Air intake guards

[Perspicacious]

I ride in areas that during summer often have Australian Plague Locusts. I have already made some radiator guards, which were easy because the radiators are rectangular and the plastic shrouds hold the guards in place.

I now want to make some air intake guards but they look harder.

Have a look at jonnyp's fine work here.

I have 2 questions:
1. How does one remove the air intakes? They are held in place by 4 torx screws and a plastic lug (at the bottom). The torx screws are easy to remove but the plastic lug has beaten me. I think it is a bayonet lug that expands once inserted but I cannot even see the back of the lug. I am thinking of drilling it out but that is something I would like to avoid; and
2. How does one cut the mesh into the correct shape? The air intakes are an irregular shape. I think this problem might be solved if I can remove the air intakes and trace the shapes of the air intake hole. But see question 1.

 

[alp]

Jeez, in the UK we have wall to wall traffic, Australia Locusts. Not much difference really.
Hope someone gets the answer for you mate.

 

[Wrinkly]

I think you'll have great difficulty in removing that panel completely,although someone may correct me.

You may have to work with the panel still connected by the lug.

Steve

 

[jonnyp]

Well I couldn't help but reply....

The air intakes are simple to get off. Two screws at the top in the black plastic. Two screws from the rad shroud in to the silver plastic part. You then need to punch out the centre pin of the lug... DON'T DRILL IT! Use a 3mm punch and gentle tap it through... Watching where it falls!

The whole panel should come away but there is a catch... Really..it's along the top edge of the black part where that meets the grey tank panel, my left one came off no problem but the right one was a bugger. Either a hand up behind the panel or a fine screwdriver in the slot should release it, don't force it. Once you have it off you'll see so, if one side doesn't come try the other.

When you refit the panels push them gently in place locate the screws but don't tighten, push the centre pin in the lug and locate that, use a 6-8mm punch to drive the pin home and flush with the lug then do the screws.

The mesh, as you can see I used a fine- ish mesh I found this easy to form round the inside of the air intake. I lined up the mesh how I wanted, so the weave ran parallel to one edge so both sides would look the same, then marked the mesh 10-12mm over size of the intake. The mesh I used could be cut with some heavy scissors. I then took the time to form it around the intakes and when happy ran some hot melt glue to hold it in place.

The snorkels should give you enough clearance to get these in with out the need to cut any plastic away....

Does this help?

If not I can either post some pics or alternatively you could ride over to my house and I'll do it for you !!!!!!!

Good luck

Jon

 

[Perspicacious]

Thanks

Thanks for the assistance. A punch should do it.

Unfortunately, I'm busy for the next couple of weekends (or fortunately, as it involves some winter GS rides). When I get time, I'll take photos and post the process of removing the air intakes.

 

[Giles]

Well I couldn't help but reply....

You then need to punch out the centre pin of the lug... DON'T DRILL IT! Use a 3mm punch and gentle tap it through... Watching where it falls! ....

Jon

 

[Mark Hooton]

well nice!

Well nice guards pal

 

[Nutty]

You chav

 

[jonnyp]

And how much was that?

 

[Giles]

They were from Hornig something like 10 Euros. I reckon you'd struggle to buy a piece of mesh from your local DIY store for under that ...

http://www.motorcycleparts-hornig.com/BMW-R-1200-GS-LC/Alu-High-grade-Steel/

 

[jonnyp]

£6.50!!!! You'll give people the impression WC owners have more money than sense!!!!

 

[Nutty]

They were from Hornig something like 10 Euros. I reckon you'd struggle to buy a piece of mesh from your local DIY store for under that ...

http://www.motorcycleparts-hornig.com/BMW-R-1200-GS-LC/Alu-High-grade-Steel/

Crickey, you could spend over €150 on frame plugs. And I bet they won't all fit.

 

[Perspicacious]

Giles beat me to it. Thanks.

I found the easiest way to remove the plastic lug was with the short end of an Allen key. The plastic lug is a bugger to remove because you cannot see or feel where to press. Once you guess the correct location and press, it comes out easy enough.

One disturbing thing is that the air intake and radiator shroud need to be removed in order to top up the radiator. That's 4 torx screws and the plastic lug that need to be removed just to top up the radiator. Bad design.

 

[dave hendy]

They were from Hornig something like 10 Euros. I reckon you'd struggle to buy a piece of mesh from your local DIY store for under that ...

http://www.motorcycleparts-hornig.com/BMW-R-1200-GS-LC/Alu-High-grade-Steel/

There is a video on the link shows how to fit their grills

 

[Engineer]

Hmmmmmmm air-intake guards - think they might cause all sorts of unknown turbulence effects on the airflow into the engine leading to incorrect fuelling which will inevitably cause the engine to self destruct when travelling at high speed. The warranty will of course be invalidated but that goes with out saying

 

[jonnyp]

Hmmmmmmm air-intake guards - think they might cause all sorts of unknown turbulence effects on the airflow into the engine leading to incorrect fuelling which will inevitably cause the engine to self destruct when travelling at high speed. The warranty will of course be invalidated but that goes with out saying

Oh.... No.... That's where you're wrong... The small holes in the guards cause a smoothing of the air flow reducing the Eddie currents in the intake tubes, thus reducing the turbulent air flow over the air filter. This produces a more laminar flow and that allows a more balanced volume of air at all road speeds.

They will also reduce the amount of debris in the filter allowing the filter to perform better for longer.

There!

 

[Engineer]

Oh.... No.... That's where you're wrong... The small holes in the guards cause a smoothing of the air flow reducing the Eddie currents in the intake tubes, thus reducing the turbulent air flow over the air filter. This produces a more laminar flow and that allows a more balanced volume of air at all road speeds.

They will also reduce the amount of debris in the filter allowing the filter to perform better for longer.

There!

Hmmm I think that it might introduce small eddies in the centre of the airflow where it would have been laminar before anything was placed in its path, thereby possibly increasing turbulence over the filter - too bloody difficult to work out without doing an experiment at all air speeds.

I like to keep the air intakes clear except when washing the bike, when I stuff a couple of bits of sponge in the holes to keep the water out.

There!

P.S. the filter is there to errrrr filter the air and keep debris out

 

[jonnyp]

Hmmm I think that it might introduce small eddies in the centre of the airflow where it would have been laminar before anything was placed in its path, thereby possibly increasing turbulence over the filter - too bloody difficult to work out without doing an experiment at all air speeds.

I like to keep the air intakes clear except when washing the bike, when I stuff a couple of bits of sponge in the holes to keep the water out.

There!

P.S. the filter is there to errrrr filter the air and keep debris out

 

[Engineer]

Off to Southwold on Sat with the girlfriend riding shotgun - hope I don't get any foreign objects in my air intakes, stones in my radiators, a broken headlight glass or crud on the front engine cover - I will be worrying so much about all safety farkles that I should have fitted but have failed to that I'll be a jibbering wreck before the day's out

 

[jonnyp]

Off to Southwold on Sat with the girlfriend riding shotgun - hope I don't get any foreign objects in my air intakes, stones in my radiators, a broken headlight glass or crud on the front engine cover - I will be worrying so much about all safety farkles that I should have fitted but have failed to that I'll be a jibbering wreck before the day's out

Well I guess you have the choice, lunch for two in southwold or.... all the farkles. It would come to about the same amount!!!!!


I'm not jealous.... Hottest day of the year so far (maybe) and the bike is sitting in the garage with a dust cover on it. 3 more weeks and I can ride again, by then the rain'll be back!