| Author | Message | ||
     Midknyte |
Starting to stock up on maintenence items... Are our air filters a special size / unique shape, or are they something standard and substitute'able? Same question goes for oil filters. I was in a farm & fleet the other day and saw a bunch of small oil filters and made me wonder. I want to stick with paper. Not interested in a reusable K&N. Thanks! | ||
| Midknyte |
Hmmm. Might have answered my own question. Anyone use these? http://www.partsgiant.com/p343757-uni-filter-street-bike-air-filter?m=355635&gclid=Cj0KEQjwx7u5BRC1lePz2biJpIYBEiQA-ZeDmgQ0y5wG7ZgxYiPAHYXUaQKrZDmDwZ4OJHsa6Dtw2jkaAlE58P8HAQ&f=121482  | ||
| Brother_in_buells |
The filter above is not any better as the k&n and needs oiled to. The foam is like the dirtbike filters but not the same quality. | ||
| Midknyte |
Thanks. Good to know. | ||
| Froggy |
Unfortunately the air filter is a unique to the XBs, so its not something you can find at a random AutoZone. The oil filter is off the shelf though (same size as one used on a bunch of Toyotas). The problem with them is that automotive versions are designed for higher pressures than the XB, so some car filters will fit but not actually provide filtration. | ||
| Phelan |
Do yourself a favor and just buy a single K&N and keep a cleaning/recharge kit in stock. | ||
| Midknyte |
 I had a K&N for a while. They flow too much air for the stock ecu mapping and my bike runs lean / hot. Would like to keep things as is if possible. | ||
| Phelan |
That's a fallacy. The air filter alone wouldn't do that. Only air box mods would make that significant of a change. The K&N is an economic change, not really a performance change. Bike runs lean/hot stock already. | ||
| Court |
>>>he problem with them is that automotive versions are designed for higher pressures than the XB, so some car filters will fit but not actually provide filtration. So buying an entire case of Buell O.E.M. oil filters was a good investment? | ||
| Ducbsa |
some car filters will fit but not actually provide filtration. Any suggestions on which car filters are suitable? | ||
| Doz |
I'm sure the Uni filter works great but I've had to do lots of carb rebuilds on older bikes where the foam degraded and clogged up everything. I've had no problems with the K&N's. Never seen an overly lean condition because of them either. | ||
| Reepicheep |
Huh? If that's true about the pressure, then perhaps the car oil filter would provide insufficient flow, but why would that lead to poor filtration? Plus, I don't think the pressure would actually matter much for the oil filter. The oil filter isn't seeing the full pressure differential, it's effectively inline and in series with all the other pressure drops of the engine. I would be very surprised to find out that the XB Buell oil filter is anything other than a rebranded decent quality car oil filter. (Message edited by reepicheep on May 09, 2016) | ||
| Rcf2 |
Me and a lot of guys in Brazil are using the oil filter from Fram, reference number PH4967A with good results. And I believe if you have a regular use of the motorcycle they should deliver what you need. About the air filter I have posted about the same question, I'm not a fan of oiled filters and tried to find an alternative for the very expensive prices HD is charging here for them. Did not find yet and actually request a small factory to make a paper one for me. If work fine will make a dozen for the pals here. Not suggesting anyone to start making filters, just saying that in my personal case (US$120 at HD) I'm considering to order a special made one. | ||
| Court |
As cheap as they are I just bought a case of OEM Buell filters. After stocking $3k worth of "apocalypse parts"..... Having and extra 10 oil filters made sense h | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
You suppose one could get a round automotive air filter of the correct height/diameter and mash it a bit to make it oval? | ||
| Court |
 | ||
| Hughlysses |
You suppose one could get a round automotive air filter of the correct height/diameter and mash it a bit to make it oval? I've wondered that myself, but I suspect the rubber top and bottom seal are so wide (~1") they wouldn't allow you to get the required radius:  Still, with auto air filters at ~$10 versus ~$50 for the factory filters, it'd be worth trying. The Uni filter looks like a workable substitute. I've resisted going to a K&N because while they flow better than paper filters, they don't filter as well. My old Honda Ascot VT500FT had a factory foam filter equivalent to the Uni and when the original element crumbled to dust I replaced it with a Uni, which works fine. | ||
| Midknyte |
>I've wondered that myself, but I suspect the rubber top and bottom seal are so wide (~1") they wouldn't allow you to get the required radius: Even if you could get it mashed into place on the bottom track, you'd have a hell of a time getting it blindly seated in the airbox cover (assuming you've kept that stock). I plan on getting a handful of stock filters over the summer and a uni/k&n as a last resort... I'm two up on the air filters with a desire of 5, and a case of oil filters and a few other things as backup once I can't buy them as needed. |
