LR Parts Snorkel Warning

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ReadySalted

Active Member
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444
Hi all,

Got myself a copy of the safari snorkel from LR parts recently. I'm aware that being a cheap copy it would probably require some fetling to fit, and certainly won't be as hard wearing and sturdy as the more expensive products.

Started fitting it today, and the template was quite out when it came to mounting the snorkel on the wing. I put it down to probably being my error. Anyway, the snorkel was bolted to the wing quite quickly once the holes were correct and it was next to test fitt the moulded angle piece, which takes the air from the raised air intake around the filter box, and into a new hole which you are required to cut.

Getting this moulded part to fit has proved impossible, and I'm now looking at having to move the air box in the engine bay, or even just throw away the moulded connector, and order some flexi tubing to do the job. The main reason, is that the moulded part cannot fit properly over the copper brake pipes running over the wheel arch and it also fouls on the suspension mount.

I've left all my sealant to dry overnight and will try fitting it properly tomorrow but I'm not holding out a great deal of hope.

I don't want to slate a company's product before I've even completed fitting it, and on the whole, the snorkel looks well made, and sturdy enough for an occasional greenlaner like me, so no real complaints considering the price paid. Just wanted to let you know that if you're thinking of buying one of these copy snorkels on the basis that; "Well, the copied parts can't be that badly made, or require that much more effort to make them fit", then think again.
 
Last edited:
Just found this from Pikey on a different thread:

Have finally got round to fitting the Snorkel.

And what a c**t of a job

When I opened the box and inspected the Snorkel it looked very well made. But looks can be deceiving. Fitting the snorkel to the wing and getting it thru the inner wing was a pretty straight forward job. The problems start when you attempt to fit the 2 section to the airbox. The flange is about 30mm wider than the airbox Fortunately I discovered this before I drilled the 4 mounting holes, in it. Speaking of which, the bolts came supplied but not the nuts and washers? which required a drive into town to buy new ones.

I ground the ribs off the ouside of the airbox and marked out and cut the hole required. I then siliconed the flange on the pipe and fitted it to the airbox. All good so far. However when I attempted to refit the air box and mate up with the snorkel I hit trouble The whole assembly was 25/30mm to far into the engine bay and the new air inlet pipe was pressed tight against the water pipe from the top of rad So out with the hacksaw and 15mm cut off pipe and snorkel stub cured that problem. BUT it is then impossible to fit the two halves together and get the airbox to locate into it's mounting holes at the same time. so Unbolted pipe from airbox (which is now covered in a very sticky white Sealant/adhesive compound. )

Refitted airbox and fitted inlet pipe to snorkel. using the 2 (0 to 89mm) jubilee clips. now bearing in mind that the rubber connecting piece has an OD of 89mm and you see the problem coming can't you then theres just the airbox/inlet pipe to re silicone and bolt together. so with a lot of fettling & a bit of brute force and manual dexerity and the whole thing is now connected Instructions say 125mins to fit. At this point I'm 240minutes into the job and I've still got the A-post mounting plate to fit. But hey that's just 3 bolts to hold the plate to the snork & 5no 4mm rivets to fasten plate to A-post (I know they're 4mm cos I read the instructions and went and bought 2no 4mm HSS drill bits) Oh and the plate wont bolt to the snorkel cos the centre rivnut is out of line and only 1 of the holes will line up. So out with the drill and a small deburring/hole grinding bit. to widen the mounting holes in the plate. Then simply drill rivet holes with ya new 4mm drill bit and insert rivet into hole.Simples.. Nope cos they is 5mm rivets. SOOO widen holes with a fooked blunt 5mm bit And nearly snap ya wrists fitting the 5mm Stainless steel rivets.

so every piece needed modifying in order to get it to fit and actual assembly time is nearer 7hrs as opposed to the 2hrs & 5mins the instructions claimed. As well as this the new inlet pipe sits tight against the Rad top hose. If ya happy to fettle and curse then buy the snork by all means but if ya want a simple hasslefree job. buy the Safari one..
Click to expand...

I have hit the exact same problem as he did, and I echo his sentiment.
 
The price was 99 quid I think (for the non ABS model).

I saw it on the landyparts website for £75 not including VAT, but ordered it from their ebay shop for £99 (inc. VAT) with free 1 day delivery.
 
Glad I went for Southdown then!! Took me less then 2 hours to fit, including 3 coffee breaks! Hoping to have the Tiger Seal removed from my arms before Easter.

Hope you manage to get yours finished OK.
 
RichardH said:
Glad I went for Southdown then!! Took me less then 2 hours to fit, including 3 coffee breaks! Hoping to have the Tiger Seal removed from my arms before Easter.

Hope you manage to get yours finished OK.
Click to expand...

Had a plastic one on my 90 but now got a southdown, lot better made. You pay for what you get.
Use white spirit on the tiger seal or wet n dry. :p
 
I went down the route of a genuine safari snorkel for my 300tdi.

Happened upon a genuine safari jobbie for the earlier V8 for 40 quids.... needs a bit of fettlage to fit it, but that's a job for a nice weekend.
 
Well I finished putting it on the disco, it looks great and does the job.

All in all, I would rather have this one, and all the trouble that went with it, than spend three times the price on a genuine safari one.

I will list all the deviations from the instructions, and problems I had with it though, just for future potential buyers:
  • Template didn't align properly so holes in wing needed to be opened up
  • Snorkel moulding on wing doesn't sit flush with wing until the studs are tightened, and the wing and snorkel are brought together with the bolts
  • Moulded angled piece doesn't sit over copper brake pipes
  • Moulded angled piece fouls on water hose
  • Moulded angled piece requires shortening by approx 15mm in order to allow air box to fit in mounting lugs
  • Flange on moulded angled piece is far too large, and requires cutting to fit flush with edges of air box
  • No template supplied for cutting new intake hole in airbox
  • No nuts supplied with 6mm bolts for bolting flange of moulded angle to air box
  • Plate for attaching snorkel to A-Pillar requires holes widening to allow it to be bolted into threaded holes on snorkel

Most of these things are not big jobs, but they make a simple job a nightmare, when you are about to do something, and then have to go and fetch another tool, to modify a piece. It makes a 2 minute job, a 15 minute job.

Not to put a downer on the snorkel though because fitting aside, it seems reasonable quality, and definitely looks the part.
 
i have one of these and didn't have any problems in fitting, the only thing was the moulded connector for the air box was about 20mm too long, quick cut with a saw and all was good again.... got mine for christmas and would highly recommend.
 
I'll try and get some pics later. I'm in the middle of doing loads of tiny little jobs on her at the moment. Covering the sink unit for the boot, sorting a saggy sun visor etc, sorting out my tool kit.

On the whole it looks very similar to the safari one. I do have a pre-cleaner type top to replace the air-ram type with the kit, but the pre cleaner will need replainting as it's gloss black at the mo and doesn't match the plastic of the snorkel.

I'm happy enough with it, and I never plan to go wading up to my neck, so the worst sort of stuff I plan to deal with would be just around the bonnet height perhaps, and I'm confident that the snorkel will do it's job nicely.
 
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