Tapping dust out of air filter

[slomo]

I have K & N filters on all of my motorcycles. I clean and oil when needed.

Run what you like.

Remove a Ken and Nancy filter after using it on dusty trails. Look inside the intake manifold. You will be able to wipe with your finger, a grit trail that leads into the engine. Seen it many times with K&N filters. And BTW, they offer 0 performance gains unless the OEM design was compromised. Never seen a vehicle that the front wheels would never touch the ground with those filters installed. Waste of money IMO. On Jeeps and the like, seen this grit get past K&N filters several times. Videos on youtube as well on it. Then there is the micron sized grit that gets into the engine we can talk about...... Not a fan.

Run what you like.

 

[jcworks]

I have the foam pre-filter on my Kaw FR651V. Kawasaki says the FS Air filters are better quality filter media., They are on their commercial FS line of engines. So I have that style on mine, w/ pre-filter but dry..


This is the conversion I made for my former Toro. I have an updated version (in the works) for my new mower, but because of warranty, I have to wait.
https://www.lawnmowerforum.com/showthread.php/52096-Kawaaski-FR651V-FX-air-box-conversion

7394, I was rereading my post about air filters -- its spriingtime, ha. Where do you buy your FS filters? An online search shows Amazon "seems" to have that :

11013-0752 Air Filter for Kawasaki FR651V FR691V FR730V FS481V FS541V FS600V FS651​

I say "seems to have that" as it looks exactly like the one I have on my FR691v (which I just bought at a mower parts store for double what it is on Amazon).

 

[txmowman]

7394, I was rereading my post about air filters -- its spriingtime, ha. Where do you buy your FS filters? An online search shows Amazon "seems" to have that :

11013-0752 Air Filter for Kawasaki FR651V FR691V FR730V FS481V FS541V FS600V FS651​

I say "seems to have that" as it looks exactly like the one I have on my FR691v (which I just bought at a mower parts store for double what it is on Amazon).

You get what you pay for. If your engine is still under warranty, it is best to use genuine parts. The issue isn't so much where the maintenance items come from; it is performing the maintenance to begin with. Good job on that. Many don't until it's too late.

 

[jcworks]

You get what you pay for. If your engine is still under warranty, it is best to use genuine parts. The issue isn't so much where the maintenance items come from; it is performing the maintenance to begin with. Good job on that. Many don't until it's too late.

txmowman, my FR691v is well past warranty. 13 years old, runs good and never had an engine issue in 13 years.

 

[Auto Doc's]

A lightly oiled foam cover is not unusual. Most people do not like them because it is messy and hard not to get too much oil absorbed into the foam. Even a dry foam cover is better than not having a foam cover at all.

Tapping excess dust out should be a regular habit to minimize micro-dust ingestion. A dry filter should be replaced 1 per season, especially under dusty condition.

 

[slomo]

apping excess dust out should be a regular habit to minimize micro-dust ingestion.

I disagree. My thoughts are to keep a 100% positive seal keeping all dirt and grit out of the engine. I use 100% GE silicone caulk to seal/glue my filters on. There is my total filter seal. Then one can remove the foam and clean it if you like. I run my filters till she takes a couple extra pulls on the rope or a few more cranks in starting. But the filter is clogged. YES, means the filter is working keeping the dirt out.

Just put on a new OEM filter yearly. Seal it using oil, grease or silicone in effort of keeping dirt out. Use some common sense.

BTW, I used to tap filters. Noticed the filter got distorted out of shape. Sealing surfaces were not like they used to be. Then I saw inside the intake pipe, grit all the way inside the block.

Get drastic stopping dirt.

 

[txmowman]

I disagree. My thoughts are to keep a 100% positive seal keeping all dirt and grit out of the engine. I use 100% GE silicone caulk to seal/glue my filters on. There is my total filter seal. Then one can remove the foam and clean it if you like. I run my filters till she takes a couple extra pulls on the rope or a few more cranks in starting. But the filters is clogged. YES, means the filter is working keeping the dirt out.

Just put on a new OEM filter yearly. Seal it using oil, grease or silicone in effort of keeping dirt out. Use some common sense.

BTW, I used to tap filters. Noticed the filter got distorted out of shape. Sealing surfaces were not like they used to be. Then I saw inside the intake pipe, grit all the way inside the block.

Get drastic stopping dirt.

@slomo, you are absolutely correct on the oiling. Oil attracts dirt. If the air filter was intended to have oil, it would have come that way from the factory, which it did not. There is no reason to add silicone to the sealing surface. Again, it is not that way from the engine manufacturer or recommended as part of service. My experience is that if you have to tap a filter out, it should be replaced.

 

[slomo]

There is no reason to add silicone to the sealing surface.

There is a reason. These cheapo filters, even OEM, do not seal 100%. Many a mower I've pulled the filter off. Many a mower has a grit trail going right into the intake valve. Rub your finger on the bottom of the intake port. All that grit is heading to the rings. You don't have to use silicone. I will on my personal fleet.

These are the worst LOL.

 

[txmowman]

There is a reason. These cheapo filters, even OEM, do not seal 100%. Many a mower I've pulled the filter off. Many a mower has a grit trail going right into the intake valve. Rub your finger on the bottom of the intake port. All that grit is heading to the rings. You don't have to use silicone. I will on my personal fleet.

These are the worst LOL.

View attachment 72993

Just my opinion, there is nothing wrong with the filter. The issue is that someone buys a new filter, mows in dusty/dirty conditions, and never checks it. In their minds, they may be thinking, "I just replaced the filter." A small filter like this, and the one on my Toro 22" push mower, can become clogged very easily. I mow a small Texas lot and replace at least a half dozen filters every year. An engine will pull air from wherever it can. Through the filter, around the filter, past o-rings or clamps, throttle/choke shafts, etc. An engine is a pretty powerful air pump.

 

[slomo]

An engine will pull air from wherever it can. Through the filter, around the filter, past o-rings or clamps, throttle/choke shafts, etc. An engine is a pretty powerful air pump.

I agree, reason why I seal/glue my filters on.

If you are looking to cut down filter dirt, fire up the sprinklers prior to mowing. Five minutes per zone or a simple dusting with hose water will nearly halt all the air filter ingestion.