Cleaning your Airfilter

[scott bockingMember]

Thanks to everyone for their advice. I cleaned mine up on the weekend and although the filter wasn’t that dirty as you say it is all about piece of mind.

I noticed preoiled filters in Super Cheap when I was buying some chain lube, outside bike shop hours as I try and make it a policy to support the local retailer, and wondered if the are any good. They use Maxima oil and were only $15.

I am happy with the cleaning routine you all suggested but if I got stuck and needed a qiuck fix away from home would you run one of these or are they and evil plot hatched by mechanics to keep them busy rebuilding top ends?

STM

[Scott SouthwellMember]

singletrackmind wrote:

Quote:

I noticed preoiled filters in Super Cheap when I was buying some chain lube, outside bike shop hours as I try and make it a policy to support the local retailer, and wondered if the are any good. They use Maxima oil and were only $15.

STM

Here’s my experiance with readyfilters.
http://www.obtrailriders.com/index.php?option=com_kunena&Itemid=56&func=view&catid=28&id=19692

[GregMember]

Scotty wrote:

Quote:

singletrackmind wrote:

Quote:

I noticed preoiled filters in Super Cheap when I was buying some chain lube, outside bike shop hours as I try and make it a policy to support the local retailer, and wondered if the are any good. They use Maxima oil and were only $15.

STM

Here’s my experiance with readyfilters.
http://www.obtrailriders.com/index.php?option=com_kunena&Itemid=56&func=view&catid=28&id=19692

That said I know so many people using them Scotty and after the other weekend two major race teams included in that and they aren’t having any problem :blink: , you still got the one that was faulty or was it one that went in the bin at Hillend :dry:

[Scott SouthwellMember]

Trailboss wrote:

Quote:

Scotty wrote:

Quote:

singletrackmind wrote:

Quote:

I noticed preoiled filters in Super Cheap when I was buying some chain lube, outside bike shop hours as I try and make it a policy to support the local retailer, and wondered if the are any good. They use Maxima oil and were only $15.

STM

Here’s my experiance with readyfilters.
http://www.obtrailriders.com/index.php?option=com_kunena&Itemid=56&func=view&catid=28&id=19692

That said I know so many people using them Scotty and after the other weekend two major race teams included in that and they aren’t having any problem :blink: , you still got the one that was faulty or was it one that went in the bin at Hillend :dry:

2 filters both in the bin, one at hillend and one at home. The one I threw in tne bin at home was as brown on the inside as it was on the outside, thats what alerted me to a possible problem and made me check the intake.

On non dusty or wet rides they may be ok but I would not use them again in dust. If a pre-filter was used this may help.

I used standard suzuki filter for the Denman ride which was another dusty ride. That filter did more kms than during this ride than the readyfilters did each day at hillend. Filter is filthy on outside but has a nice blue colour of the Motul filter oil inside. Intake clean.

I am only giving my experiance with the filter. I’m sure people have had success with them but I think it was pointed out by KTMRAT that they can be inconsistant. Either way I don’t plan on risking my topend again to find out if it was just a one off bad filter.

[GregMember]

Yeah thats fair Scotty, this time I think Scotty knows!

[Anonymous]

i would stay well clear of using petrol. not only does it deteriorate the glue, it also deteriorates the foam. petrol makes the foam expand, which opens up the labyrinth, the hole in the middle for fastening, and the filter cage.

I have never used ready filters due to the whole idea of them seams sus. i think the sign on the shop is a giveaway. The shop is not called ‘super quality’

And now after just reading scotty’s experience…
http://www.obtrailriders.com/index.php?option=com_kunena&Itemid=56&func=view&catid=28&id=19692
that’s sucks big time mate. And I was startled when I saw it in the bin (I’m not into disposable items). Now I know the whole company should be in their.

I think you get what you pay for, and pay for what you get.

I use uni filters because they can be separated for easy and sure cleaning and application of sticky stuff. They are made locally and know how dusty it is in the southern hemisphere.

I use no toil applied by the dunk, squeeze and air out on newspaper method. To clean them I stick them in one of racytracy’s net bags (so to not stretch them) and put them in the front load washing machine with ‘aware’ washing power at 30 degrees (top load machines tug and not tumble). To know if your filters are clean rub them when wet: they should squeak.

Hillbillie applies his no toil straight after cleaning when the filters are wet. He recently pulled out down a wr450 with a heap of klms on it to find the rings were like new.

edit: i also apply no toil grease to the sealing section of the intake, not the air filter (you use a lot less grease by not smearing it into the foam). i would not bother with the grease, but i got it for free, the filter fluid should do the job of sealing. i think it is creating a market by creating fear. however the grease stops the foam from sticking to the sealing surface when removing. i also would not use an airfilter that has been sitting around ‘ready to go’ for months

use filter skins and change them mid ride if dusty.

[PaulMember]

I spoke to UniFilter (West Gosford) and they said never use anything other than Turps.
Use plenty to rinse the foam clean several times in a bucket and just squeeze and let it dry naturally.
No soap or anything.
Even then the foam slowly breaks down and should be checked before every re-oiling.

[Anonymous]

As far as I’m concerned an air filter is a perishable item and will degrade over time and use. If I get a years worth of use out of a $30 filter I’d be happy with that. Considering I rotate at least 6 filters they should last me ages.

If they don’t, I’ll look at doing my cleaning differently. At present the oldest one I have still looks like new and it’s done a couple of thousend K’s

[Brendon CarreMember]

I use turps and then wash in warm soapy water, rince and leave to dry. Works for me.

Hey moto next time he chews something, give him a finger of hot english mustard, he will learn not to chew your stuff in no time!!

[Mick DMember]

boulder wrote:

Quote:

I use turps and then wash in warm soapy water, rince and leave to dry. Works for me.

Hey moto next time he chews something, give him a finger of hot english mustard, he will learn not to chew your stuff in no time!!

Where do you put your finger?:ohmy:

[Brendon CarreMember]

Doesnt matter Mick same result!!:dry:

[Anonymous]

boulder wrote:

Quote:

I use turps and then wash in warm soapy water, rince and leave to dry. Works for me.

Hey moto next time he chews something, give him a finger of hot english mustard, he will learn not to chew your stuff in no time!!

Dan actually told me he hates Tobasco, I haven’t given him any yet but I might just get the bottle out. I was also thinking of rubbing chilli juice on the TV remotes to stop him from attacking them every chance he gets!

Cheers for all the help guys

[Anonymous]

He learnt pretty quick with the tobasco sauce Moto. Even if you dont put it on the remotes give him a little sip of it when he’s got one in his mouth.

Back on topic though, I wash my filters out with turps in a two stage process, 1 icecream container with clean turps and another icecream container with dirty turps (the dirty turps was the clean turps from the last clean) wash the filters in the dirty turps then the clean turps, then wash out with dish washing liquid and water. Leave to dry and oil with whatever the sticky filter oil is that I bought.

[Chris WarwickMember]

Hey Dan D

I use at special drum I purchase at the KTM Bike Shop and it has a rack in the bottom to stop you going that deep in drum and the fluid smells like kerosene so when you wash out the filter the kerosene go white and dissolves.

Then you let it dry in the sun for a day and re oil the filter.

Cheers
Dr D

[Anonymous]

Sounds like a good thing DrD least your not getting all the crap from the bottom of the container back on your air filter each time you dunk. If thats how yours works. I might have to invest in some shed time and see if I can make something similar ( I am a tight arse after all) and would rather make than buy.

[Author]

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