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Home Made Air Filter. Can I get away with this?

marvinsc

marvinsc

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Well, I finally got around to checking my air filter today. The 850 has been running fine since I got it in April and appeared to be well cared for so I've been riding and thinking I'll check it when I get time. Today I got time and You guessed it! the foam may have been in there since 1980! 8O The foam was TOTALLY dry rotted and it is nothing short of a Miracle that I haven't sucked a ton of it into the Carbs.
Knowing it was a long shot, I checked a couple of parts stores that were open today with No luck. I don't even know where the closest Suzi dealer is, so I decided I'm going to Improvise as an alternative to not riding at all. After taking out the filter frame and cleaning it and the Air Box I knew I needed a new foam gasket between the filter frame and intake, new foam element and new Pre Filter. I bought a 12" square block of foam at the Wal Mart craft center and a Shop Vac Foam Pre Filter and a roll of weather strip tape. I fashioned a top gasket for the filter frame out of the weather strip tape, traced the frame and cut a replacement element out of the foam, and cut the shop vac pre filter to the correct height,oiled and Re-installed. Took her for a 10 mile run-so far, so good. Advice?
 
Just check it every few days. Who knows if that craft foam is oil resistant! You could open up the filter box to a huge mess of melted foam. Then again, you might have a filter that works for years! If it holds up, I can't see why there is any reason you should get a real filter.
 
The run of the mill foam is not oil/fuel resistant, without doing plug chop's you will not know if the foam is flowing more or less air, thus effecting your fuel mix.
I'm not saying it won't work, just that there are some thing's to consider.
 
Thanks Jethro, that was my thinking, I'll check it's condition pretty closely for a while. It this works, I have enough extra foam to last a lifetime! If it doesn't, I've wasted $15 on more foolish ventures. :wink:
 
I've gotta get the real thing. Marv, I've been running generic dollar store foam all summer. Used filter oil on it and it and I've had no trouble with deterioration.
 
I like the sound of that! I'll check mine Weekly at least for a while. It's not that an OEM was all that High, It's the wait for stuff to get here to the Jackson Purchase that's the Problem. :wink:
 
UPDATE>It's working OK for a Temp. fix but not long term. The bike runs OK for commuting back and forth to work at moderate speeds but under hard Acceleration she starts starving for Air at 5 grand or so. I can get her to 70 mph using gradual acceleration. I know about Bike Bandit, any other Suggeations for an OEM replacenment AIR FILTER ? Thanks, SCOTT
 
I just ordered a replacement from Cycle Re Cycle this week for my 83' 850G and it was only $24. Less of a headache making one for about the same price.
CIIC really knows their bikes!
 
That may not be your problem. I just did the same thing about a month ago and sprayed my new foam with K & N filter oil. It has been working fine and doesn't seem to be breaking down the foam. I have no problem at all with air starvation at any RPM. It could be the foam but it may not be either!
 
I ordered Air and Oil Filters today from Bike Bandit. :wink:
 
My parts arrived fron BB Friday. Installed the stock air filter Yesterday but didn't have time for a Ride. The one I had fabricated showed NO signs of breaking down due to Oil, Fuel, or Heat BUT the Bike runs MUCH better with the OEM Filter. Took my Daughter for a Ride today and the Bike ran great, Wound up to 6 grand between shifts with NO missing out or flat spots like it had with the makeshift filter. Final Conclusion: the Homemade filter was OK for a Short Term patch, but the OEM is much better. :D
 
Purchase a K&N filter, no more filter worries then, I've had one on my bike since it was new in 1980 and still have it.
 
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