Cleaning air filters these days

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This topic contains 27 replies, has 0 voices, and was last updated by  Steve Wyeth 12 years, 6 months ago.

Viewing 15 posts - 1 through 15 (of 28 total)
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  • #101955

    Darren
    Member

    What does everyone do for this most basic of maintenance tasks?

    “In my day” it used to be just wash it in petrol, squeeze the crap out of it, let it dry (evaporate) a bit, then give it a good dose of any old oil, slap on some grease around the seal and that was it!

    Now it seems “don’t use petrol it damages the foam and glue”, use a “special” (insert: expensive) filter cleaner and filter oil …. only bit that seems the same is the grease!

    I agree with the specialised filter oil as the new ones are pretty good (tacky consistency etc) … but what does everyone do for the most basic bit, cleaning it?

    razzle

    #230828

    ian
    Member

    i use Notoil razzle its easy to get consistant through the whole filter and its easy to clean with the notoil cleaning powder but i think every one has there own pet way of cleaning but thats the way i go

    #230829

    Greg
    Member

    Lefty sells a gun filter kit Razz, PM him worth the money and I can bring it to Coffs if Lefty isnt going.
    See filter kit on the link below

    http://obtrailriders.com/index.php/forum?view=topic&catid=28&id=128404

    That filter cleaner and Motul filter oil will see you covered from my experience with the bikes I look after

    TB

    #230836

    I use turps to clean mine then soapy water, dry it off and oil it up using Motul or similar filter oil.

    #230838

    Don’t use petrol as it deteriorates the foam. Turps seems to work well followed by a good wash in soapy water and then rinse it.
    Use a quality filter oil because it is tacky compared to engine oil and won’t just drip into your air box leaving your filter dry.
    Dont scrimp on filter cleaning as it may well stretch your modern 4 stroke life to at least 3 or 4 years before a big end bearing etc flies to pieces rather than a worn bore from a dirty filter…..

    #230830

    Peter Horn
    Member

    I only use turps. If you can afford to it cuts drying time.
    Just keep rinsing in fresh lots of turps till there is no residue in the container and no colour in the turps then dry. I like a 5L ice cream container as its easy to clean out – which you need to do after every rinse or the whole process is pointless!!
    You can recycle the turps for the first few rinses by pouring off the stuff above the sediment from your wash container back into a old turps container and letting it settle then pouring the cleaner stuff off the top. Make sure you do the final couple of rinses in virgin turps (you know, turps made from freshly pressed virgins!!) to make sure no fine material stays in the filter.
    Two filters makes the job easier as you always have one dry and ready to oil!
    As for oil, I am of the old skool persuasion, I like filter fix which is mineral based (not water) so tends to stay put on the wet rides.
    Cheers
    Iva

    #230831

    Peter Horn
    Member

    Oh, the Nundle boys all wear gloves for the process which is probably a good idea, when i die of cancer you’ll know they were right!!
    :blush:

    #230832

    Dwayne O
    Member

    I was a Turps user for a long time,, then I got the Filterclean Kit from Lefty that TB mentioned.
    It is good and easy to use,, only prob is evaporation, so the bucket needs to be sealed tight & kept away from heat and all good ;)

    #230844

    Alex
    Member

    Theres some product reviews or such on this topic raz, look around. TB started it I think. I have been using the cleaner and Motul oil they recommend. The cleaner is reusable.

    #230833

    Dwayne O
    Member
    #230849

    Darren
    Member

    Thanks everyone, some good advice as always.

    I never thought of needing gloves! And am a little surprised that the Nundle boys use them ;) … having said that I think I’ll be getting some though.

    Iva; you’re not going to die of cancer, you’ll just have really dry old prune hands :laugh:

    TB; I cant make Coffs unfortunately, damned OS work commitments! :angry:

    Thanks again everyone.

    razzle

    #230851

    Greg
    Member
    razzle wrote:
    Thanks everyone, some good advice as always.

    I never thought of needing gloves! And am a little surprised that the Nundle boys use them ;) … having said that I think I’ll be getting some though.

    Iva; you’re not going to die of cancer, you’ll just have really dry old prune hands :laugh:

    TB; I cant make Coffs unfortunately, damned OS work commitments! :angry:

    Thanks again everyone.

    razzle

    Razz if you purchase it from Lefty by chance I will drop it at my mates business at Kempsey for you to pick up if ya want. Offer is there is all

    TB

    #230852

    Peter Horn
    Member
    razzle wrote:
    Thanks everyone, some good advice as always.

    I never thought of needing gloves! And am a little surprised that the Nundle boys use them ;) … having said that I think I’ll be getting some though.

    Iva; you’re not going to die of cancer, you’ll just have really dry old prune hands :laugh:

    TB; I cant make Coffs unfortunately, damned OS work commitments! :angry:

    Thanks again everyone.

    razzle

    Those cunning Nundle Boys, they were telling me it was OHS but all the time they was thinkin’ of how thier Goats would react to prune hands !!
    Clever goat herders!!

    #230867

    Turpentine for me with Motul air filter oil
    I have been using that for recipe for many years
    When we bought my son, Tims first bike (KX60) we washed his filter in petrol and it literally dissappeared in my hands. ;) :ohmy:
    Like Iva, I also recycle the turps a few times, using the settling procedure and I also use a rag to filter most contaminants when pouring back into the bottle.
    Another tip is to apply the new oil to the filter through a squeezy tomatoe sauce bottle. Someone told me that recently and it works a treat. I then place it in a plastic bag and fondle/caress it gently to get even coverage.
    Will have to try one of the proper cleaners such as the one Lefty is selling to compare.
    Cheers
    Murph

    #230903

    I am using Motul oil but cleaning with kerosene then rinsing in soapy water.

    STM

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