Foam air filter cleaning

[Bonz]

Hey all,

What's the preferred way to clean a foam air filter element? I used BelRay foam air filter oil, that says "waterproof spray", and that crap is nasty to get off of my hands, let alone what it will take to clean it out of the filter. I realize there is a certain amount of tackiness, staying power, that this stuff needs, but geez....

I have a pair of dual uni-pods that are being used for a bike project...

For my hands, I used Fast Orange, straight gas, freakin' sprayed carb cleaner on them, warm water with dish soap and scrubbie pad, and the stuff still leaves a tacky feeling until it wears off on whatever I touch for the next half hour. I cannot imagine a filter cleaner/degreaser would be any more effective than what I have used thus far.

Here's the link to the stuff... http://www.bikebandit.com/bel-ray-wa...oam-filter-oil

I would happily never touch this specific stuff again, so I would clean the filter however is recommended, and go with another brand/type that is more easily cleaned.

Tell me what the collective has for advice.

[motoman]

Hey all,

What's the preferred way to clean a foam air filter element? I used BelRay foam air filter oil, that says "waterproof spray", and that crap is nasty to get off of my hands, let alone what it will take to clean it out of the filter. I realize there is a certain amount of tackiness, staying power, that this stuff needs, but geez....

I have a pair of dual uni-pods that are being used for a bike project...

For my hands, I used Fast Orange, straight gas, freakin' sprayed carb cleaner on them, warm water with dish soap and scrubbie pad, and the stuff still leaves a tacky feeling until it wears off on whatever I touch for the next half hour. I cannot imagine a filter cleaner/degreaser would be any more effective than what I have used thus far.

Here's the link to the stuff... http://www.bikebandit.com/bel-ray-wa...oam-filter-oil

I would happily never touch this specific stuff again, so I would clean the filter however is recommended, and go with another brand/type that is more easily cleaned.

Tell me what the collective has for advice.

Hi Bonz,
Your right, Bel-Ray is bout the nastiest stuff to remove from bout anything! Used it ALL the time on our mot-x bikes filters. Bar-none, that is the only filter oil we found to keep that fine menonite dust from being found on intake venturi of our moto-x bikes carbies.
Obviously not needed on our street bikes.
Clean the foam UNI, first with solvent to get rid of majority of the Bel-Ray.
Then spray heavily with The purple SuperClean letting it soak for a bit.
Wash it out and dry.
Re-spray with PJ1 foam filter oil, install and ride. (the evaporating solvents make for a temporary power boost).
I also use the PJ1 on the K&N filter on my 7.3diesel. Works good, with no left residue or 'fines' on intake tube to turbo.

[Bonz]

Thanks Brant, 'preciate the response and advice.

[rdmcguy]

foam filters

Bonz,
Been there done that,
So I wear rubber gloves and put the filters in a BIG Ziploc bag,
leave it open at the top drop the filter in ...pour oil here and there,
work the oil in (squeeze,squeze,squeze,)......squeeze excess out.install and Go!
Joe

[jwhughes3]

Y'all clean filters?

John

[Bonz]

LOL!

Follow up question: what is the consensus for on-road use as to whether a uni-pod type foam filter will flow more air or will a K&N pod flo more air?

[rdmcguy]

Foam or K&N ?

A good question,
Assuming you are talking no airbox
My 2 cents is as follows,
foam would probably require a bit more maintenance but there would be no
dreaded "lip"to deal with and the airflow would not be interupted by the cap on the back of the K&N style.Back in the day on big bore two strokes or anything fitted with large carbs, foam filters sometimes came with an internal spring so they couldn't be sucked into the carbs at full honk.
Most people believe that K&N's are more than adequate,
As this thread evolves we will see.
Sent you a pm .let me know here... if you got it or call me whenever.
J

[Bonz]

Still haven't gotten any pm's showing up... Not sure what is going on. CZ's pm's are coming through.

The K&N pod filters with chrome end caps on a ZRX1200, they flow enough air on stock ZRX 36mm carbs for 130hp, 85ft/lbs on the dyno and beyond. I can't see an XS needing anywhere near that flow, so I take a lot of that filter talk with a grain of salt. Keep the carb intake opening 18mm or more from the back of the filter is what I have learned from those going before me.

[rdmcguy]

My phone number

I must not know what I am doing in regards to sending a pm.
So here is my #303-204-5886
Joe

[jwhughes3]

You were sending visitor messages. Not private. They show on his profile page. Must selct send private message.

John