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[porkypig]

over last weekend I rode in a good amount of rain for about 50 miles or so.  I did not install the rain bonnet over the air cleaner as I didn't have it with me.  Did not take notice of what the bike looked when I got to the house.  However, the next day about 15 miles later at the dealership, I notice there was considerable amount of oil coming from the air filter all over the oil tank, and down onto the engine.  The dealership heard me say I had ridden in the rain and attributed it to the air filter sucking in water, etc.  Has anybody else had this happen and how many people use their rainsock and at what point do you install it?  It seems like it would impede air flow into the filter just by itself when it is dry.  when it is raining, wouldn[t that add more impedence to the flow of air??  How do others overcome this dilemma? 

[FLHTCUSE7]

As soon as it starts raining put the sock on. If it rains hard enough the bike will bog down and you will lose power.

Always bring it with you.

[North Georgia Hawg]

I have my rain sock on my Big Sucker 2 on all the time, installed behind the chrome cover. I don't think it impedes the airflow any if at all. The filter element is far more restrictive than the very thin rain sock. But others may think differently.

If there is oil in your air filter, then that's oil coming from the breathers. There are lots of things that cause this. You may need new breather elements, or you may be running your oil level too high.

Ken

[grc]

Some people actually install the rain sock to the filter inside the cover and leave it on all the time.  In dry conditions it isn't likely to restrict flow enough to make any difference, especially on a stock engine like yours.  

This is one reason I prefer an air cleaner with a full cover.  In a gully washer an exposed element can and will get flooded, rain sock or not.  The rain socks are good for light rain; the only thing good for a downpour is parking the bike and covering the filter until the rain subsides.

JMHO - Jerry

[FLHTCUSE7]

This spring I rode for five - six hours in a downpour.  I was going the same direction as a front and got some hail as well. With the sock on I had absolutely no issues and it was all at highway speed. Seem to work pretty good.

Some people actually install the rain sock to the filter inside the cover and leave it on all the time.  In dry conditions it isn't likely to restrict flow enough to make any difference, especially on a stock engine like yours.  

This is one reason I prefer an air cleaner with a full cover.  In a gully washer an exposed element can and will get flooded, rain sock or not.  The rain socks are good for light rain; the only thing good for a downpour is parking the bike and covering the filter until the rain subsides.

JMHO - Jerry

[Midnight Rider]

over last weekend I rode in a good amount of rain for about 50 miles or so.  I did not install the rain bonnet over the air cleaner as I didn't have it with me.  Did not take notice of what the bike looked when I got to the house.  However, the next day about 15 miles later at the dealership, I notice there was considerable amount of oil coming from the air filter all over the oil tank, and down onto the engine.  The dealership heard me say I had ridden in the rain and attributed it to the air filter sucking in water, etc.  Has anybody else had this happen and how many people use their rainsock and at what point do you install it?  It seems like it would impede air flow into the filter just by itself when it is dry.  when it is raining, wouldn[t that add more impedence to the flow of air??  How do others overcome this dilemma? 

The rain sock will not impede the flow of air enough to be concerned.  In a "normal" rain, I never worried about putting it on, but in a "Toad Strangler"...definitely.  And the filter is more exposed on the Convertible, so is subject to get wet easier than on a bagger with lowers.  I'm not sure what filter element came standard on your bike, but if it's like a K&N, it is coated in oil to capture dirt/dust and if it gets wet enough, it WILL spread oil all over the place...a little oil goes a long way when it starts blowing all over your chrome parts.  I'd disassemble the air cleaner, clean the element and other parts, then reapply the oil to the filter (if it's not paper and is the gauze like material used in a K&N...some HD filters are made by K&N)....not too much...let it "dry", then put it all back together and go riding.

[Cvostu]

I'm a witness for that after last Saturday.     Was lucky,, after all the rain we rode in,, only had one minor hiccup on the way home.   I now will carry the sock wherever I go. Just in case.

[bigdave110]

I use my bike to commute so my sock stays on all the time.
I can not tell a difference in performance either way.
My bike has bogged down in hard rain even with it on, as Stated above.
Still better with it on then off IMHO.

Big Dave

[LovemyCVOgirl]

I never leave home without my sock 

[North Georgia Hawg]

Honey Badger sez: "I would feel NAKED without my rain sock!"

She never takes it off...

Ken

[Twolanerider]

"Toad Strangler"

TC, is there a spec for that?

[Lever]

  toad strangler
 
An extremely heavy downpour of rain that can often lead to flash flooding

[Twolanerider]

  toad strangler
 
An extremely heavy downpour of rain that can often lead to flash flooding

That being so are the gradients something like:

tadpole strangler
tree frog strangle
bullfrog strangler
cane toad strangler
and, oh my
the goliath frog strangler

It was one of the latter that caused Mose's mission to be labeled an Epic Fail.  Two wouldn't fit on the boat....

[mjb765]

I never leave home without my sock 

Neither do I

[Midnight Rider]

TC, is there a spec for that?

Raining so hard that the pucker factor gets to the point where you couldn't drive a carpet tack up your butt...