air cleaner cover question

[SP-Dee]

One thing I have noticed while reducing my Bandit to a bucket of bolts and bits is that the air cleaner cover was drilled out with several holes, approx 5/8s diameter at some time. Then covered up with duct tape at another point.

From reading these forums I thought the idea was to get more air so why would it be duct taped up? I don't have any aftermarket parts on it, from what I can see so would opening it back up cause problems?

Deanna

[txbanditrydr]

Sounds like someone installed an Ivan's jet kit at some point and perhaps removed it.  I believe the air box mod for that kit involves drilling several (okay - a LOT) of holes in the cover.  The duct tape would be to put things back to a "stock" condition.  I've learned that there's a balance point needed on these carbs that includes fuel and air - if you do not have a jet kit installed things run best with the holes taped up.

[SP-Dee]

Would I be able to tell if there were parts from a previous jet kit still installed on the bike? I'm not sure what parts are included but from looking at the Ivan's website , wouldn't it be a real pain to remove all of it and put it back to stock?

[txbanditrydr]

I understand the installation is pretty straightforward - it's the tuning that can be a bit of a pain.  It's possible they pulled the kit to re-sell.  I haven't read about anyone using an Ivan's kit and taping the holes over.

[Red01]

I'm with Tex.  Either someone pulled a jet kit and returned it to stock, or they experimented with some homebrewed jetting changes and weren't happy with the results and went back to stock.  If it's running fine, leave it alone until you're ready to rejet it yourself.

Do you have the stock muffler?

[CWO4GUNNER]

Be careful that you do not remove the tape before inspecting the main jet sizes. As I recall Ivan's jet kit in my old B1200 was something like 21 holes in the stock airbox with stock filter and 125 main jets with Ivan's own special tapered needle jets and mixture screws set between 3.5-4 turns out from seat. If you rather not check the carbs then you better not remove the tape until you check your spark plugs burn color right after riding and without idling. just drive it for a few miles pull into your driveway and shut it down immediately then pull the spark plugs and check the color. There color should be somewhere in the area of hot cocoa brown, but defiantly not barbecue black or ember ash white, almost any shade of brown is what you want on the electrodes.

[SP-Dee]

Thanks for the advice! I'll leave it taped up for now. It is the stock muffler on it and I had no issues with it running poorly in that regards so I think I'll leave well enough alone for now.