Air Cleaner Question: : V-Twin Forum: Harley Davidson Forums

JR Ryder · 01-30-2009, 12:19 AM

Does the Harley Stage-1 a/c retain the stock football shaped cover that came with my bike? If I go and spend my $199 on the Stage 1 kit, do I discard the stock backing plate and nice chrome cover, or do I get to keep it? I would like to increase the air flow, and retain the stock cover, and the oval black backing plate that came with my bike new. Anyone know the solution? Thanks, JR

PR3VS56 · 01-30-2009, 12:23 AM

The backing plate is different, but you can continue to use the original "football" outer cover.

JR Ryder · 01-30-2009, 12:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PR3VS56

The backing plate is different, but you can continue to use the original "football" outer cover.

Thanks..... so water and elements would be able to creep in behind the newly exposed filter?....... the whole back of the "oval" cover is open? If so, WOW, the stock set-up is rugged! What a waste of good craftsmanship if I discard it. Well then, I'm convinced the HD Stage-1 A/C is WAYYYYY overpriced then. I took one out of the box at my dealership, and I could not believe the price. I'm gonna have to re-think my options now.............

Oh, and an edit here: If I were to keep the football shaped stock cover after installing the Stage-1 a/c, what would stop it from rotating? It's only secured by one bolt right in the middle. Wouldn't it tend to "pivot"?

PR3VS56 · 01-30-2009, 01:30 AM

http://www.dohertymachine.com/video/

Here's a video on the best (imo) Harley aircleaner money can buy.

Maybe watching the video will change some of your perceptions.

dickey · 01-30-2009, 10:56 AM

Keep the bolt tight and it wont pivot on an 88B motor, but I've seen it pivot on a rubber mount--sold my Dyna to a friend;he didn't keep the bolt tight--air cleaner pivoted up, and the shaking motor caused it to beat the hell outta the paint on the bottom of the tank. Funny thing was, I pulled up next to him at a traffic light while it was happening, and he wasn't even aware it was going on!

dickey · 01-30-2009, 11:01 AM

If you do the satge 1, you need to junk the new air filter in the Screamin' Eagle kit for a K&N replacement. They look the same, but there is a noticeable difference in performance that you can feel with the K&N. Just make sure you change it out BEFORE you do your ECM flash or race tune. Very important!

20538 · 01-30-2009, 02:57 PM

you can buy the back plate and bolts, then buy a stage 1 K&N air filter. I don't have all the part numbers but if you ask around you'll find them.

YankeeBob · 01-30-2009, 04:20 PM

A quick search yielded this:

http://www.v-twinforum.com/forums/tw...-n-filter.html

RockyTopRider · 01-30-2009, 06:56 PM

elements and water don't bother me. i've got an open ac. ridden in some southern down pours no problem. .

route66paul · 01-30-2009, 06:59 PM

If you want a closed filter box, where woud you put your intake tube? This isn't a car, and this is the best way to get air into the engine naturally.

CRAZY_TRAIN · 02-01-2009, 06:50 AM

Dude, dont even buy the harley high flow, do yourself a favor and get a arlen ness big sucker, its the same exact thing just way cheaper and the backing plate is actually chrome and not gross raw metal..OH AND ALSO COMES WITH THE K&N FILTER!

JR Ryder · 02-01-2009, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CRAZY_TRAIN

Dude, dont even buy the harley high flow, do yourself a favor and get a arlen ness big sucker, its the same exact thing just way cheaper and the backing plate is actually chrome and not gross raw metal..OH AND ALSO COMES WITH THE K&N FILTER!

Arghhhhhh.... thanks for the heads-up! I wish I had waited, but now I'll at least have something to compare any future upgrades to. Too late though, I actually ordered the individual Screamin' Eagle pieces through my dealer and actually saved about $50 (over the cost of the S/E kit PLUS the K & N filter). I ordered the Screamin' Eagle chrome backing plate, the mounting screws, o-rings and K & N filter, PLUS I have a $25 gift certificate, so I'm actually gonna be about $75 ahead on this one. I did check-out the Ness stuff, but I found that their web-site was not really current with the '09 stuff. What I really really liked, and would buy in the future (thanks PR3VS56) is the Doherty setup. Check out the video link on this thread. WOW, the o-ring sealed velocity stack..... this thing looks like PURE QUALITY. I hate to throw good-money after bad-money, but I'm gonna give the S/E one a shot and hope for the best. Thanks again, JR

http://www.dohertymachine.com/video/

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YankeeBob · 02-01-2009, 09:07 PM

You will be fine with the SE filter element. Yes, there are better. I have the Zippers filter. But, the SE will be fine.

'05Train · 02-01-2009, 09:20 PM

I see that Doherty has two different versions, one with a chrome breather tube and one with "Power Vents". What's the difference?

JR Ryder · 02-01-2009, 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YankeeBob

You will be fine with the SE filter element. Yes, there are better. I have the Zippers filter. But, the SE will be fine.

Well the actual filter element I ordered was the K & N, however the chrome backing plate is the Screamin' Eagle.... I'll report back here later in the week with my opinion on the setup...... JR