Hawk doesn't like rain

[kd2dxf]

Long story short.
Got caught in a downpour on the way back from a trail ride. Bike tarted bogging at half throttle. Limbed home, and found airbox had some water in it. cleaned out, but still rode rough. took stock carb off, emptied and cleaned. filled tank with gas and half bottle of STP Fuel Cleaner, Thinking Slow Jet was clogged. Rode around for 30 minutes, and finally smoothed out.
To eliminate this problem, I was thinking about getting the Pod Filter. What is the other hose that goes from the box to the engine? Tips/Advise?

[Entropy]

That's the PCV hose. When I put my UNI on I put a K&N PCV valve on the hose.

[pcspecialist]

the other hose is the crankcase breather.

[dpl096]

I believe others have mentioned the boot from the airbox to the carb is crap on a few bikes and doesnt seal up correctly. Motocheez has a video on it I think .. not sure but seems like I recall him at least discussing it in a vid.

[BrianW]

I had this same issue today. Got stuck in some rain and bike barely made it the last 2 miles home because it bogged down so much. KD, any follow up on this? I’m wondering if an oil change, carb clean, or pod filter are in the future? Any other advice or thoughts?

[Tashka]

I sealed my airbox with hotglue. I've had no issues driving in rain, or heavy storms. Or creek crossings up to my knees.

[NzBrakelathes]

Originally Posted by kd2dxf

Long story short.
Got caught in a downpour on the way back from a trail ride. Bike tarted bogging at half throttle. Limbed home, and found airbox had some water in it. cleaned out, but still rode rough. took stock carb off, emptied and cleaned. filled tank with gas and half bottle of STP Fuel Cleaner, Thinking Slow Jet was clogged. Rode around for 30 minutes, and finally smoothed out.
To eliminate this problem, I was thinking about getting the Pod Filter. What is the other hose that goes from the box to the engine? Tips/Advise?

There’s a bung you can remove under air box to drop water out

[Megadan]

Originally Posted by Tashka

I sealed my airbox with hotglue. I've had no issues driving in rain, or heavy storms. Or creek crossings up to my knees.

I did something similar to this on my last Hawk before I just switched to a pod filter. I didn't use hot glue and instead used a soft curing clear silicon sealant on the joint where the intake tube meets the air box as well as the lower airbox to the middle section/filter housing, which has no seal on it at all, and doesn't seal well on its own.

As far as the breather hose. As previously mentioned, some people use a PCV. I prefer to simply run a breather filter to allow the flow of air in both directions. Get a longer hose if you need to and route it somewhere up high under the seat. Mount it however your heart desires.

[dpl096]

Originally Posted by Tashka

I sealed my airbox with hotglue. I've had no issues driving in rain, or heavy storms. Or creek crossings up to my knees.

That stuff is great!

[GronkFries]

Can someone help shed some light as to why a pod filter would help this situation instead of suck even more water in at an alarming rate. An airbox properly drained (Usually more for fuel but water goes down the drain tube fine too) should get rid of water without issues, even in a monsoon. This is my first dirt bike riding vehicle so maybe they are sealed off more? I haven't really checked yet.

[Megadan]

Originally Posted by GronkFries

Can someone help shed some light as to why a pod filter would help this situation instead of suck even more water in at an alarming rate. An airbox properly drained (Usually more for fuel but water goes down the drain tube fine too) should get rid of water without issues, even in a monsoon. This is my first dirt bike riding vehicle so maybe they are sealed off more? I haven't really checked yet.

I have ridden my pod filtered Hawk through white-out rain before and several other more normal rains, left it parked exposed in the same, and never once had an issue with water. While riding it never even got wet, and even when it sat in the rain, most of it just ran off the outer foam pre-filter with the inner fine foam filter dry as a bone.

The stock Hawk airbox is not that well sealed. The intake tube to the airbox not withstanding, the middle section of the airbox literally has no seal on it whatsoever. Ride in some dusty conditions for a while and you will start to see a buildup of it inside the airbox, on the side it shouldn't be getting to.

That said, getting water into the airbox is more unusual. I never had that issue myself. but it isn't impossible.

[GronkFries]

Originally Posted by Megadan

I have ridden my pod filtered Hawk through white-out rain before and several other more normal rains, left it parked exposed in the same, and never once had an issue with water. While riding it never even got wet, and even when it sat in the rain, most of it just ran off the outer foam pre-filter with the inner fine foam filter dry as a bone.

The stock Hawk airbox is not that well sealed. The intake tube to the airbox not withstanding, the middle section of the airbox literally has no seal on it whatsoever. Ride in some dusty conditions for a while and you will start to see a buildup of it inside the airbox, on the side it shouldn't be getting to.

That said, getting water into the airbox is more unusual. I never had that issue myself. but it isn't impossible.

Thank you for the pod filter explanation. They never seemed to me as overly protective, but from what you say very encouraging. I want to take the bike I bought on a serious trip once the bugs have been worked out. I've ridden in all weather conditions including snow with a snowmobile suit on (To get to Florida, that sucked lol!), high winds, serious rain storms and being thousands of miles away from home wondering what to do, broke down and alone.

But a little pod filter stuck on the end of my carb is appealing for a lot of reasons. Weight and storage for one. Maybe try it out first lol

[Megadan]

If you plan on crossing bodies of water, sealing up the airbox has many advantages over a pod filter. I normally don't encounter much water in my rides aside from rain.