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how to clean the air filter?
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Posted by: zephead400ex

I have a '02 400ex. What is the best way to clean the air filter? I have heard that soaking the air filter in gasoline will work. Is this true? Suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Preston

Posted by: 400ex Magnum

zephead

I use 100% mineral spirits (paint thinner) to clean the air filter. It does a real good job, is not expensive, and is not caustic to your hands. I would avoid using gasoline for any cleaning duties.

Posted by: zephead400ex

How long would I let the filter sit in the paint thinner? How long do I let it dry?

Posted by: yamaha1470

after u put it in mineral spirits do u have to rinse it off with water?

Posted by: LRD_27

I use the air compressor to clean my air filtrer

Posted by: 400ex Magnum

I generally just pour mineral spirits onto the air filter. I probably waste a lot doing it this way, but it is fairly cheap. I then dry the filter with a rag (do not wring the filter out) and then use the air compressor to finish drying it off. Once it is completely dry, I re-oil it with filter oil. I never have washed it out with water. The paint thinner does not leave a residue to rinse out.

Posted by:

Never use gas, it will damage your filter in the long run. The
manual suggests kerosene, this is what I use. Pouring it from the inside out to get the bulk of dirt and old oil off of it, and then
dipping it in clean kerosene in a 5 gallon bucket to thoroughly
cleanse. Dry and re-oil, ride.
John

Posted by: fuddrucker

I use Simple Green in a bucket of hot water. About 25% simple green to 75% water and let it soak. Rinse it off, then skake the water out and let dry in the sun. Comes out great. I usually rinse it off first if it real dirty.

Posted by: zephead400ex

Thanks for the replies. In the ownes manual it does say use kerosene, but I dont want to pay over $2 a gallon for it. Does anyone else recommend Simple Green, if so I think I will go that route! Thanks for the replies!

Posted by: Scott

I use klotz filter cleaner and oil. Works just fine. Spray it, let it set 5 mins, wash it out with water, let it dry, oil it, done.

Posted by: Crypted1

Palmolive dish washing liquid works really well.

Posted by: L.Vegas400

i use brake cleaner. just spray from the inside out, rinse with water, let it dry, then oil it. havent noticed any break down of the filter as of yet.

Posted by: foxhonda300ex

What can i use to clean my kn filter besides the kn recharger kit supplies? Can I use paint thinner on this?

Posted by: Scott

Get a can of filter cleaner and a can of filter oil. I use Klotz, but the brand doesn't really matter. You'll go through about 2 cans of cleaner for 1 can of filter oil. Works fine with K&N filters, I've been doing it with 4 K&N's for the past few years.

Posted by: Woodsrider

quote:
Originally posted by foxhonda300ex
What can i use to clean my kn filter besides the kn recharger kit supplies? Can I use paint thinner on this?

Don't use solvents on a K&N. Buy filter cleaner or simple green, I use castrol superclean on my K&N's in both cars, then rinse with water, air dry, and re-oil. DO NOT use compressed air on it! you will blow holes in the filter. I have a combined total of over 350,000 miles on my two K&N car filters

Posted by: Lorduss

nothing wrong with using compressed air to dry out your filter, just use it lightly, i personaly use the sun to dry my filter after washing, ive been using dish soap and hot water to clean it, works well, leaves very little oil behind, and no dirt.

Posted by: DTRAIN

Put some gas in a coffee can, put your air filter in it. Than rinse out the gas, This will take about 1 or 2 minutes. Than either air dry, or like I do, use the compressed air from your muffler to dry, takes about another minute. Some may say not to use gas or compressed air, but I've been doing it for over a year and my filter is still in excellant shape.

Posted by: fuddrucker

"use the compressed air from your muffler to dry, "

Huh??? How do you compress the air from your muffler?

Just curious as to what you mean by that.

Posted by: DTRAIN

By compressed air I mean, I start my quad and use the air blowing out my pipe to dry the filter.

Posted by: fuddrucker

Ahh, I see. Before I got a compressor, I used to use the air coming out of my shop vac.

Posted by: Ensign

quote:
Originally posted by zephead400ex
.....kerosene, but I dont want to pay over $2 a gallon for it. Does anyone else recommend Simple Green, if so I think I will go that route! Thanks for the replies!

Hate to break it to you, but you're probably going to pay more than $2 for a gallon of Simple Green.

Posted by: 250x

when using gas to clean the filter make sure you do it in the basement or utility room or anyplace with some type of pilot light going so when the gas fumes crawl across the floor you ignite. for best effect wait till hands are well done. ok, for legal reasons i was kidding. gas fumes can ignite in so many ways while it is open and being shaken up while cleaning with it. static from your rubber filter neck can spark, or anything. when working with it like that the fumes can lay on the floor at least 12 feet around you. not worth the risk even outside. just my thinking

Posted by: justfine

If $2. is big money to ya, how did you get a quad?

Posted by: zephead400ex

justfine....well $2 is a lot for for a cleaner...that is what I was saying!!! I got my quad...with no problem....so dont worry about it!

Posted by: DarkStarRacing

go buy air filter cleaner

Posted by: Leo

kerosene works well.. if you let it sit for a couple hours you can usually pour off the kerosene and leave the crap behind.. so you can re-use it a couple of times without a problem.. FWIW I use about 1/2 a coffee can full to clean mine..

I keep two filters (stock) so I always have a clean one.. That way I can let the filter I cleaned air dry all the way through and I don't have to rush it..

I used gas to clean my filter one time (in a pinch) and it started to cause the black rubber end to swell slightly.. didn't really hurt the filter, but it can't be that great for it either

Then I just soak 'er down with Uni aerosal foam filter oil, and away I go...

I tried a can of the Uni foam filter cleaner.. didn't work worth a crap (like $7 down the drain) I wouldn't recomend it to someone I didn't like

Leo

Posted by: Jingle

Guys i just got done cleanin my filter and it is a foam one. What can i use that is common to oil it. I really wanna go ride today but need to oil it. Please help Quick

:devil

Posted by: Live2Ride300

If you dont have any air filter oil, then you could use a small amount of motor oil. Dont use too much tho because it will all go to the bottom when you have the filter mounted and it will drip off. Just use enough so that the whole filter is tacky. I clean my air filter with spectro SX air filter cleaner, but when I run out, I use dish soap, or grease lightning, or simple green. Then I let it dry, and re oil it with spectro SX air filter oil.

Posted by: Jingle

Thank You, but luckly my local O'Riely auto parts store had a K&N filter kit. Wow what luck!

Posted by: sandslinger101

i use what fuddrucker uses, simple green biodegradable solvent and let air dry. i clean my uni filter for the ex and clean my k&n filters for the sandrail the same way and seems to work great with out the harsh chemicals of other solvents.

Posted by: cheetah

I'm thinking about using palmovlive to clean my UNI, how long do you let it set, and will it hurt it?

Posted by: ridesa02400EX

palmolive dish soap and hot water and a little bit of scrubing works reall good