10 replies to this topic

[mwalsh]

How noisy are the K&N cone filters. Since I installed the 1380, the engine is really loud, almost like I have a leaking exhaust manifold and I'm trying to figure out the cause. I don't think it really is a leaking exhaust manifold because I was quite particular about the connections.

If i were to reinstall the carb to filter elbow on the HIF44, will the stock housing from a HS4 fit? This is the only type of AF housing I currently have access to.

[Saxo-Fiesta-Mini]

the hs4 wont fit as far as im aware the holes dont line up shame ur not local u could have my old hiff elbow

[bmcecosse]

For a 1380 (are you sure ??) - you need the HIF 44 - which is 1.75" - so something from a 1.5" carb won't do. Of course it's noisy - that's half the fun !

Edited by bmcecosse, 23 November 2009 - 09:00 PM.

[Sleepy Stu]

Are you kidding I love the sound of my K & N that sucking noise when you floor it is awesome!!!!

[mwalsh]

Are you kidding I love the sound of my K & N that sucking noise when you floor it is awesome!!!!

At this point all I'm looking to do is discount the K&N as the source of the noise I'm hearing. If it's not, then I will naturally consider putting it back on.

[wile e coyote]

I think you're saying you have an HIF44 running a K & N cone - yep it's bloody noisy, particularly if you have a centre binnacle (or if clubby style clocks a lack of blanking plate makes life particularly loud) - you can use the std airbox from the HS4 - assuming you have the HIF carb elbow it will fit a treat - pop a K & N replacement element in it , put half a dozen 3/4" holes in the front vertical wall of the housing, bin the airbox hot air wotsit and it should be a little bit quieter.....

[mwalsh]

I think you're saying you have an HIF44 running a K & N cone - yep it's bloody noisy, particularly if you have a centre binnacle (or if clubby style clocks a lack of blanking plate makes life particularly loud) - you can use the std airbox from the HS4 - assuming you have the HIF carb elbow it will fit a treat - pop a K & N replacement element in it , put half a dozen 3/4" holes in the front vertical wall of the housing, bin the airbox hot air wotsit and it should be a little bit quieter.....

Thanks Wile, exactly the answer I was looking for.

I can take the box off my 1275 for the time being...it already has a K&N element from a Mini Spares Stage One kit. Then I also have the spare box that came off the 1100 that was in the Clubman before the 1380 that I can buy a K&N element for, if I decide that's the way I want to go.

Hot Air flappy dohickey is the first thing I bin when I get a new Mini.

[mwalsh]

Wile was correct, the air box from the HS4 does fit on the HIF44 elbow and abutment bracket, I verified it against a loose HIF44 carb setup I had sitting on the spares shelf. So I've taken the box off my 1275 (fitted with K&N element) and will change the cone out on the 1380 a little later on. I guess we'll see what the difference is.

[Teapot]

Over the years Huey's HIF44 has had a standard pancake box with a paper filter and the usual holes in the front; then the same pancake with the sides cut away to make room for the new loom behind it -- BAD IDEA) and now a Pipercross foam cone, without the elbow. The noise level from all three was about the same (LOUD) but the cone's is deeper and IMHO nicer.
Fuel consumption appears to be about the same (35-40mpg) but the power delivery has moved towards the top end. Another rolling road session is coming up & may result in a new needle to give a more even response from about 2k rpm.


Somebody someday will spot that with an MG Metro engine and 13" wheels Huey's speedo must be about 10% optimistic so my figures for mpg etc are baloney ha ha Or are they?

[mwalsh]

I swapped out the air filters. Now that I have the induction noise gone, I can definitely tell that there is a problem with the LCB. It either:

a) Is supposed to sound like this (not good)

b) Has a crack that I didn't notice when I installed it

c) Has a bad weld at one of the seams

The HS4 air box was a bit of a tight fit over the HIF44 carb body (thank heavens it's flexible plastic!), but changing them out was definitely the way to go. This noise is ruining my enjoyment of the engine, so to narrow down to the cause was very worthwhile. I must say though, between the enclosed air box and leaning out the mixture ever so slightly to adjust for the reduced air flow, there was a noticeable difference in performance.

I am bummed about this LCB being bad - thought I was all but done with this particular project! Plus now I have to find a replacement...all I have left in the parts stash as of right now is a Maniflow Freeflow and a stock cast-iron job.

Edited by mwalsh, 24 November 2009 - 06:19 PM.

[virtual bodysnatcher]

Hi guys, just looking at this topic quickly and not reading it all but here's my two-penneth-worth about cone filters etc.

Having built a race bike and airboxes for same and some ram-air considerations I'd say a proper airbox is a must for reliable fuelling, you want still, ideally cold air, with a good intake, you can't get those with a cone on the end of the intake, people used to junk the airbox on big hairy Suzukis and Kawasakis in the old days and totally balls up the fuelling, they don't suck from the right place and all that noise is lost energy, airboxes need to be big so's you're getting enough air in it to feed the motor, filters don't really matter in that case as they just clean the air which is stored in the box, sommat like an ITG in the std box would be my choice, and a cool air duct so's it doesn't suck hot air off the engine/exhaust but not forward facing as that'll upset the air flow big style, there's a formula that I used to know for minimum size which is to do with rpm, cc's and cubic metres of air required as a flowrate, modern bikes have huge boxes taking up the space under the fuel tank partly for noise regs but mostly for breathing, think my 500cc 2 stroke wanted 7 or 8ltrs but a lazy 4 stroke low reving car engine isn't gonna need as much air to feed it as a 10,000 rpm RG500 stroker. the intake elbow's probably the only thing that might be good to change if there's room to do so as a well radiused ram pipe is a pretty good idea, but wouldn't say it'd be too important as it means customising an airbox.

I'm fixing to make a carbon box for our Moke-alike Derek for that reason (and because' I like carbon) using the std one as a pattern and making the back bigger, sortta making it oval to accommodate a ram pipe.

Tho' that leads me to our next problem that I need some help off the forum on, the speedo cable runs right where the new airbox portion needs to be......I need an electronic version of the old centre speedo effort to do away with a cable........