How effective-SE Heavy Breather?

[Marsh]

I have a SE HB on my bike, but have been considering a less radical looking, 2" performance air cleaner. My concern is loss of performance. Can anyone tell me if my concern is valid?
Thanks for any input,
Marsh

[Indianspringsaz]

I dont think you would lose anything. I do think that your present air cleaner looks great on your bike. Thats my opinion.

[Marsh]

Thanks Indian. You know how it is. Sometimes you just gotta change something and you're running out of ideas that don't cost an arm & leg.
Marsh

[petrock]

If you go with another high flow air filter setup, you won't lose any performance. The motor will only suck as much air as it needs, and any good high flow air filter will flow more then enough air for motors up to around 124".

Not for nothin', but I'm not a fan of any open filter setup (including the SE HB). Yeah, they flow well and look cool (depending on the setup), but if the filter gets wet the performance goes down the tubes and water gets into the motor which is never good. Each time the filter gets wet, a little bit of oil in the filter is washed away which over time degrades the filtration ability of the filter. So you need to clean/oil them more often. Simply washing the bike will do it, but riding in the rain will do it quicker.

Not to mention road debris puncturing the filter and getting into the motor. Buddy of mines motor grenaded a couple years ago when a rock went through his filter and into the motor. He had the 'standard' SE High Flow A/C with a K&N air filter and no cover overtop it. A truck kicked up a rock on the highway and the rock hit smack dab in the middle of the filter, went clear through the filter and in through the air intake and BOOOM!!!

Yeah, the stock football (or similar) cover won't totally prevent water from hitting the filter, it provides way better protection then an open filter without hindering performance/flow.

[beaureed445]

Good question Marsh. I've been thinking about swapping from the SE Heavy Breather to the HPI Eliminator. But, I haven't seen many people talking about that one.

[Marsh]

Thanks for the responses guys. I have been lusting after the Dragtron performance air cleaner for it's simple, clean beauty. Anyone know about them?
Marsh

[claydbal]

Originally Posted by petrock

If you go with another high flow air filter setup, you won't lose any performance. The motor will only suck as much air as it needs, and any good high flow air filter will flow more then enough air for motors up to around 124".

Not for nothin', but I'm not a fan of any open filter setup (including the SE HB). Yeah, they flow well and look cool (depending on the setup), but if the filter gets wet the performance goes down the tubes and water gets into the motor which is never good. Each time the filter gets wet, a little bit of oil in the filter is washed away which over time degrades the filtration ability of the filter. So you need to clean/oil them more often. Simply washing the bike will do it, but riding in the rain will do it quicker.

Not to mention road debris puncturing the filter and getting into the motor. Buddy of mines motor grenaded a couple years ago when a rock went through his filter and into the motor. He had the 'standard' SE High Flow A/C with a K&N air filter and no cover overtop it. A truck kicked up a rock on the highway and the rock hit smack dab in the middle of the filter, went clear through the filter and in through the air intake and BOOOM!!!

Yeah, the stock football (or similar) cover won't totally prevent water from hitting the filter, it provides way better protection then an open filter without hindering performance/flow.

how did the rock pass the wire screen? because he had the paper element filter! it couldnt have been the k n.

[qtrracer]

SE heavy breather filter is oriented 90 degrees to the road so a rock would most likely have to be coming at you from the right side at an angle that rocks wouldn't be too likely to be coming from to pierce the filter. And the sock that HD supplies with the heavy breather is very effective a shielding the filter from rain. Have used those filter socks , called Outerwears in the off road world, many times they work well.

[nosillyname]

Originally Posted by Marsh

Thanks for the responses guys. I have been lusting after the Dragtron performance air cleaner for it's simple, clean beauty. Anyone know about them?
Marsh

Dragtron by SCP? Yep, I have used one on a previous bike, I also like the look - simple and clean with a touch of hotrod. Plus they come with a K&N type filter and they have a woven wire mesh that you can use for additional protection of the filter element.

[ViennaHog]

I have ridden open a/c set ups in all weather conditions without a rainsock or else. The only precaution is to oil the filter more frequently than recommended (only the true K&N type).

The rock story sounds bogus to me.

[Geezer-Glide]

Been running mine in all season weather for years now. Rain? No problem. Washing the oil off? Nope. Rock thru the filter..........? Too many open filters out there, this is a first for me. Not sayin' it didn't happen, but I think you have a better chance of winning the Power Ball Lotto.

[nightrob]

Originally Posted by claydbal

how did the rock pass the wire screen? because he had the paper element filter! it couldnt have been the k n.

It must have been one helluva rock!!!

[petrock]

Originally Posted by claydbal

how did the rock pass the wire screen? because he had the paper element filter! it couldnt have been the k n.

It was a K&N, as I stated. You'd have to be blind to mistake a K&N for a paper element. The wire mesh in K&N filters are not impermeable. It is designed, primarily, to hold the cotton guts of the filter in place without restricting air flow, not as a protective shield. The wire is very very thin. You can easily bend/dent it with medium pressure with your finger. Even easier if the object is thin and pointy.

Originally Posted by Geezer-Glide

but I think you have a better chance of winning the Power Ball Lotto.

Agreed that the probability is pretty low, but people do win the lottery and get struck by lightning etc. Stranger things have happened.

Originally Posted by nightrob

It must have been one helluva rock!!!

Don't know, all we found during tear down were tiny bits of rock and a ton of metal. The whole in the filter was about the diameter of a 22-cal bullet, located in a valley between two folds. The inside of the filter was pretty dinged up too. The rock probably ping-ponged around inside before going into the intake.

There are a couple rock quarries and cement manufacturing plants near by so there are always tracker trailers going up/down the highway loaded with rocks etc. They kick up crap all the time, ranging in all shapes and sizes. We were riding at 80+ MPH on the highway (280 N). The truck was going about the speed limit (I assume), which is 65 MPH. Do the math and thats a pretty damn fast moving rock.

[nightrob]

Originally Posted by petrock

It was a K&N, as I stated. You'd have to be blind to mistake a K&N for a paper element. The wire mesh in K&N filters are not impermeable. It is designed, primarily, to hold the cotton guts of the filter in place without restricting air flow, not as a protective shield. The wire is very very thin. You can easily bend/dent it with medium pressure with your finger. Even easier if the object is thin and pointy.



Agreed that the probability is pretty low, but people do win the lottery and get struck by lightning etc. Stranger things have happened.



Don't know, all we found during tear down were tiny bits of rock and a ton of metal. The whole in the filter was about the diameter of a 22-cal bullet, located in a valley between two folds. The inside of the filter was pretty dinged up too. The rock probably ping-ponged around inside before going into the intake.

There are a couple rock quarries and cement manufacturing plants near by so there are always tracker trailers going up/down the highway loaded with rocks etc. They kick up crap all the time, ranging in all shapes and sizes. We were riding at 80+ MPH on the highway (280 N). The truck was going about the speed limit (I assume), which is 65 MPH. Do the math and thats a pretty damn fast moving rock.

I have no reason to not believe you. I was only saying...it must be one of those "the Gods must be crazy" type of things..

[rob71458]

I read on another forum that the SE HB helped them pick up 5 hp.