Experience with Air Cleaner change

I was going to run my OEM air cleaner to 50,000 miles---but noticed some funny running recently, so gave up at 36,000 miles.

My local dealer had stock filter in stock--$35 with tax.

So decided to change it----not putting bike on lift=stupid. I got lots of exercise getting up on down from floor.

Getting the right rear panel took some doing and patience, as it had never been off before---I spray WD40 on cracks, use thin putty knife I have, working my way along edges. Result no broken tabs.Referred to Honda shop manual for location of any hidden screws, etc---back under panel needs to come off, too, I had to lay on back to get at screws.

All in all 17 screws need to be removed to get a filter element.
My Japanese screw drivers in the size needed are worn. US type phillips will screw things up----no screw head damage, required use of 3 or 4 screw drivers----some of the screws fit in tapped places, others are self tapping, used for the air cleaner, air box cover.

greased tabs, cleaned things up,sprayed screws with a little
solvent.

Re-assembly took some time to get everything to fit right.

I am sure, shop who has done this before, might get this done in an hour. Problem older bike or one with some miles if takes time to get panel off with no damage. Not good design for routine maint. item----this design complicated....just because they can do it....kinda like Germans do things. Expensive for customers who cannot do it.

So I have clean air cleaner that will last at least the 50,000 miles I plan to keep the scooter.

John,

I put a Pictorial on this site to make it easy. I took pictures and added comments to do 'step by step' procedure to make it easy. But it is good you changed it and I'm curious if you feel it running smoother.

Air cleaner change is job to do on my Swing,didn't realise it was such a pain to do.Will look at your pictorial when I come to do it,be a good time to remove all panels and maybe do a respay as although only 16k miles covered over it's 14 years my Swing has been neglected i.e. Not run for 4 years!

The air filter change isn't a "pain" Dave. Following Jeff's pictorial will make it even a smoother job and when complete you will ... again ... be telling people what a joy it is to work on the Silverwing. The only pain is the getting up and down from the floor. Agree with John ... a lift will make it so much easier. Hmmmm ... must look into getting one of those some day.

BTW ... I bought my replacement air filter through eBay, for about $16 CND

Mike

The pictorial from Jeff DOES help a lot on replacing the air filter. Took me about an hour as I recall perhaps a bit less. Easy compared to the Goldwing... Ugh, Honda should fire their engineers for that one. LOL

Not a pain to do----just in convenient. Always danger with plastic scooter of breaking a tab or worse.

Now--follow up, road test----yes pep has returned, idle speed up 200 rpm.

Conclusion: Honda recommends filter change at 12,000 miles---now based on experience I think 24,000 miles OK.......36,000 a little long.....but that filter had been as far as AK and Nova Scotia and survived a dust/dirt storm in Texas.

As long time rider, I prefer using local dealer rather than on-line.....want the dealer to stay in business....as there are times you may really need them.

I change air filter every 12, 000mls. Never have any trouble.

Be methodical, dont rush, its a doddle.

If Honda recommends air filter changes at 12,000 miles, then they are pretty darned close. I had mine apart, and I'm nearing 15,000 miles and I noted it was dirty and should be replaced at it's next service.

Yes, on 12,000-15,000 mile change---your bike is 10 years old. My thought, experience is on new bikes, ridden around 30,000 miles a year----so stand by 24,000 miles on bikes ridden a lot and new.