I am going to put a high flo AC on my 07 FXDL. Ithought that Idecided to go with the NESS Big Sucker untill I read a few posts here that the Ness Is prone to cracking. I would rather use the Ness but if it has a problem Iwill go with the Chrome HD Screaming Eagle piece by piece like Trotter suggested.

How many of you have had a problem with the Big Sucker?

 

You just have to watch the torque on the big suckers... Folks tend to over torque them

 

i have had mine for ayear now and have had no problems to date

 

I have had my BS for 3 yrs no problems.

One other issue I think people have done to make it break, it running a carb like the Mikuni and not clearencing the carb from the cooling fine of the barrels and the tighten the carb down, go riding and the contact of the carb interfering with the engine crack the backing plate.

 

Been running mine for the last 8 months. Just don't over tourqe, like Trotter said.

 

i don't think the ness product is any more prone to cracking than any other product out there. like any other bolt, just don't over torque it.

 

Jim,
Depending on the cover you're going with I'd rcommend the SE chrome backplate with the Zippers filter. It is about 5/8" taller than the SE or Ness so the standard football doesn't completely cover it. Zippers claims 9% more airflow and some additional power. The cost is a little less than the chrome Ness ($39 backplate, $62 Zippers filter, $10 gasket and o-rings) and there's a potential of a little more umph.
I just put mine on last week and found a half decent day to get out a bit and did feel a noticable difference over the SE filter that I was running especially at or near WOT. Here's my setup.

 

Thanks for all of the input. I have 1 more question forthose of you that have an exposed filter element. What, if anything, do you do about rain? Do you put some sort of sock over it or just don't worry about it? I do not like riding in the rain and avoid it if at all possible but once in a while you do get caught.

 

I put a bag over the A/C when I was it, but I dont do anything in the rain.

But ive only been caught in one down poor in 3 years.

 

Never had a problem with cracking and this is my 3rd Ness BS. Proper torque and you should be okay. I put a vinyl shower cap over it when I wash the bike. Never had a problem in the rain, though I avoid it if at all possible nowadaze.