valve stem grinding...theory vs. practice

[traderpro2003]

I noticed the little rubber "duck bill" boot on the bottom of my air box is gone/ground-off. This might be a legacy issue from the OEM spring and shock that I replaced 2-years ago. I think weighed down and some bigger jumps compressed my chain into it and ground-off the poor tacker. I'm discussing this because I rode in the mud and rain yesterday...even rode in the snow at 11k feet. The filter should be clean. But on the inside I see a spray of muddy water actually hit the filter skin. Further inspection revealed muddy water shot into the pre-filtered box area where the left drain is and put crap all over the place. Perhaps this is why my air filters are getting messy so fast??? I'm going to get a new boot and retainer. Seeing this much muddy residue inside probably means even more (dry) dust and grime is getting in. The only other alternative would be to plug this hole. There is another redundant hole on the right side just under the filter that allows draining. Thoughts? Parts are cheap but considering my riding style, I'm curious if I'll simply grind off the new boot. Anyone plug this drain hole? Don't recommend plugging it? Kaw part numbers: das boot: 49006-1211 14.5mm hose clamp: 92037-1900 - Brian

[E.L. Green]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "traderpro2003" wrote:

> I noticed the little rubber "duck bill" boot on the bottom of my air > box is gone/ground-off.

...

> The only > other alternative would be to plug this hole. There is another > redundant hole on the right side just under the filter that allows > draining. Thoughts?

Two words: Duct tape.

[traderpro2003]

Duct tape lasts a few weeks at best. I'd consider epoxy or silicone but most likely will get the boot to be able to drain the left side. It'd be a shame to have mosquitos breeding in my air box.

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "E.L. Green" wrote: > > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "traderpro2003" > wrote: > > I noticed the little rubber "duck bill" boot on the bottom of my air > > box is gone/ground-off. > ... > > > The only > > other alternative would be to plug this hole. There is another > > redundant hole on the right side just under the filter that allows > > draining. Thoughts? > > Two words: > > Duct tape. >

[E.L. Green]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "traderpro2003" wrote:

> Duct tape lasts a few weeks at best.

s/weeks/years/ I duct-taped my airbox three years ago. I checked on the duct tape a few days ago when I put a new battery in. Time to replace it. Clue: Use quality 3M duct tape, not that Wally World sh*t.

> but most likely will get the boot to be able to drain the left side. > It'd be a shame to have mosquitos breeding in my air box.

Hmm. I don't have water in my airbox. But then I don't ride underwater .

[Ed Dobson]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "traderpro2003" wrote:

> > Jeff, thanks for the very informative response. I'm going to wait > for one more clearance check/inspection and I'll post the results. > Too much riding left in the season. Maybe in the winter I'll pull > the head and Cary will be my first call. This group has been > tremendously helpful educating me here. > > Again thanks to you and others - Brian

My guess is that the work you had done was not up to snuff. There's a lot of people out there who don't know what they're doing or understand what they're doing. If they make a mistake do they tell you and fix it or just pass it off. Someone else on this list had KLR work done by highly a recommended source and it too went south. How to get good results? That I will have to think about. ED