Why if you had the proper sized stuff, couldnt you remove the entire airbox and run a piece of proper sized flex hose right straight to the carb? I ask this because I have access to some fairly large plastic flexible tubing (2"-3"). I realize that I would have to mount an air filter on the end of the snorkle, but can anyone give me a tecnical reason for not doing it.

I am thinking that I can get a more reliable seal with the round plastic tubing than some type of fitting I would mount in the side of the airbox. I also believe that this setup would give more room to make sure it was done neatly. Any thoughts.

I also asked if anyone has tried to swap out a carb on a 500I with an aftermarket but I got no response. If anyone has, I would like to hear about it.

Thanks yall'

 

Your airbox is the last line of defense should you develop a leak in the snorkle or flip your bike in deep water. You have time to shut it off if you take on water before it is sucked into the engine.

If you take on water without a box it will be sucked into the engine like a funnel. About a month ago I flipped my 500 in a bayou. It sucked in water just to the bottom of the filter. I drained the box and not a drop got in the engine.

It is not hard to get a good seal on an airbox snorkle if the hole is cut to the correct size with a good hole saw and use industrial silicone. Also if you run a snorkel directly to the carb I think you would be getting into a carb jetting nightmare.

 

Thnaks for the info, I am inclined to agree with you after looking at the whole thing in piecses. my origional plan was to fab up a smaller airbox and mount it on the front rack, but that proved a lot more preblematic than I had hoped. I guess my best bet is to cut out the baffeling inside the airbox and then mount the intake snorkel into the side of the box(actually I think i am going to run mune out the back of the airbox to the rear then it will look like I got some type of dual stack thing out the back...)or at least that is what I am thinking about doing.

Thanks again fo rthe info.

 

How do you lug or cut off the stock tube or the bend of the air flow sucker that goes under the seat and sucks air from the gas tank?

 

I havent done it yet, but I was going to get a piece of plexiglass or lexan and make a new cover for the top of the airbox and then take the snorkel out the rear of the airbox to the rear of the bike. It looks like there is more room this way. I have not even seen another 500i with a snorkel in this area, so I am kinda working without a net at this point. The people on this fourm are great but seeing it is MUCH better than reading it.