the back of the oil tank and connects to a single carb using a ring adaptor , and rubber hose, but is intended for non DDhead. Not a well thought out item . In the day no one would be seen dead with an air filter! ,not cool. If you must I would use a ring adaptor ,hose and a bit of tube to a cone filter tucked into the space between tank and battery. There is also a manifold that levels the carb out on the DD head,I have one on an Atlas ,not so pretty but functional.

OK, I've fitted an air cleaner, for the time being, till I sort out an aesthetically neater solution. I decided, even if I could make it fit, the Norvil wedge shaped box was going to look disproportionately large with a single carburettor. The Triumph style cans simply wouldn't fit.

What I've done is simple, cheap and effective but far from original looking. Unfortunately this was the smallest in this style of air filter that Uni Filter makes, and the internal coil was about 2mm too large in diameter to fit through the air cleaner box hole. Without the internal coil "skeleton" it fitted, but the resultant crimped filter foam looked silly, and presumably it would have collapsed down once the engine was running and sucking any decent volume of air.

[/url]
/img]

[img[/img]

Back in 2013 this was posted by wjrich (see below). I followed his advice and bought one. I think that I paid around $75 for it. It also fits great on the commando and I'm thinking about buying another one.

Dave

Re: Air Cleaner Question

Postby wjrich » Thu Mar 07, 2013 1:09 pm
As a longshot, I contacted K&N to see if thy might have a solution. Within a day, i received a response to me email asking for more details, which i provided. by return email in a couple of hours, K&N basically offered to build me a filter with the 1.5" height v. the 2" height. Robert Knudsen- the K&N person responding- said it would take about 3 weeks to produce, and he would send me cost details.
K&N gets my vote for outstanding customer service- especially given that this is a 1-off request!

drp said:

Back in 2013 this was posted by wjrich (see below). I followed his advice and bought one. I think that I paid around $75 for it. It also fits great on the commando and I'm thinking about buying another one.

Dave Re: Air Cleaner Question
Postby wjrich » Thu Mar 07, 2013 1:09 pm
As a longshot, I contacted K&N to see if thy might have a solution. Within a day, i received a response to me email asking for more details, which i provided. by return email in a couple of hours, K&N basically offered to build me a filter with the 1.5" height v. the 2" height. Robert Knudsen- the K&N person responding- said it would take about 3 weeks to produce, and he would send me cost details.
K&N gets my vote for outstanding customer service- especially given that this is a 1-off request!

Click to expand...

I asked K & N if they did an air filter for a Suzuki SP370, but they were not interested :!: :shock:

Bernhard said:

I asked K & N if they did an air filter for a Suzuki SP370, but they were not interested :!: :shock:

Click to expand...

Well, it's not a Norton.