Back in April of 2002 we
installed an aluminum airbox in our Project 400EX. Why are we now
reporting on the installation of a UM Racing aluminum airbox? Well
we learned the hard way that not all products are made equal. We
attempted to make the other product work and did use it for quite
some time but it just did NOT hold up. Did you ever hear the saying
"You get what you pay for."? Well that is exactly what we got. Now
it was time to install a well built quality product.
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The previous aibox was pretty much falling apart and
out of the ATV. Our hose clamps delayed its end of life but not for
long. Can we say JUNK.
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The UM Racing airbox has a lip all the way around the
top of the airbox. This reinforces the box but also doubles for a
spot to attach the cover. The UM box also uses a much heavier piece
of angle iron to support the weight. The support bracket to the
rear also bolts it in place unlike the other unit which just had
side brackets but none bolting the box in place.
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Installation
The UM box did not come with
installation instructions but everything is pretty much straight
forward. First step was to get the old box out of there. We removed
the air cleaner, disconnected the wiring, and removed the battery.
The solenoid and voltage regulator will stay on the outside of the
frame with the UM box rather than moving inside the airbox. Only
the battery will move to the inside of the box which is the only
real weight. Provided with the air box is a longer positive battery
cable to reach inside. The left side of the box has a hole for it
to pass through with provided grommet.
Placing the box in the frame we noticed that it
seemed to be a much more solid and tighter fit which should help it
hold up better. The only problem this might cause is if you happen
to have a bent subframe.
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Next was bolting in the battery. We DID have to
modify the supplied bracket with a grinder to get it to fit in
place over the battery and line up with the hole in the back of the
air box. When completed the battery was held in place very snugly.
This should keep it in place better than the previous unit.
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UM supplied a bracket that bolts to the side of the
frame and holds the solenoid and the fuse holder. We connected the
supplied battery cable and put a ring end on the other red wire to
connect to the solenoid
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We riveted the fuse holder to the bracket with some
3/16" aluminum rivets then it was just a matter of hooking all the
wires back up, putting the voltage regular in it's original
location, and zip tying it all in place. We then connected are
battery cables.
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Next we installed the air cleaner and then put the
velcro supplied with the air box cover around the lip of the box.
Simply velcro the cover down and you are done.
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Summary
The UM
Racing aluminum airbox, $229.95, and airbox cover, $29.95, are a
little more expensive than the previous aluminum air box but we now
have a quality product that should last us years rather than
months.
See ya on the trail!
UM Performance
Products
www.UMRacing.com
The UM box did not come with
installation instructions but everything is pretty much straight
forward. First step was to get the old box out of there. We removed
the air cleaner, disconnected the wiring, and removed the battery.
The solenoid and voltage regulator will stay on the outside of the
frame with the UM box rather than moving inside the airbox. Only
the battery will move to the inside of the box which is the only
real weight. Provided with the air box is a longer positive battery
cable to reach inside. The left side of the box has a hole for it
to pass through with provided grommet.
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