Changing Air Filter in the XII

[gearheadfla]

Actually y'all got a couple of the letters flipped around it's RTV (room temperature vulcanizing)
just sayin.......

Got me there, maybe I shouldn't type before my nap.

[ekap1200]

Just my 2cents ! But I am a keep it stock kind of guy. Until the day I can not purchace an oem air filter I will stick with the stock one. Another 2cents worth of info is that it is most important to be anal retentive when taking out an old filter from the air box. I have cleaned many a carb or sets of carbs that were fouled up by the owners by allowing debris fall into the air box. It's an odds game, maybe that crap will just pass into the engine and out the exhaust ; or ; it will find its way into the idle circuit. One grain of sand is as bad as ten. Again just my 2cents. Gene Kap.

[Dbb3]

I did find the Fram and the Wix filters locally, but both filters had approx 50-55 folds, where as the original has 30 (32 including the end mounted folds). As someone pointed out, that's less air getting in.
I would imagine it gets worse as filter gets normal dust into louvers.
Has anyone who uses "compatible" filters noticed this, or is it a small issue?
Thanks
Dan

[doug of so fla]

I have found that the purlator filter has less folds and works perfect. When you try to compress the 50+ wix / Fram folds into the filter box it restricts air flow. It reduced my mileage, switching to Purlator brought it immediately back to where it should be. I change it every couple years and have been using them for over 400,000 mi.

[debron]

I sprang for a K&N filter. My gas mileage jumped 4mpg (but my old paper filter was pretty dirty!) I am now getting over 50 mpg at a true (per gps) 67 mph on freeway, over mtn passes.

[joelcolletti]

After Reading these Air Filter posts, I decided to spring for the K&N filter too.

Being a stock guy like Kap, I'm still feeling uncomfortable switching out the stock filter. After all, OEM is what I'm used to purchasing for my XII going on nearly 20 years now.

I'm not sure where or what to cut and the procedure for oiling either, so for now, I'm not sure that I'll install it, unless I can get more info on installing and caring for the filter.

It's a nice looking filter, and I do like the decals it came with too.

I read some posts that state: Trim an 1/8" and some that say - Trim 1/4" (might be speaking about different filters?), but not sure if that is around the housing or the gasket?

Another post suggests "place the ribbed side facing down:" Is that right?

If I don't need to service the filter for 50,000 miles, than cleaning / oiling may not be an issue for me, as I just went over 40k (since 1995) going the the 2013 WRR. Since then, I had to have replaced approximately 5 paper filters. At times, I can still hear the engine straining for air even with a new OEM paper filter on it. I'm hoping for better performance with the K&N and less straining for air, so I'm hoping to get it on my XII sooner than later.



Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[gearheadfla]

All I did when I put one in my bike was drop it in, I didn't use the plastic cage from the stock filter at all, I put the K&N in and then I used black RTV sealant to "caulk" around the edges to seal it good so no unfiltered air got sucked in. It was that simple, when it comes time to clean it (once a year) i just cut the seal loose, clean the filter, drop back it and reseal. 50 mph on the superslab at 75mph (That's GPS mph, not Voyager MPH) lol

[joelcolletti]

All I did when I put one in my bike was drop it in, I didn't use the plastic cage from the stock filter at all, I put the K&N in and then I used black RTV sealant to "caulk" around the edges to seal it good so no unfiltered air got sucked in. It was that simple, when it comes time to clean it (once a year) i just cut the seal loose, clean the filter, drop back it and reseal. 50 mph on the superslab at 75mph (That's GPS mph, not Voyager MPH) lol

Thanks Jim,

You make it sound easy. I'll look for that sealant, and should have it up and running probably by tomorrow.

[joelcolletti]

WOW! Just modified my XII's air filter and man does my machine fly.

I needed to customize the install a little more than just popping it in. I needed to trim and install the stand alone rubber gasket, as there was a small corner that was exposed between the old filter frame and the K&N filter itself. Don't forget to remove the adhesive backing, and clean frame with rubbing alcohol, so it can stick properly to the OEM frame. I was able to gently squeeze the K&N air filter into the OEM filter frame without having to trim the gasket attached to the air filter itself.

I think I just added 20 more horses under me. The pick up seems way better than before and there is less sputtering as well.

XII OEM Air Filter Frame with Foam Border Still Attached



Stock XII Filter Frame with Trimmed K&N Gasket in Place
(Needed it b/c there was a small gap between frame and air filter)



K&N Air FIlter Installed



K&N Decal in Trunk Bag



1st Place Stock Touring at 2013 WRR - Ray Walls Fall Classic



I took the XII out for a test drive afterwards, and boy did it fly. The pick up reminded me of riding a 750 Ninja. The good thing was I didn't need to use the silicone sealant, as I got a nice tight fit without any air spaces around the reusable OEM frame, the gasket and K&N air filter.

Thanks to the AVA Members that help making my membership such a terrific value and so much fun. I hope this makes your mod an easy and exhilarating experience.

[suzib6sw]

Just as an FYI... Advance Auto Parts have the K&N filter Part Number 33-2008-1 (1986 Chevvy Camero) for $29.95 plus tax at the moment
they will ship too.. Most of the stores wont have them in stock at the mo.. have to be ordered in..

Pete

[Scott-(Altoona, PA)]

Just as an FYI... Advance Auto Parts have the K&N filter Part Number 33-2008-1 (1986 Chevvy Camero) for $29.95 plus tax at the moment
they will ship too.. Most of the stores wont have them in stock at the mo.. have to be ordered in..
Pete

Every time I need parts from Advance Auto, I will order them on-line with Pick up In-Store and use coupon codes for discounts. An employee advised this to me stating he gets better discounts using his smart phone than his employee discount.
Current Promo Codes:
TRT30 = 30% off all orders
WD11 = 35% off $50+
TRT41 = $40 Off $100+ Regular Priced Items + Free Shipping
MISSU341 = $50 Off + Free Shipping on All Orders $125+
I can't guarantee that any of these will work but I often have positive results and savings. I've already added a few pine tree air fresheners or windshield wash fluid to take the total up a few dollars and ended up saving more than the cost of trees or fluid. I've already added $7 in merchandise and saved an additional $25 due to the total sales amount. Give it a try!!!!
Just Google "advance auto parts coupon code" and start trying the codes.

[Lance McCaw]

Just put my K&N in. It fits right in the plastic cage perfect. I did not use the extra gasket included cause I dont want it sucked in my carbs. I was already getting 47-50 mpg with the STP filter but I always been a K&N fan.

[ghostler]

I have found that the purlator filter has less folds and works perfect. When you try to compress the 50+ wix / Fram folds into the filter box it restricts air flow. It reduced my mileage, switching to Purlator brought it immediately back to where it should be. I change it every couple years and have been using them for over 400,000 mi.

I picked up two Frams, think it's for a 20 YO Camaro, but is one recommended as a generic cost effective fix over the OEM. Removed the plastic carrier from the OEM one, trimmed about 1/8" on the rubber for the Fram so it fit snuggly but not excessively tight. Seems to be working so far.
I'll give the Purolator one a shot after I'm done with the 2nd Fram.

[voyager55]

When needed I wash the OEM filter, works great

[ghostler]

When needed I wash the OEM filter, works great

Perhaps then what I had from previous owner wasn't OEM. It was a paper element filter. If OEM was foam in a carrier, then I'd consider that better. My old 1971 Honda CB100 had a foam filter. Only thing though is the synthetic rubber or plastic used back then would deteriorate over time. Finally I replaced it with a K&N cleanable rechargeable by oil cloth/fiber element filter. I don't put a lot of miles on the CB100, so it works for me.

Perhaps the OEM foam element is of more stable media that doesn't deterioriate over a short time like a couple years.

I've not been using K&N elements on my cages, as the paper element does better filtration, thought the same for the Voyager. Here in New Mexico, we have more dust in the air due to relative lack of precipitation than elsewhere. I find it more expedient to use compressed air to blow out the auto paper filter, then chuck it for a new one when time.

But then that's just me. Perhaps others living in arid dusty areas have better luck with the K&N's.

[voyager55]

oem is paper