Drilling Holes in Air Intake

[LocoParaHonda]

Random idea...I was toying around with the idea of drilling some well placed holes in the plastic body of my stock honda air filter box to help increase intake. Would there be any dire consequences to doing this? Has someone else done this? It just occured to me how small the opening is on the stock air box and I couldn't see why it wouldn't do anything but help. "I would of course only drill holes in the outside part of the box, where all air coming in still passes through the filter.

I'm just recalling a time when my air box bolt came loose, then i hit a bump and it disconnected. I got a big burst of speed...for a day...before I had to thoroughly clean out my carb.

If it doesn't work well I figure I can always seal the holes back up with gaff tape and rubber sealant.

[akskoot]

Here's what I did on my Aero and it helped: http://www.hondaspree.net/phpBB3/viewto ... =4&t=11151

[toplessFC3Sman]

the spree I'm working on wouldn't run correctly at WOT without the intake cover on; even with the filter in place. I don't know if it was going too lean, or if the vacuum-actuated petcock was closing when the intake got too close to atmospheric (leaning towards the latter), but it definitely caused problems.

[LocoParaHonda]

Well, the muffler is officially clean. I cleaned mine and my girlfriends 86 muffler. Not that much came out of hers, but a good deal of black gunk came out of mine. So now I have a clean muffler, a clean carb, however....dun dun dun...I still can't get over 30mph. I even tried swapping out my muffler for my girlfriends and there was no change at all in speed.

I'm not sure what to do next. Would a scratch on the piston cause a major decrease in speed like this? Any suggestions on other things that could be eating speed anyone?

[turtle13]

Check your belt and rollers. if the rollers are flat spotted or the belt is worn then it will limit how far of the drive face it can travel. The belt should be replaced once it drops below 14 mm if I remember correctly.

[LocoParaHonda]

Thanks Turtle.

I'll check the belt. How do I check the rollers? That's part of the rear belt drive right? Do you know the service manual term for doing that so I can hunt it down in there?

[turtle13]

it will be on the front of the belt, when you pull off the drive face to remove the belt, the variator is behind that. pull it out and disassemble, check the rollers that are within the variator. if they have any flat spots on them replace em'. while your back there clean all the grease that is more than likely allllllll over in there and re assemble dry, with out the back ring that holds it all together. it will actually limit how far out the ramp plate can go.
as well make sure your vari is smooth and doesnt have any gouges or damage.
i think in the service manual it just refers to it as variator maintenance...

[LocoParaHonda]

Success!!

The belt was way definitely worn below service specs. And the roller weights were a little worn too. I cleaned out the variator, regreased it with fresh grease.

Luckily, the 87 elite I pull parts from had a very good belt and roller set, so I replaced my aero's worn out stuff with those.

On the test ride I got crazy improved acceleration and I can do 35mph pretty comfortably now! (30mph fast, then another 5mph build up)

I would still like a little more speed though. I think I'll still do the upjet and drill the air box.

Turtle-- I didn't see the back ring thing you were talking about inside the variator. It was just the ramp plate, then the cap that bolts onto the back. Is what you're talking about the "restrictor plate" I keep hearing about? Maybe my year of Aero doesn't have one. (85)

[turtle13]

Success!!
Turtle-- I didn't see the back ring thing you were talking about inside the variator. It was just the ramp plate, then the cap that bolts onto the back. Is what you're talking about the "restrictor plate" I keep hearing about? Maybe my year of Aero doesn't have one. (85)

that cap does restrict it slightly, not a whole lot, but a little. mine when recently removed had sharp areas where the ramp plate had constantly run into the cap, wearing it down. mine is pretty much stock and hit 42 tucked on the flats tonight when i took it out for a milk run... ok so it was simply an excuse to take it out to break in the new rings, and to get a baseline on how it runs before i put the exhaust on it.

on a stock set up, i have found that it really is the small things that make the biggest difference
example, sl26 tires 10x90/90 (ups the top speed slightly), a good oiled filter, no flat spotted rollers, etc.

[LocoParaHonda]

Mine has a variator like this:




Your saying that ring around the edge restricts speed also? I was just worried about running it without that as it would make it seem like there wasn't anything holding the variator together without it. Nothing bad will happen with that off?

[aerorob]

Yes, that little plate with three screws is not needed. I am pretty sure it keeps the rollers from pushing the ramp plate out to its potential, giving you a slower top speed.
Take it off and test ride

[bigtool]

Look at the pulley face, if you can see a wear line about 3/4 high on the pulley,then that cover is stopping the belt from going all the way up.

[aerorob]

have you ridden it yet with the plate off?

[martynkim]

Get that plate OFF I made a world of difference on my 87 elite! get yourself a aftermarket vari too here's a link the best deal stay away from daywot on Ebay. http://vtcycles.com/vtc_plugins/e107sho ... ct=3&cat=4

[LocoParaHonda]

I haven't yet. Honestly I was just a little nervous about taking it off. Like somethings going to fly off in there without that cap or wear the rollers flat. It's silly though, I know it's just in my head, I've heard plenty of people say that it's ok to do.

Also, I'm just kind of enjoying the speed since I replaced my belt. Doing 35+ is new to me! I'm considering getting a high speed variator, but I wanted to get a good feel of how my Aero feels at normal stock peak performance before I did.

I'll remove the plate and check it out. I should probably also test that out before I make the expense of a high speed variator.

My 85 Aero 50's been on the back burner since I've been tied up with my girlfriends 86 Aero 50. She has a bent rim I'm replacing from my part's moped and that rim needed rust brushing/repainting.



Is it healthy for me to get very turned on by seeing her on the Aero I helped her pick out?
If it's not ok to say that on this forum, I don't know where it would be.