Dresmog......seriously?

[HBFL]

Just want some opinions from the faithful. 99 I/S 74,000 or so. I reckon I’m at least partially, a “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it” kinda dude. My bike runs great per the OEM maintenance schedule , I do run non ethanol the majority of the time, with marine Stabil and TC-W3 2 stroke oil, 1 oz per 5 gallons. I run some Berrymans through it periodically. It’s not a daily driver but it’s run hot at least once a week even if just idling in the garage

So yeah, get to the point, right. Why desmog? Except for aesthetics, why? And if there’s a legit reason, why not just disable it, plugging the air inlet at the airbox?  Seems that’s what a lot of folk do with modern bikes when they put on a pipe.  Just curious, I just don’t have a performance issue I’m aware of and never hear a decel pop, not that I care, and don’t want the hassle of all the disassembly. Chime in please. Thanks.

[RonW]

I de-smoged my Tourer more for aesthetic reasons. Secondly, it's way easier to clean the top of the engine without all that clutter.

[Jess from VA]

The principle reason to desmog, it to eliminate all the rubber vacuum lines (possible) that will inevitably/certainly age and crack and cause vacuum leaks (and make you pull the tank and airbox and chase them down one by one).  It doesn't enhance performance at all, just insures against future problems and gives continued good performance.  The tubes often fail at nipple hookups and underneath so you can't see them. 

Now there is the radical prostatectomy method that removes everything possible and plugging holes, and the easier method where you just unhook and plug everything up and bend pipes over.  Both work.   

[HBFL]

I get a that. But just plugging the inlet at tHe airbox fixes it all, right? Or bc the vac lines can corrode, and allow air in, just plug them too right? I’m not in the mood to do all the removal.

What a cool lines need plugging?

[mello dude]

Just want some opinions from the faithful. 99 I/S 74,000 or so. I reckon I’m at least partially, a “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it” kinda dude. My bike runs great per the OEM maintenance schedule , I do run non ethanol the majority of the time, with marine Stabil and TC-W3 2 stroke oil, 1 oz per 5 gallons. I run some Berrymans through it periodically. It’s not a daily driver but it’s run hot at least once a week even if just idling in the garage

So yeah, get to the point, right. Why desmog? Except for aesthetics, why? And if there’s a legit reason, why not just disable it, plugging the air inlet at the airbox?  Seems that’s what a lot of folk do with modern bikes when they put on a pipe.  Just curious, I just don’t have a performance issue I’m aware of and never hear a decel pop, not that I care, and don’t want the hassle of all the disassembly. Chime in please. Thanks.

It is kinda engine area clean up and simplify hoses. Also more on sporty bikes, for any dyno work it's a must do.

[Jess from VA]

I get a that. But just plugging the inlet at tHe airbox fixes it all, right? Or bc the vac lines can corrode, and allow air in, just plug them too right? I’m not in the mood to do all the removal.

What a cool lines need plugging?

I cannot answer this, I paid a real mechanic to do both my bikes, radically.

I have to defer to others, and there must be dozens of old threads on here (somewhere) (some with pics) which will require the search function. 

[Tfrank59]

 I am totally an if it ain't broke don't fix it guy. I have almost 85k on my valk and it hasn't been desmogged yet. But it runs like a champ and the minute it stops doing that then I'll look at de- smogging. I have the kit, I've had it for years, it sits in my drawer. Life's too short I got enough other things to worry about, though I'll admit it is tough to clean the top of the motor with all them pipes on there.

[Hook#3287]

It all depends on if you want to deal with chasing down vacuum leaks in the future of not.

Eventually one of the hoses in the system will fail and you'll be wondering why your bike pops on deceleration or seems to stumble.

It's a lot easier  to keep the top of the engine clean, if that's important to you.

Can't remember when I did my first, got to be over a decade, but I've never regretted it and if I had to, I can reinstall.

[old2soon]

              Shortly after I purchased Phatt Ghurl-99 I/S-she started poppin and fartin on decel. Went cheap-14 MM freeze plugs removal of all extraneous plumbing and big acorn nuts attached to the heads with liquid steel where the pipes were . Also replaced a brittle main fuel line while i had it all opened up. With the fuel line R & R preventive maint maybe? RIDE SAFE.

[indybobm]

I have asked this before...  What happens if you disconnect the vacuum hoses from 3 & 4 intakes and replace with plugs on the nipples? Is it effective?

[HBFL]

That’s kinda where I’m going. What’s the bare minimum. I don’t care about how clean the top of the engine is. I know the primary air feed from the airbox has to be plugged. But what I’m hearing is any other possible points of air entry ( broke or leaking vac lines) should be addressed too given the age if the lines etc. I’m going to do some more research and YES! I’ll even dust off the Manual and use that amazing search button. Thanks all.

[Bighead]

Hey dude it is your buke desmogg if you want dont if you dont. Simple as that.

[Dirty Dave]

I bought a desmog kit but have been too lazy to install it on my Valk...
Just spent way too long replacing a fork seal. No choice there....

BTW, what is a buke?

 

[Fazer]

I did the radical desmog and glad I did.  Not only does it clean up the engine, it was good to learn how to:  remove the tank; change the air fileter; remove the air box and re-install; remove one side of the exhaust (not totally necessary, but made getting at the right side I believe) smog tube easier and putting everything back together.  Took about a half day.  While I was at it I installed a Dan Marc electric fuel shut off. 

As mentioned above, others have done the quick desmog by just clipping the lines filling with JB Weld and bending them over.  Both achieve the same result which is to eliminate future vacuum leaks.

My $.02.

[mello dude]

I did the radical desmog and glad I did.  Not only does it clean up the engine, it was good to learn how to:  remove the tank; change the air fileter; remove the air box and re-install; remove one side of the exhaust (not totally necessary, but made getting at the right side I believe) smog tube easier and putting everything back together.  Took about a half day.  While I was at it I installed a Dan Marc electric fuel shut off.  

As mentioned above, others have done the quick desmog by just clipping the lines filling with JB Weld and bending them over.  Both achieve the same result which is to eliminate future vacuum leaks.

My $.02.

If this forum had a like button, I would click it..... Anyhoo.. in the "someday" column, since I am doing a major restomod on my '99 STD, I may ask if you could visit when its time maybe to give me some pointers to pull off the desmog on mine... tank and headers are already off the bike.... I have the Redeye kit... (Gawd, this bike is taking forever to get done, two steps forward and one back) -- I live by the Dayton Mall...

Cheers..  

[HBFL]

So since I’m doing the Dan Marc mod, I went ahead and did a modified desmog. I didn’t deal with any of the lines running up front I just plugged them. Since it’s an I/S, you can’t see any of the lines up front.  I cut the rear lines with the Dremel and filled them with RTV and reset them. There’s enough space in there now to use it as a toaster oven on the road. Now if I can only figure a way to put an old school filtered crank breather on there and get rid of some plastic and lines....

[Fazer]

Mello Dude--I'd be happy to.  You are just up the road a bit.  PM when you are ready.

[Bighead]

So since I’m doing the Dan Marc mod, I went ahead and did a modified desmog. I didn’t deal with any of the lines running up front I just plugged them. Since it’s an I/S, you can’t see any of the lines up front.  I cut the rear lines with the Dremel and filled them with RTV and reset them. There’s enough space in there now to use it as a toaster oven on the road. Now if I can only figure a way to put an old school filtered crank breather on there and get rid of some plastic and lines....

Short cuts rarley last a long time.

[HBFL]

Next rear tire change with exhaust removed I’ll get the rest. What I did was convenient since the airbox was off.  Thanks