[robfred]

Hi,

So wondered why my 2019 Bullet was struggling a bit to accelerate. checked plug - ok. thought ignition problem?? nope.
Could be air filter... oh good grief  ! opened the casing took out filter - wet, covered in mud and crap. Had a good look around. Has anyone else noticed the air intake to the filter box is a short piece of plastic which faces forward and slightly downward. Hence every time i ride in the rain all the crap is coming up off the road directly into the filter box. Is this normal design or is mine badly done from the factory??
Any help as always greatly appreciated. I'm based in Devon UK it rains... lot here. Need a fix any ideas??

Cheers

Rob

[Boxerman]

I haven't noticed a problem with mine. Mine is a 2009 Electra EFI, possibly a different shape of airbox.
I'm in Lancashire - it rains here too 
Frank

[Richard230]

No air filter issues with my 2011 Bullet, but then I don't ride in the rain much. 

[GSS]

Could be air filter... oh good grief  ! opened the casing took out filter - wet, covered in mud and crap. Had a good look around. Has anyone else noticed the air intake to the filter box is a short piece of plastic which faces forward and slightly downward. Hence every time i ride in the rain all the crap is coming up off the road directly into the filter box. Is this normal design or is mine badly done from the factory??

I haven’t looked at a 2019 Bullet 500, but the air intake on the Classic 500 and GT 535 was pointed towards the back to keep rain and bugs from flying right in.  I suspect you may simply need to rotate this to the rearward orientation?

Edit: C5 is pointed front and down....my recollection was incorrect.

[Haggis]

The intake rubber points forward towards the engine just above the swing arm mount.
This was mine when I was blanking off the holes after fitting a carb.

[Dalmatian man]

I'm  also from the UK, my air inlet points forward,never had any issues with road debris getting in there. If the engine is slightly overfilled with oil that finishes up in the air filter box.

[Richard230]

I just checked my 2011 Bullet and its air filter intake points forward and down, likely exactly like a 2019 model.

[Ove]

Thanks for raising. I've spotted this as well. My 2019 is the same and I too have dusty muck in there from wet roads. It's also on the inside of the filter, right into the Fi inlet pipe, so seems to have got through the filter. That's just from riding on wet mucky roads, not whilst raining.

Solution?

[Haggis]

The filter filters from the inside out so any dirt is on the inside of the filter.
Do you have the plastic cover fitted that goes over the filter element?

[Richard230]

The filter filters from the inside out so any dirt is on the inside of the filter.
Do you have the plastic cover fitted that goes over the filter element?

Yes, I do on my bike.  It looks just like your photo.  The filter is under that plastic lid.

[eggman65]

at risk of "hijacking" this thread....Mmmm, my 2010 C5 did not have that plastic filter cover since purchased new.
Should it have? Anyone else's bike not running with that "internal" cover/shroud?

[Haggis]

I think it's because the metal box seal is pretty poor and rain and dust can get in and because the inlet sucks from the top of the box on the outside of the filter it can suck in unfiltered air.
The plastic cover seals the filter from that happening.

[GSS]

The inner plastic was an add-on around 2011 or so to rectify for bits of the cover lock clip breaking off and getting into the cylinder. It was offered free as a retrofit for older C5s.

I edited my earlier post to correctly state that the C5 intake is pointed forward...my recollection wasn’t accurate as I was thinking about another bike’s orientation.

There are 2 ways to rectify this.....a 5” Uni filter recommended by GHG or an ACE filter used by many on this forum. Thanks.

[suitcasejefferson]

My 2013 B5 had huge gaps around the filter, because the contours of the filter did not match the air box. I saw no way to fix it. So for a couple thousand miles I was basically running it with no air filter. The carb conversion kit came with a pod type air filter that attaches directly to the carb. No leaks.

[robfred]

So I have removed the air box and filter had a bit of a look at it.
First I noticed there is a small amount of oil from the engine breather which has gone white due to contact with water.
Is it normal for some oil to come through the breather?
Second as you can see from the photo the air scoop faced directly front, I have therefore twisted it around to face backward and now points over the chain.
Anyone have any thoughts whether this is correct or not.

Cheers

Rob