cleaning the air filter

[squirejames359]

Hi there,

According to my haynes GS850 manual I have to clean the air filter in a non-flammable solvent (not petrol). Anyone have any tips on which solvent is best, are some harmful to the element, any to be avoided at all costs etc?

I would appreciate the thoughts of other members as I am not the most mechanically-minded. (I have a funny story about oil that I am debating with myself whether to share or not... it's a touch embarrassing!!)

Thanks in advance,

Squire

 

[salty_monk]

The instructions in the Clymer manual were quite comprehensive, can't get at mine at the mo though... sorry!

 

[Boondocks]

Assuming you have a polyurethane filter, I would just use a solution of hot water and hand dishwashing liquid detergent to clean it. Rinse the filter well with water after cleaning and allow it to air dry without heat before oiling it.

 

[squirejames359]

Cheers guys, I'll give that a go. And yes it is a polyurethane filter

Thanks, ride safe

 

[txironhead]

Don't ever, ever, EVER use carb cleaner, especially on a polyurethane filter. A friend of mine thought "hey, cleans crud off of the carbs, why not?" Two minutes later he was staring at a soggy, grainy pile that USED to be a Uni filter.

 

[beby99]

(I have a funny story about oil that I am debating with myself whether to share or not... it's a touch embarrassing!!)

Hey...these guys shared....now its your turn :-D

 

[squirejames359]

Hey...these guys shared....now its your turn :-D

Alright alright, I'll share...

I thought my GS850G was going through some oil because I checked the window and it looked like it was low so I put a bit of oil in it. This went on for a while, checking, looked low, oil... a bit at a time. I was riding home from work one day stopped at traffic lights when something went bang and oil started spewing everywhere, smoke off the engine, oh sh$t. Oil went all over the back wheel but somehow I made it to my brother-in-law's place without falling over and from there it got towed to the bike shop.

When I went to pick it up the shop guy told me he drained 8 litres of oil out. It only takes 3.6... He told me the engine leaks NO oil and what was I thinking. Even worse he laughed about me to my wife... how embarrassing.

Anyway.... enough of that

Thanks for the tips re the filter

Ride safe

Squire

 

[beby99]

:shock: #-o ](*,) :-D

 

[txironhead]

Nothing to be embarrased about, it looked low! That's why I like dipstick-style systems. But I guarantee that if my mechanic made fun of me to my wife I'd be finding another mechanic quick (and probably a good lawyer to get me out of the assault and battery charges, but I never claimed to be completely mentally stable!\\/ )

My question is, how the HECK did the crankcase HOLD that much oil without overflowing at the filler?

 

[mark]

Alright alright, I'll share...

I thought my GS850G was going through some oil because I checked the window and it looked like it was low so I put a bit of oil in it. This went on for a while, checking, looked low, oil... a bit at a time. I was riding home from work one day stopped at traffic lights when something went bang and oil started spewing everywhere, smoke off the engine, oh sh$t. Oil went all over the back wheel but somehow I made it to my brother-in-law's place without falling over and from there it got towed to the bike shop.

When I went to pick it up the shop guy told me he drained 8 litres of oil out. It only takes 3.6... He told me the engine leaks NO oil and what was I thinking. Even worse he laughed about me to my wife... how embarrassing.

Anyway.... enough of that

Thanks for the tips re the filter

Ride safe

Squire

I've over filled before because it looked empty on the glass when it fact it was just clean oil I was looking through. Never ran the engine that way though.

 

[squirejames359]

Nothing to be embarrased about, it looked low! That's why I like dipstick-style systems. But I guarantee that if my mechanic made fun of me to my wife I'd be finding another mechanic quick (and probably a good lawyer to get me out of the assault and battery charges, but I never claimed to be completely mentally stable!\\/ )

My question is, how the HECK did the crankcase HOLD that much oil without overflowing at the filler?

He's alright, the mechanic guy. He's one of the few I know that doesn't add problems out of thin air. My wife actually bought the 850 for me as a surprise and he was the only one that didn't treat her like an idiot when she was wanting things done like exhaust gaskets, fork seals, picking it up from the freight company etc. Everyone else fobbed her off.

I don't know where all the oil went but it sure came out from anywhere it could. Nothing wrong with the engine though, just drained it, put new stuff in and away she went. Good engines.

 

[rodm850g]

air filter

air filter

Guys,
I had one in my old 850,it died and after doing a bit of research I replaced it with a K&N unit...in 1985. I pull it out and check it yearly..and clean it with one of the K&N kits. They call them filter chargers....use a proprietary cleaner {you can use 409} and they are oiled from the factory. They use a gauze media in them and oil to trap particulate. The idle went up a bit as they flow more air than OEM,and most claiman increase in h/p due to filter...if true cheap h/p.....by the way mine still is in use today....

rodm850g

 

[squirejames359]

Guys,
I had one in my old 850,it died and after doing a bit of research I replaced it with a K&N unit...in 1985. I pull it out and check it yearly..and clean it with one of the K&N kits. They call them filter chargers....use a proprietary cleaner {you can use 409} and they are oiled from the factory. They use a gauze media in them and oil to trap particulate. The idle went up a bit as they flow more air than OEM,and most claiman increase in h/p due to filter...if true cheap h/p.....by the way mine still is in use today....

rodm850g

Thanks for the info, something else for me to try... I'm selling the 850 soon so I want it all running and looking spick and span. Problem is I'll get it running and looking better than it ever has since I've owned it and then someone else gets it.

Ooh well...

Squire

Squire