Just cleaned my K&N pod filters after 3000 miles...and they are still filthy, despite all the stones and grint being removed and the relentless scrubbing! The roads are not the cleanest near where I live so maybe I should have kept a better eye on them.

Did 93 miles before reserve recently, is harder to start when warm, starts first time without choke when cold, gets a bit gutless after 5000 rpm...all points to running too rich!

Do K&N filters have a threshold as to where they just become uncleanable and need to be replaced?

First time ive had K&N's so will I learn from this and inspect their condition more often!

Lastly, has anyone had experience with unifilter as well as K&N, ive heard they are the same in airflow but easier to inspect and clean due to their shape/construction.

Did you submerge them in solution of water and a grease lifting dish detergent? Just like washing a greasy pot, a good soaking will clean them right up.

__________________
2001 Bonneville
2004 Bonneville America

I normally wash them out with petrol. Expensive these days, I know, but just flush them from the inside to out.

Did you possibly over oil them? Easily done.

is your breather filter near the carb air filters? It could be spewing oil onto them.

__________________
Ride, Wrench, Post, repeat.

Bonnie cafefighter!

The only Unifilter I ever had was a foam typre filter. Just washed it out with petrol again. Let it dry out. Really quick spray of WD-40 and it's done.

any filter will reach a point where it's uncleanable if it's allowed to get that dirty.

K&N have a specific cleaner for their filters and at about AU$10 its not that expensive.Surprise,surprise,it actualy does its job and cleans the filters better than any other solvent.

__________________
If electricity comes from electrons,does that mean morality comes from morons?

Whoever mentioned dish det- A good long dip in hot water w/ Dawn dish liquid- it should do the trick unless they are really trashed? Check for the blow by issue as well.

__________________
CAPT D

Originally Posted by amanger

K&N have a specific cleaner for their filters and at about AU$10 its not that expensive.Surprise,surprise,it actualy does its job and cleans the filters better than any other solvent.

They also have the spray lube that readies them up quite nice, I do mine about every 1000mi

__________________
Mods:Predators/fork stabilizer/AI removed/Keihin CR-S carbs/RaceTech fork springs/Nology wires&coil/Iridium plugs/Traxxion emulators/LSL sliders & damper/Napolean mirrors/Monza fuel cap/19t front sprkt/flyscreen/Pazzo Levers/Ohlins 36PL shocks

I've had K&N on everything I own and have never had a problem with getting them cleaned? I wouldn't use anything but K&N filter cleaner? Get the filters wet with some warm water...then spray on the cleaner (heavily...all over) onto the gauze...the seal...let it set for 10 minutes...then spray them again...let it set 10 mins...then run warm water from the inside of the cone out...that way you don't flush any particals into the cleaner side. Let them set to completely dry...check'em? If they need another rinse...so be it...but always let them dry completely before re-oiling them...


Cheers!
MONDO

__________________
The Bonnie Situation...

Many years ago I rode a heavily modified XL350 Honda. The bike was used/raced purely off-road and in very dusty conditions. It ran a big bore engine with a dellorto carb and K&N filter with no airbox. The carb never ingested any dirt in the years I thrashed that bike.

I ran that same engine in a succession of bikes over several years and eventually sold it with the K&N still on it and still looking and performing like a new one.

I would recommend K&N over anything - Period!

Russ