Airbox Intrusion

[WTSDS]

I mainly ride highway and there's usually a few bugs on top of the air filter whenever I have a look, and
a couple always fall into the airbox when it's jiggled out,  but this time there were LOTS  inside the
airbox, like on the other side of the filter.

Know all about wasps and ant nests blocking up 'bike cavities, it's not that, they were of the same
types splattered over the forks, lights, mirrors. I didn't weigh them but in cooking terns, say two or
the cups of dried insects.

Standard airbox, no mods to any plumbing, no missing pipes, big rubber air tubes nicely seated in
their holes, airfilter in perfect nick and located 'zackerly right by me last time, no obvious gaps.

How did they get in there ?


 

[ducpainter]

I mainly ride highway and there's usually a few bugs on top of the air filter whenever I have a look, and
a couple always fall into the airbox when it's jiggled out,  but this time there were LOTS  inside the
airbox, like on the other side of the filter.

Know all about wasps and ant nests blocking up 'bike cavities, it's not that, they were of the same
types splattered over the forks, lights, mirrors. I didn't weigh them but in cooking terns, say two or
the cups of dried insects.

Standard airbox, no mods to any plumbing, no missing pipes, big rubber air tubes nicely seated in
their holes, airfilter in perfect nick and located 'zackerly right by me last time, no obvious gaps.

How did they get in there ?


 

Are they whole or in pieces?

[scduc]

You've got to check every opening where tubes are attached. Bugs can get into some pretty small cracks.

[WTSDS]

Yeah, intact, and a fair sample of everything except butterflies.

Thort it might be a split in the filter pleats but no, and there's a mesh on the other side too.
Strange thing is there was no dust inside the airbox as would be expected with an air leak, i.e. the filter is doing a good job.

'spose I'll get put a bit of mesh over the two external air intakes, see what happens.

BTW, took off the damm airbox to do a valve shim check. What a hassle getting it off. No wonder so many folk run pods :-)

Good thing was that the airbox and all the bitsies had a chance to go through a tub of suds, squeaky clean and I know have a good handle on wot's underneath.

[ducpainter]

Yeah, intact, and a fair sample of everything except butterflies.

Thort it might be a split in the filter pleats but no, and there's a mesh on the other side too.
Strange thing is there was no dust inside the airbox as would be expected with an air leak, i.e. the filter is doing a good job.

'spose I'll get put a bit of mesh over the two external air intakes, see what happens.

BTW, took off the damm airbox to do a valve shim check. What a hassle getting it off. No wonder so many folk run pods :-)

Good thing was that the airbox and all the bitsies had a chance to go through a tub of suds, squeaky clean and I know have a good handle on wot's underneath.

You removed the airbox to check valves? 

Blew flat rate right there.

I'd look at the drain hose and the breather connections for the source of your bugs.

[WTSDS]

>> You removed the airbox to check valves? 

Was the only part of the 'bike I haven't pulled apart before. Curious minds and all that....

Also am thinking of putting pods on.