Cleaning air filter

[headshrink]

What do you all use to clean and re-oil your stock air filter?

The SM says to use a solvant with a high flash-point.... I don't even know if I have anything laying around that would work. What are some examples?
And as far as the oil is concerned... unless engine oil will work, I'll have to buy something else.

[backinthesaddleagain]

I use gas to clean. Did it outside no chance of spark or open flame. The washed a couple times in soapy water. Rinsed in water and pressed it dry with my hands. No twisting that night tear it. Then coated with clean motor oil and pressed out the excess. On dirtbikes or if really dusty I always used foam filter oil which is stickier and traps dirt better.
Posted via Mobile Device

[kkim]

I do the same as Greg, but I wash the filter in hot, soapy water after cleaning it with gas. I then let the filter air dry completely before oiling it.

To oil, I use filter oil specifically made for foam filters available at MC shops. Put the filter in a plastic bag, add some oil to the bag and massage gently to evenly distribute the oil throughout the filter. Take the filter out of the bag, squeeze out the excess oil, then reinstall.

[headshrink]

Very nice.... I think I will use some old lawn mower gas I have sitting in an can, and go with the motor oil technique, and pick up the MC-specific oil for next time.

Hmmm, I wonder if wife would get pissed if I raided her cooking supplies to pour gas in.....

EDIT: I do have some Jet fuel, I mean kerosene, in my camping supplies. Will that work any better or worse than gas?

[backinthesaddleagain]

not sure. the gas (solvent) cuts the old oil that the dirt is clinging to. the soapy water gets the remaining dirt off the filter.

feel free to raid the cooking supplies, just don't wash that filter in gas near the stove!!

[kevlar250]

I clean with denatured alcohol in a baggie. That dissolves the old oil. Then I wring it out gently. I mix about a teaspoon of filter oil (sticky stuff) with about 2 tablespoons of denatured alcohol in a clean baggie and when it's dissolved good I drop in the filter, it doesn't have to be completely dry, and squeeze it until it soaks up the whole mixture. Then I let it dry for awhile. If you set it on a small fan pointing up it dries in few minutes but don't light a match! Now that the alcohol has evaporated it leaves a nice light, even coating of oil with very little waste.

[headshrink]

Awesome tips guys, thanks!

[headshrink]

I stopped by the auto parts store on my way to work today (unfortunately there aren't any MC stores close to me anymore). I picked up the K&M recharger kit; that is all they had. There is a spray to clean the filter (I assume it is useless compared to soaking in gas), and the oil is in liquid form (that is what I was after). I will assume it is all good on the OEM filter, unless I hear otherwise for some unforseen reason.

[HKr1]

Have a pipercross cleaning kit that I use.

K&N is gonna make you loose some HP!

[backinthesaddleagain]

I believe the K&N stuff is for their filters and not as effective on foam. Not 100% sure but thats what i heard, from someone who knew someone, who had a friend who had a bike but doesn't anymore.

[kkim]

yep, the K&N filter oil is for the gauze type filter, not a foam type filter that the stock filter is. You need to get a foam type filter oil or just use regular motor oil as recommended in the service manual.

For a cleaning solution, you could use simple green full strength with warm water and it will clean the filter quite well.

for a guy that doesn't want to spend money on your bike, you sure do buy a lot of the wrong stuff.

[headshrink]

Ahhhh... I didn't see that coming. OK - back to regular oil then.

Now, when is it safe to switch to synthetic?

[Senator]

Originally Posted by backinthesaddleagain

I use gas to clean. Did it outside no chance of spark or open flame. The washed a couple times in soapy water. Rinsed in water and pressed it dry with my hands. No twisting that night tear it. Then coated with clean motor oil and pressed out the excess. On dirtbikes or if really dusty I always used foam filter oil which is stickier and traps dirt better.
Posted via Mobile Device

Please - please DO NOT use gasoline to clean the air filter, I have seen too many disfiguring accidents when gasoiline is used for cleaning. Do yourself a favor and go to the paint store and buy some odourless paint thinner (a high flash point solvent) like Varsol, it's cheap and much much safer. Be safe out there.

[headshrink]

Will Acetone work? I already have some of that.

[CZroe]

How do you properly dispose of the high flash-point solvent? I just ended up buying a new pre-oiled filter element for $10. *shrug*

[headshrink]

Originally Posted by CZroe

How do you properly dispose of the high flash-point solvent?

Wait 'till Big Brother is checking out sister, then dispose of in quickest/easiest fashion.

[Senator]

Originally Posted by headshrink

Will Acetone work? I already have some of that.

Do not use acetone, it disolves plastics and paint! High flash point solvent can be safely combined with used motor oil for disposal and by that I don't mean down the sewer or for weed control in the alley.

[backinthesaddleagain]

Originally Posted by kkim

yep, the K&N filter oil is for the gauze type filter, not a foam type filter that the stock filter is. You need to get a foam type filter oil or just use regular motor oil as recommended in the service manual.

For a cleaning solution, you could use simple green full strength with warm water and it will clean the filter quite well.

for a guy that doesn't want to spend money on your bike, you sure do buy a lot of the wrong stuff.

Kelly, if I use regular motor oil on my air filter, can I go with synthetic or should I go conventional for the first xxx miles. Yes I am kidding no need to answer, or as they say on Law and Order: "OBJECTION", withdrawn.

[lockie]

Cleaning the filter myself for the first time and I can't seem to get the frame apart to clean the filter element. I'm afraid of breaking the plastic.

[kkim]

according to the service manual, the plastic pieces should just come apart. it does look like there are "pegs" that fit together in the center section. have you tried carefully trying to pull/unsnap the "pegs" apart?

[alex.s]

my filter cleaning process:
remove old sock.
apply fresh sock.
ziptie.


jk

[lockie]

Kelly.. Yea it was not a problem. They just pulled apart. I was over thinking how to do it. Stupid ah?

[kkim]

NP, Don.

don't forget to reoil the filter once you've cleaned it.

was it very dirty?