Cleaning air filters?

**Buddy L** · 21st February 2009, 19:56

Didn't want to hi-jack other threads so thought id start this one.

Reckless mention in the thead about the KTM300 about the way he cleans the air filter.

I clean mine differently, and just woundering which is the best way or how many different ways people do this simple task.

I used to do the NO-Toil method, but after buying it a few time and getting sick of having sticky hands(couldn't be assed with gloves or plastic bags, i went back to the basic motor oil method.

All I do is wash air filter in petrol twice (i know its bad for the filter but its still feels and looks new inside and out after 50 hours) and leave out to evaporate.
Then oil with motor oil and grease around the base of the filter, and reinstall
It might not go down with the greenies very well, but it works for me, and the filter is always spot less.

You know if you over oil the filter, as you have a smoke cloud behind you when you ride

**noobi** · 21st February 2009, 20:01

I use turps to get most of the crud off, them soak in warm soapy water, leave for a while, oil, reinstall

**oldskool** · 21st February 2009, 20:07

Originally Posted by noobi

I use turps to get most of the crud off, them soak in warm soapy water, leave for a while, oil, reinstall

I've been told kerosene doesn't dry out synthetics like turps does. You don't want to prematurely perish the foam else you may get bits of foam flaking off into your carby.

**noobi** · 21st February 2009, 20:08

Originally Posted by oldskool

i've been told kerosene doesn't dry out synthetics like turps does. You don't want to prematurely perish the foam else you may get bits of foam flaking off into your carby.

i c.......

**speights_bud** · 21st February 2009, 20:30

Originally Posted by oldskool

I've been told kerosene doesn't dry out synthetics like turps does. You don't want to prematurely perish the foam else you may get bits of foam flaking off into your carby.

Yet kero is more of a fuel/oil based product, it wont get the filter feeling 'dry' i don't think but it's probably just as good

but then again i ride road bike so don't take me too seriously! :ROFL:

**barty5** · 21st February 2009, 20:34

i use K&n air filter cleaner (we use in w/shop have heaps of it) and then let it dry and the motorex spray on oil easy to use little to no mess. I also spray the inside of air box withit as well reduses the aount of dust the eds up in the filter (i use crc brake/parts cleaner to clean air box before air filter is removed) spray can is your freind

**4stroke** · 21st February 2009, 20:52

i use no use a bit of brake clean to clean my hands, no different to getting petrol on ya hands...

**flyingcr250** · 21st February 2009, 21:11

i used to use the twin air system, but now i just use some of my premix petrol to clean it then oil it with that castrol spray on filter oil. most people OVER oil their filters when they use the pour on syrup stuff

**marks** · 21st February 2009, 21:17

local bike shop has a yz450 with a blown big end sitting waiting for the owner to get some moolah together. Rider used engine oil on the air filter and rode on the beach a lot.

Engine was full of sand, piston was badly scored and bigend rooted.

I'd rather have sticky fingers than a blown motor

**B0000M** · 21st February 2009, 22:17

Originally Posted by marks

local bike shop has a yz450 with a blown big end sitting waiting for the owner to get some moolah together. Rider used engine oil on the air filter and rode on the beach a lot.

Engine was full of sand, piston was badly scored and bigend rooted.

I'd rather have sticky fingers than a blown motor

yea'

the stickier it is on your hands the better of a job its doing

**FlangMasterJ** · 21st February 2009, 22:31

Kero x 3, warm soapy water x 3 then thoroughly rinse with cold water. Oil with Spectro spray on air filter oil.

**pete.ktm** · 21st February 2009, 22:38

Get a box of 100 vinyl disposable gloves from repco/supercheap ~$13.

Don't know if i was soaking them too long but Kero and Turps seemed to cause the seams of the twin-air filter to fall apart after a few washes so i do something that was in an ADB mag a while ago.

Get one of the 4 litre commercial air filter cleaners from a bike shop, but 3 litres in one sealable container and 1 litre in another. dunk the dirty cleaner in the 3 litre container to get most of the dirt off, then dunk it in the 1 litre to give it a bit more of a clean. reseal the containers to re-use next time.

Wash the filter in warm soapy water, leave a dry for a couple of days and then re-oil with bel-ray filter oil, the bel-ray stuff is the thickest stuff i've found yet. and do all this the day before your ride coz if needs a bit of time for some of the additives to evaporate.

Then throw away the 5 pairs of gloves you've used to keep your hands soft and beautiful.