Pilots plugged up on me

[dgc67]

Sounds like the k/n filter he has either had too much oil put on it from the factory, or someone put too much oil on it

this would not explain how it got into the bowls.  A filter with too much oil might foul your plugs, but I cannot see how it would affect the carbs themselves.

[Charles S Otwell]

this would not explain how it got into the bowls.  A filter with too much oil might foul your plugs, but I cannot see how it would affect the carbs themselves.

The dirt, silt and trash in the bowl obviously came from the gas supply, the sticky gummy  residue in the venturi came from the air supply.

[roboto65]

Been there seen that. The filter is known to do that and have seen many gone and the residue in the carbs..

[lragan]

Been there seen that. The filter is known to do that and have seen many gone and the residue in the carbs..

I have K&N filters in both my Magnas.  So is their assertion that they are "lifetime" filters just BS?  And what is this about oil?  I didn't see any instructions to oil them, so I just installed them.  Is maintenance/attention to these K&N air filters called for that I am not performing?

Or are you talking of the foam filter at the left side in the tiny holder? 

[roboto65]

No I was referring to the foam filter on the side of the bike. And yeah K&N does require maintence but every 50000 miles some do it more some less all that is done is washing and reoiling and put back on the bike.

The issue is alot of people tend to over oil them and well oil does not burn very well and clogs things up... 

[dgc67]

A brand new K&N comes oiled and ready to go.  It will be a nice shade of red.  As it starts to turn sort of a brown color you need to clean it and re-oil.  supposedly if you do that properly the filter lasts forever.

[lancer]

i know this has been discussed before but here's my 2 cents;
i'm one of the guys who have a k&n horror story. i spent several years hauling cattle in an 05 dodge (cummins)- 95% off hiway. The paper filter would last 2-3 weeks before popping the restriction indicator (very dirty conditions). i installed k&n; it would go 2.5 months. i carried a spare already cleaned and oiled- ready to go when indicator popped. I thought problem solved (stupid- i realize now). engine had to be overhauled @ 20k miles. Dealership service manager (i knew him well) called- said he had installed a paper filter on my truck because warranty would not cover damage from k&n. He said he had done several that month. The cylinder walls were badly grooved from the dirt. I realize now that all that dirt that the paper had caught was going into the engine. Of course unless you are riding moto-cross you will never see those conditions- but i will never run a k&n on anything again. i will pay for dirt removal up front.

And off the soap box i step!   

[TLRam1]

i know this has been discussed before but here's my 2 cents;
i'm one of the guys who have a k&n horror story. i spent several years hauling cattle in an 05 dodge (cummins)- 95% off hiway. The paper filter would last 2-3 weeks before popping the restriction indicator (very dirty conditions). i installed k&n; it would go 2.5 months. i carried a spare already cleaned and oiled- ready to go when indicator popped. I thought problem solved (stupid- i realize now). engine had to be overhauled @ 20k miles. Dealership service manager (i knew him well) called- said he had installed a paper filter on my truck because warranty would not cover damage from k&n. He said he had done several that month. The cylinder walls were badly grooved from the dirt. I realize now that all that dirt that the paper had caught was going into the engine. Of course unless you are riding moto-cross you will never see those conditions- but i will never run a k&n on anything again. i will pay for dirt removal up front.

And off the soap box i step!   

I think this is a valid point, I have read others with your same experience over time in a fleet situation.

[dgc67]

I beleive it too.  I have always felt there HAD to be some kind of tradeoff for better flow.
I sure would not run one in a known dusty/sandy environment for sure.

[Charles S Otwell]

Here are a few picks of the carb I just cleaned.
http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n99/oldman_05/027-3.jpg
Notice the gummy looking stain the the air intake, it was like that all the way thru the venturi.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n99/oldman_05/023.jpg
All the bowls looked about the same.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n99/oldman_05/029.jpg
I used a clear carb spray, this stain all came from just the venturi.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n99/oldman_05/032-1.jpg
A little harder to see but this trash came from inside the bowls.

http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n99/oldman_05/036-1.jpg
I know I sometimes have trouble finding the right size wire to clean the idle jets, (these are 40's) the wire came from a bread wrapper tie wire, I stripped back the paper and it was a perfect fit. I have no idea that all wrapper tie are the same size but if your having trouble, might be an option.
We will be cleaning and checking the tank before reassemble.
   Ron's bike has a K&N filter, Vance & Hines exhaust, the carbs had 40 idle jets, 105 mains and two shims and since it ran extremely well at one time I assumed the air adj were ok and just opted to leave the rest alone. I'm sure some of you know the bike, Custom Blue with Black racing stripe, lots of chrome, belonged to one of the Moot members. I'm not sure but Ron may have actually purchased it from a dealer.

[roboto65]

Ok the stains you are seeing there I am pretty sure are oil which is oil from the crankcase off the back of the head is just blowby and settles in the top of the airbox after a hard days running !!!   Just natural engine biproduct 

[lragan]

I know I sometimes have trouble finding the right size wire to clean the idle jets, (these are 40's) the wire came from a bread wrapper tie wire, I stripped back the paper and it was a perfect fit. I have no idea that all wrapper tie are the same size but if your having trouble, might be an option.

I worked one summer in a steel mill, where they pulled a lot of wire.  Wire is pulled through a die until the die wears enough that they can use it for the next larger size.  So a "size 40" wire may actually be as large as the next die in their inventory, probably a "39".  Recommend you put a micrometer on it before stuffing it through your jets...

[Charles S Otwell]

Ok the stains you are seeing there I am pretty sure are oil which is oil from the crankcase off the back of the head is just blowby and settles in the top of the airbox after a hard days running !!!   Just natural engine biproduct 

There wasn't a drop of oil in the box, I know what that looks like.

[Recommend you put a micrometer on it before stuffing it through your jets

Not everyone has a nice set of Starrett micrometers laying around their shop. No more risky than using a strand of electrical wire used by several on here. I trust my judgement, but I guess I should retract my statement or reword it to say, use at your own risk.

[roboto65]

How about oil vapor out of the crankcase from the hose in the back on the filter box I have seen some with oil on top and that is normal blowby we did Jesses the last time I was off and his were way dirtier  those look clean on top but the bowl had some gunk in it for sure!!   Anyway thats what was in the venturi just oily residue from the crankcase..    Sure she is running like a top now 

[Charles S Otwell]

Well, not just yet, the bike is in Celina and the Carbs are in Texarkana . It should run better two of the four idle jets were completely stopped up and two were almost.