I had almost a 200 mile PGR mission today and the return trip rained almost the whole way and most of the time a torrential downpour. I had my rain sock on but numerous times the bike scared me a bit wanting to sputter and act like it was going to die but aggressive throttle got it straight. Just wondering if any other owners take other precautions such as oiling the rain sock and if so what do you do with it when not in use?

 

Bump hoping for some replies.

 

Wow I just bought a rain sock for my SE Ventilator, figured that was all you needed, but maybe a heavy enough rain still causes problems? I'll be watching this thread too, interested in hearing reports on this. It rains so little where I live that it's almost a non-issue. But I've got a 4500 mile road trip I'm leaving for next Sunday that will take me through the midwest (Oklahoma, Kansas, etc), so could run into some serious rain during that time.

 

ive ran a heavy breather for the past 4 yrs, and have been in some serious rain and never had a problem as long as i had the sock on. get caught without it and thats a different story. if you stop in a dry place during the rains maybe take the sock off and get the excess water off to be safe? might not hurt

 

i always keep my sock on the AC.. never any issues, maybe your filter needs a cleaning ?? check your sock for any slits or cracks.. maybe its ripped somewhere.

 

I have a heavy breather on my softail, I use the rain sock all the time since you never know when it might rain here. Rode in heavy rain and never had a problem. but my street glide with a normal stage one and a rain sock sputters in heavy rain if I throttle hard, go figure.

Jay

 

My heavybreather would do just what you are describing but only with the rain sock put on for rain over a really dirty filter. I guess the rain sock stopped just enough air to make a difference. Rain sock over clean filter in heavy rain has no problem.

 

just went up to americade and back with some horrible rain n hail and the bike ran great. i also run the rain sock 24/7

 

I have a Ness Big Sucker II (sticks out quite a bit) which is essentially the same thing, being all exposed. I have no sock and been in (moderately) heavy rain more than a few times. I guess the K & N oil I use must be repelling the water, since I have never had the slightest problem.

 

I clean my filter every time I change oil so that is not an issue. I am thinking about spraying the sock with K&N oil and keeping it in a bag. No rips or tears in the sock but as xjayx stated it happens under acceleration. I am planning on picking up a spare breather element but they are 90 bones. The only thing wrong with the element I have now is the screen has a snag in it but not through the filter element itself. BTW, this is not the first time the bike did this in heavy rain but it was coming down like **** out of a boot....

Sorry, that was a saying an old friend used and I didn't quite get it.....