Choosing and Air Cleaner

[yegg]

How does one go about choosing an air cleaner? What do you look for? Are there performance specs associated with them? Do you simply choose based on look?

I am not into super high performance. I chose the CFR slip ons to give me the sound that I wanted.

I want to replace the headers for the heat issue and if I help performance, that is even better. My right leg is taking a beating!

I want to maintain a somewhat close to original look. I am thinking of the HD Screaming Eagle Stage 1 air cleaner.

Thanks for the help (again)!

 

[Gunner]

For the most part it's mostly cosmetic. The stock set up will flow more air then you will need. That being said a good washable filter should last a long time. If you were building a mega horse power machine it might be a different story.

 

[OldMike]

I like the stock look and just added a K&N element but did not notice any power difference.

 

[BluesBelly]

U

How does one go about choosing an air cleaner? What do you look for? Are there performance specs associated with them? Do you simply choose based on look?

I am not into super high performance. I chose the CFR slip ons to give me the sound that I wanted.

I want to replace the headers for the heat issue and if I help performance, that is even better. My right leg is taking a beating!

I want to maintain a somewhat close to original look. I am thinking of the HD Screaming Eagle Stage 1 air cleaner.

Thanks for the help (again)!

Www.fuelmotousa.com

Best air intake assembly that looks stock and easier to install than the SE unit

 

[msquad]

Personally, I stay away from the K&N type filters. They let more dirt in. You can find a couple studies online about this. One study showed they only filtered at a 96% rate while the stock filter (this test was for a vehicle not Harley) filtered at 99.x%. Like said above, I believe the stock set up is enough air and that is what I run and it runs great.

 

[yegg]

Thanks guys! Based on initial responses, I think I am going to stick with the stock air intake. Maybe I will find a way to "spruce" it up some.

 

[BluesBelly]

Personally, I stay away from the K&N type filters. They let more dirt in. You can find a couple studies online about this. One study showed they only filtered at a 96% rate while the stock filter (this test was for a vehicle not Harley) filtered at 99.x%. Like said above, I believe the stock set up is enough air and that is what I run and it runs great.

I agree with msquad. The stock filter is sufficient for the stock cam. The thing I do not like about the stock filter is its ability to seal tightly against the stock housing. At 1000 miles I pulled my cover and filter and was dismayed to see fingers of dirt streaking toward the throttle body intake. Cleaned and checked again after another 1k and found the same thing. After a bit of research it seems my case is not isolated. At any rate I swapped to the Fuelmoto unit and never looked back. The K&N style element seals much better.
I am aware of the filtration tests as pointed out by msquad. The air filtered during those tests is very heavily contaminated with dirt as you might find in off road racing or heavy road construction equipment and other extremely dusty conditions. We usually don't ride our street bikes in those types of climates so I don't really think the filtration difference matters too much. All I know is I'd rather have a well sealing filter than a stocker that is not doing the job which was my case.
Something for everyone! That's part of what makes the HD experience fun!

 

[msquad]

I agree with msquad. The stock filter is sufficient for the stock cam. The thing I do not like about the stock filter is its ability to seal tightly against the stock housing. At 1000 miles I pulled my cover and filter and was dismayed to see fingers of dirt streaking toward the throttle body intake. Cleaned and checked again after another 1k and found the same thing. After a bit of research it seems my case is not isolated. At any rate I swapped to the Fuelmoto unit and never looked back. The K&N style element seals much better.
I am aware of the filtration tests as pointed out by msquad. The air filtered during those tests is very heavily contaminated with dirt as you might find in off road racing or heavy road construction equipment and other extremely dusty conditions. We usually don't ride our street bikes in those types of climates so I don't really think the filtration difference matters too much. All I know is I'd rather have a well sealing filter than a stocker that is not doing the job which was my case.
Something for everyone! That's part of what makes the HD experience fun!

I just changed my stock air filter (since I bought a bunch of stock ones on ebay for like $22 total) and didn't have this issue. Though, one of the 1st things I did was redirect my breather hoses to not go back into the throttle body. Did you do that? I know if you don't it lets hot oily air into the intake so that is why I redirect elsewhere (at first I had a filter on the end but now, like I did on my last bike, I just have it coming out from under the bike with no filter). I do have to fill the hole on the stock filter with some silicone since the hose for the breather is not used there anymore.

 

[BluesBelly]

I just changed my stock air filter (since I bought a bunch of stock ones on ebay for like $22 total) and didn't have this issue. Though, one of the 1st things I did was redirect my breather hoses to not go back into the throttle body. Did you do that?.

Have not rerouted the breather on my current ride but did on my last bike which was a stage 4 build. My 14 glide will remain stock internally so I probably won't reroute unless it gives me trouble. So far I have no problems.

 

[msquad]

Have not rerouted the breather on my current ride but did on my last bike which was a stage 4 build. My 14 glide will remain stock internally so I probably won't reroute unless it gives me trouble. So far I have no problems.

I would reroute anyway. But it is your bike .

DK sells some reroute kits. Here are some pics from their website.

http://www.dkcustomproducts.com/images/TwinCam1M3.jpg
http://www.dkcustomproducts.com/images/TwinCam2M3.jpg
http://www.dkcustomproducts.com/images/DynoComp.jpg

 

[BluesBelly]

Msquad, thanks for the info. Maybe will put that mod on my winter list. Give me a project when there is three feet of snow on the ground.

 

[msquad]

Msquad, thanks for the info. Maybe will put that mod on my winter list. Give me a project when there is three feet of snow on the ground.

Please don't remind me of snow.
I just put on heated grips this weekend so I could keep riding as long as it is dry. The grips are awesome!!! But now I'm off topic .

 

[OldMike]

Personally, I stay away from the K&N type filters. They let more dirt in. You can find a couple studies online about this. One study showed they only filtered at a 96% rate while the stock filter (this test was for a vehicle not Harley) filtered at 99.x%. Like said above, I believe the stock set up is enough air and that is what I run and it runs great.

3% difference, I better get back to stock.

 

[bugdewde]

Think of an air filter as a window screen or sieve. Without increasing filter surface area (or adding a super charger), in order to increase the flow through said filter (all things being equal), you have to increase the size of the filtration hole.

There are many documented cases of Jeepers (I'm an off-roader, too), that have taken the intake tube off that goes between the air box and throttle body to find K&N (gauze type) filters deposit significant debris onto the walls of the intake tube.... the paper type filters don't.

Street cars and bikes benefit from those freer flowing filters .... at the cost of less filtration.

Is that 1/2 of a HP worth the increase in probable damage? Many, many think so.

 

[OldMike]

Think of an air filter as a window screen or sieve. Without increasing filter surface area (or adding a super charger), in order to increase the flow through said filter (all things being equal), you have to increase the size of the filtration hole.

There are many documented cases of Jeepers (I'm an off-roader, too), that have taken the intake tube off that goes between the air box and throttle body to find K&N (gauze type) filters deposit significant debris onto the walls of the intake tube.... the paper type filters don't.

Street cars and bikes benefit from those freer flowing filters .... at the cost of less filtration.

Is that 1/2 of a HP worth the increase in probable damage? Many, many think so.

I just see all of a sudden K&N is not thee filter to use anymore,,, funny because the filter that came with my Fuel Moto air cleaner looks just like a K&N or maybe made by the same company.
I have not seen any "motorcycle" filter comparos but have not looked, if I find I'm killing my engine with dirt from the K&N, I sure will switch.

Thanks,
Mike

 

[BluesBelly]

Uu

Think of an air filter as a window screen or sieve. Without increasing filter surface area (or adding a super charger), in order to increase the flow through said filter (all things being equal), you have to increase the size of the filtration hole.

There are many documented cases of Jeepers (I'm an off-roader, too), that have taken the intake tube off that goes between the air box and throttle body to find K&N (gauze type) filters deposit significant debris onto the walls of the intake tube.... the paper type filters don't.

Street cars and bikes benefit from those freer flowing filters .... at the cost of less filtration.

Is that 1/2 of a HP worth the increase in probable damage? Many, many think so.

Good points to ponder!
So now we enter the territories of wear factors on a specific engine. More specifically; at what mileage point under normal road use does the difference between paper and oiled gauze filters raise its ugly head. More succinctly, is there a mileage point at which the paper element eclipses the Guaze element in performance. Will a Harley engine go 100k on either filter with no decernable wear. At what point is the point moot?

 

[msquad]

I just see all of a sudden K&N is not thee filter to use anymore,,, funny because the filter that came with my Fuel Moto air cleaner looks just like a K&N or maybe made by the same company.
I have not seen any "motorcycle" filter comparos but have not looked, if I find I'm killing my engine with dirt from the K&N, I sure will switch.

Thanks,
Mike

I've read 2 studies online, one of them was from Bob the oil guy. You can probably search and find the other one. 95% of aftermarket filters are the oil based types. So to me it doesn't matter which source it comes from, it's still the same type of oil based filter. But thanks to all of you that buy them because I could go on eBay and get stock filters very cheap.

 

[yegg]

Thanks for all of the help/advice. I gave myself a birthday present and got the Roland Sands Clarity air cleaner. I made my decision based solely on looks. I am a locksmith and make cut away locks so this was a perfect choice for me.