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10/5/2017
Location
FL
US
Edited Date/Time
8/11/2020 5:59pm
I have about ten filters in rotation so I’ll usually spend a Sunday AM cleaning filters. I usually pour some gas into a bucket and dunk my filters in then ring them out, then wash with soap and let them dry in the sun while I do other bike work. Then I pour bel ray filter on the one I want to put in the bike and leave the unoiled ones in a cabinet.
I’m thinking of ditching gas and switching to the WR performance F3 filter cleaner, we sell it at my shop and it seems to get very positive reviews. I was thinking of using a Tupperware full of that, dunk it in and wring it out, then wash in the sink.
I was thinking of getting 1-2 bel ray gallon jugs and pouring them into a large Tupperware and using the same method.
Anyone got any little tips and tricks that I could pick up on? Always like to learn some knowledge and make my life easier.
Does everyone still grease the lip of your air filter where it mates to the airbox? I find less and less people are doing that.
I’m thinking of ditching gas and switching to the WR performance F3 filter cleaner, we sell it at my shop and it seems to get very positive reviews. I was thinking of using a Tupperware full of that, dunk it in and wring it out, then wash in the sink.
I was thinking of getting 1-2 bel ray gallon jugs and pouring them into a large Tupperware and using the same method.
Anyone got any little tips and tricks that I could pick up on? Always like to learn some knowledge and make my life easier.
Does everyone still grease the lip of your air filter where it mates to the airbox? I find less and less people are doing that.
I really like your Tupperware idea. I'd just be afraid of it not sealing enough while storing.
I use the Rim Grease. I wrap a plastic bag around the filter both when taking it out and putting it in. Prevents the oil
from wiping along the side of the air box and collecting dirt. Just easier to keep the airbox clean without stray oil
around.
Also, I always run a strip of tape across the top of the filter where it seats. Prevents that layer of dirt building up
that always seems to fall in the boot when you remove the filter. Works like a charm!!! This is one of those ideas
that works so slick you'll hate yourself for not doing it 20 years ago.
I’ve found that using the Maxima spray on oil works best for me.
But I have taken a new direction to avoid cleaning them all together.....
I ship the dirty filters to Hoody at DT1 filters and he cleans them, then ships them back oiled up in a ziplock. I send him 20-30 filters and he charges me $5.00 each to clean, oil and ship them back. No brainer for me, I have better things to do than deal with cleaning air filters.
The Shop
I also re use the turpentine for months before it gets enough crap in it that it no longer does the job
I’m trying to get away from gasoline and recently tried Motorex Bio-something suggested in the Ktm manual. I’m not sure of my opinion yet.
I refuse to use gas.
Maxima Filter Cleaner works great and is always my go to. UNI filter cleaner is ok, but not my first choice. When I worked for a shop we used the Twin Air bucket and their filter cleaner. We’d dunk the filters in the bucket a few times, kind of massage it a little bit, dunk again, ring it out and then use dish soap to clean it in a sink. That way worked awesome!
Buy 20 at a time.
I use to do the washing 10 or so at a time.
A great idea is to put wire mesh (or a bunch of old rear sprockets) on the bottom of your filter gas container - so the dirt settles at the bottom (a lot of people I know use an old container with old gas they never replace for the initial filter oil strip)
2) Dip/Rinse in 5gal bucket with warm soapy water
3) Air dry
4) Oil. I use either Bel-Ray or Torco filter oil, personal preference. The trick here is to save an old French's mustard bottle and keep your filter oil in that. That way you can squeeze it on the filter like adding mustard to a hot dog.
5) Place oiled filter in 1gal zipplock bag
6) Add an additional "sandwich size" ziplock bag filled with a pair of rubber gloves into the ziplock holding the oiled
filter.
7) Filters are now on the ready. No oily hands when wanting to change.
8) Gas used to clean my filters is then dumped on the weeds growing in the gravel in front of my house.
Air dry.
Perfectly clean filter(s) every time.
Pit Row
20 filters...dang. I have two.
It's not rocket science...
Squeeze out and dry.
Oil with diff or gearbox oil until well wetted. Squeeze in a cotton shop rag.
Grease the lips well.
Tupperware container filled with No Toil.
Submerge filter, wring out excess, and install.
No grease, ever.
I wash all the filters when I'm up to the 6th dirty filter.
Fill bucket with water and Oxy Clean.
Rinse under sink and let air dry.
Works like a charm for me.
Then as another member commented, get yourself a sauce squeeze bottle (you can find them at the local store or Wally World or whatever) and fill it with your filter oil of choice. It makes applying filter oil a breeze!
I clean all dirty filters at once, then oil as needed. I have a smaller clear tote for storing the dirty filters until it's time to wash the batch of them.
Later switched to mineral spirits in a 1gal tub. Built a little stand out of aluminum expanded metal to go in the bottom that allowed spirit re use with all of the solids collected at the bottom after sitting, so just discolored spirits for re use. Used as weed killer when a fresh batch was needed. After moving to California, different story. I would soak up with sta dri then discard with trash.
Tried notoil years ago and didn’t like that you had to have the “special cleaner” found out here (vital) that you can use oxy clean. And been using it ever since. Kick myself in the ass for not switching sooner.
Quit using grease on the lip around 1990
Used bags to install/remove
Learned a trick today though, will be using a strip of tape on top from now on. Thanks for that!
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