Wanted: Hints for cleaning Uni Filter foam air filter

[ScottRNelson]

Okay, it's too late this time around, but I need hints for next time.

My XR650L has been a little strange at closed throttle deceleration and at idle, so I decided to go through the carburetor and check everything. It's probably been ten years since I opened it up although I might have done something six years ago when I had the engine rebuilt. For sure the carb hasn't been touched since then. While doing that I realized that I probably should clean the air filter more often. The filter was nowhere near clogged or anything, but much of it was rather black on the outside, even though it looked nice and clean on the inside.

So to clean it, I removed the inner cage that helps the filter hold its shape, stuck it in a one gallon zip-lock bag and dumped in a bunch of dishwashing detergent with some water and worked it through the foam. Once the detergent/water was a uniform brown color I pulled it out and worked more detergent into it until it was mostly clean. It's not uniformly bright red anymore, but I couldn't get any more dirt from it.

Now that it's rinsed and I've removed as much water as I can from it, I'll let it dry overnight, spray some filter oil (probably the stuff from Uni) on it, put some grease on it where it contacts the airbox, and I should be good for a while.

Is there a better way to do it than what I've described?

This is what this particular filter looks like:

 

[m0t0_ryder]

I use dish soap.
UNI approves of this... HERE.

Products like Simple Green, dish soap, or mild solvents can be used if Uni Cleaner is not available at the time of cleaning.
Pour cleaning solution into a bucket; dunk the filter in multiple times until clean. Rinse with warm water. Next you must
let the filter dry completely. Finally, be sure to clean air filter frame and the filter mounting surface and air box.

 

[ScottRNelson]

I use dish soap.
UNI approves of this...

So the way I did it is about as good as it gets then?

 

[Busy Little Shop]

I like to clean my filters with gas...

 

[usedtobefast]

Another approach is new filter and get some filter skins. Then you can just pull the skins off and clean them.

And then maybe every 3rd or so filter skin cleaning you clean the filter.

And the filter will not be encrusted with dirt/dust/crud .

 

[afm199]

Use engine degreaser. Spray it on, let it sit, and rinse multiple times.

 

[ScottRNelson]

Use engine degreaser. Spray it on, let it sit, and rinse multiple times.

Thanks. I'll try that next time.

 

[scootergmc]

I just rinse in a small pan of gas. Quick soak, give it a few squeezes, let air dry, apply light coat of foam air cleaner oil, squeeze/massage to evenly spread, reinstall.

 

[ScottRNelson]

As I was digging through all of my disorganized random stuff for the filter oil I found a can of filter cleaner. I'll use that next time.

 

[scootergmc]

Murphy's law. But plain gas is still easier and does a better job.

 

[ScottRNelson]

Murphy's law. But plain gas is still easier and does a better job.

How am I supposed to dispose of it after cleaning the filter?

 

[scootergmc]

Dump it in the dirt, street, yard, grass clippings garbage can, leave it out and let it evaporate, etc.

 

[ScottRNelson]

Dump it in the dirt, street, yard, grass clippings garbage can, leave it out and let it evaporate, etc.

In other words, pollute the environment with it. :rolleyes

I'll stick with soaps and detergents thanks.

 

[ST Guy]

In other words, pollute the environment with it. :rolleyes

I'll stick with soaps and detergents thanks.

Which pollute just as much. What are you going to do with them? Just curious.

 

[ScottRNelson]

Which pollute just as much. What are you going to do with them? Just curious.

Please enlighten me as to how two or three ounces of Palmolive dish soap sent down my sink drain pollutes just as much as half a gallon of dirty gasoline dumped in the yard, street, etc. Also curious.

 

[CDONA]

How about filtering the cleaning gas thru coffee filters, and into the lawnmower?

 

[Busy Little Shop]

How am I supposed to dispose of it after cleaning the filter?

After cleaning your filter use it to clean your chain... eventually it will dissipate just like the gas will in our tanks...

As we know through thermodynamics, energy cannot be created nor destroyed. It simply changes states...
so whether we burn it in the combustion chamber or let it dissipate in the air it simply just changes state...

 

[scootergmc]

In other words, pollute the environment with it. :rolleyes

I'll stick with soaps and detergents thanks.

No problem. If disposing of a little gas (no, you don't need a half gallon) is that much of a struggle, you probably should just hang up the keys and start walking everywhere.

You can also pour it in your used oil and take it to the recycler.

 

[Busy Little Shop]

You can also pour it in your used oil and take it to the recycler.

I agree...

 

[ST Guy]

Please enlighten me as to how two or three ounces of Palmolive dish soap sent down my sink drain pollutes just as much as half a gallon of dirty gasoline dumped in the yard, street, etc. Also curious.

Sorry, I was thinking equal amounts. And I, for one, don't think a little gas is any worse for the environment than soap. At least it will volitalize and the soap will stay. Just my opinion, though I used to take baths in the stuff back when it had lead in it.