SilverWing Air Filter

I have already posted about my new tyres. However, while I was waiting at the scooter shop for the service and tyre fitting to be finished I was asked if I was happy for the air filter to be blown and brushed clean rather than pay an exorbitant amount for a new genuine Honda filter. The old filter looked Ok so I agreed.

As an one-time production engineer with car industry experience (for Ausie readers, I worked on the fabled Leyland P76!) I was surprised at the complex air filter Honda uses. Is there an alternative filter available for the 'Wing. Ideally a foam type that can be washed out when services are being done?

Regards,
Peter

P76.....................OMG!! Peter ,you are a very brave man admitting to that!
Is it true the design engineers that worked on the rear end never met or had any contact with the engineers that designed the front?
Apart from the looks, it was a great car and could have given Ford and Holden a run for their money
(USA residents, read "Tucker")

Mind you the Targa coupe would have pulled Leyland out of the poo financially if the powers to be would have got their heads out of their bums.

The original would have been a splendid Mafia staff car, as that boot (trunk) could hold at least 2 bodies plus the concrete overshoes plus all the other necessities, booze and weapons.

pja wrote:

...Is there an alternative filter available for the 'Wing. Ideally a foam type that can be washed out when services are being done?

MaxB suggested buying a sheet of green (fine) UNI foam and cutting to the right shape (see this topic). Seems like a good, cheap alternative to buying a Honda or K&N filter.

Don't waste your money on a K&N or a home made filter. Yes they flow more air. They do so because the open cotton weave of the filter material they use. As a result, they do not filter to the same micron level that a paper element will.

The OEM paper element filter that Honda installed at the factory filters out the dirt and particulates much better than a cotton weave or foam ever will. This means less piston and ring wear and less dirt/contaiminates in your oil. There simply is no better filter material than a good quality paper element. Stick to the OEM filter and your engine will have less internal wear and better compression when it gets 150 K miles on it.

trouble1100,

I can see how you get that moniker. I'm going to switch to the K&N as it allows infinitely better airflow (I have no proof, but I feel that's true) and will probably yield a net HP gain of 0.000000062 HP and a net MPG gain of 0.000038% with 1/4 mile ET improvement over stock of 00:00:00:17 seconds. I don't have any real data on that, but I feel those numbers are pretty amazingly accurate.

Nah - On second thought, it's a scooter and I probably won't be setting any land speed records so I'm going to keep using the OEM filter.

I have been using compressed air and brushes to clean our filters for some time. I can afford to switch, but see no real reason for me to pay more to get the same result.

I haven't had my filter off yet, so there may not be room for this, but how about a UNI foam pre-filter to help extend the life of the paper filter? That plus the bush & air compressor should extend the life of the paper filter by quite a bit. It might take a toll on the air flow, but then we could drill holes in the box to compensate...