Narrowly avoided catastrophe

Status
Not open for further replies.

acadian

VIP MEMBER
Joined
Mar 5, 2010
Messages
1,371
Country flag
I've heard the horror stories but it had never happened to me until today. Finally have sunny and warm afternoon, so I decided to head out for some self-isolation on the Norton. First kick and she backfired, no biggie I thought until I saw smoke from under the tank. Got off in time to see the foam RAM filters go from smolder to fire in an instant. Luckily I was able to flip the fuel tap off and rip the pods off the carbs. Luckier still, and after a thorough check... there is no damage aside from some flecks of melted foam material on the manifolds. Wiring, tank, seat... all escaped harm.

Narrowly avoided catastrophe


Fitted the old K&N filter and was able to take her out... bike runs as great as ever, so a happy ending after all
Narrowly avoided catastrophe
 
Woah! Nice ride!

Had something similar happen with my foam a few weeks back, luckily no full blown fire.

That is a really beautiful bike.
 
As much as people slag off KN filters, I dont think I would ever have foam sock filters again.
 
Say a thank you prayer to God. My buddy's Norton burned to the ground years ago when his foam filter ignited.

Yours is lovely.
 
When I do the SS's head gasket. the pods are going in the shitcan!
 
Really glad you dodged that one mate!
My old t140 used to catch alight around the bellmouths sometimes I used to quickly kick it over to pull the flames into the motor
Different story with foam pods
I had been thinking of fitting bell mouths and a foam filter to my commando, having second thoughts now
Cheers
 
Definitely Dig those pipes, nice bike, glad you were able to think and act as fast as your ride looks. Cj
 
As much as people slag off KN filters, I dont think I would ever have foam sock filters again.

Dug up some tests done by Comnoz a few years back that show the K&N flow rate better than foam, likely at the expense of filtration
 
Flame arrestor.
Flame arrestor.
Flame arrestor.
Flame arrestor.
Flame arrestor.

It was there when it was built. It was there in replacement type filter elements.
The (unknowing) trend, to use other type filters comes at a risk.
Boat engines (4cycle) even though they do nat have an air filter. They are effective, and needed.
Car engines too.
I’ve written about it before.
 
Wow ! Guess it time the foam lands in can and K&N goes on ... glad nothing too serious , and thanks for posting up .... sounds like a fire could be just a kick away , and me still running GF tank I been living right I guess ...
 
Flame arrestor.
Flame arrestor.
Flame arrestor.
Flame arrestor.
Flame arrestor.

Too true, though I'm not certain how effective the wire mesh on the K&N's would be in that capacity, maybe I'll perform a torch test on one of them to see how long it takes for it to go up.

Wow ! Guess it time the foam lands in can and K&N goes on ... glad nothing too serious , and thanks for posting up .... sounds like a fire could be just a kick away , and me still running GF tank I been living right I guess ...

In the worst case scenario I'd be thankful for that unpainted Alu tank;)
 
Lovely machine. Quick thinking with the gas tap.
Lost my 73 as the fire was inside the ham can. Panicked and dropped her.
 
Had a backfire blow one of my carbs off the rubber boot late one night. It was dark and couldn't see the problem. Loaded it up in a truck and took it home only to find out the next morning that the carb just needed to be pushed back on.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top