Dirty Air Filter

[steitsma]

The stock air filter in my bike doesn't look horrible but i'm not sure when it was changed.  I put maybe 2000 miles since I got it, would a dirty air filter affect performance to a noticiable degree?  Can you clean the stock filters, just haven't had time to buy a new one yet?

[scratch]

How many total miles on the odometer?

I'm not sure what the service amnual states.

A really dirty airfilter will dwindle fuel economy mostly.

Srinath states you can with gasoline (the stock paper airfilter).

[JAY W]

Should be ok for that milege again if you soak with carb cleaner or fuel and blow out with compressed air,allow to dry before startup.

[steitsma]

bike has 11500 total miles on it, been having problems with it and i think it was petcock related.  been riding with it on pri to see if that fixed it but i seem to notice a slight hesitation when crusing along, pulls then lets off, pulls then lets off sighlty.  I've cleaned and rebuilt the carbs, adjusted valves and made sure all the lines are clear. 

[tucsondude]

throwing this out there, tank vent?

[twocool]

I would not clean the air filter with solvent or gasoline or carb cleaner (stock filter).

Manual says to clean with compressed air every 2000 miles and to replace filter at 7500

I am overdue at 8000   ooops!

Cookie

[scratch]

bike has 11500 total miles on it, been having problems with it and i think it was petcock related.  been riding with it on pri to see if that fixed it but i seem to notice a slight hesitation when crusing along, pulls then lets off, pulls then lets off sighlty.  I've cleaned and rebuilt the carbs, adjusted valves and made sure all the lines are clear. 

Is that a hesitaion (lean condition: too much air, not enough fuel), or bogging/surging (too rich: not enough air, too much gas)?

Have the carbs been vacuum synchronized?

[aero_b]

bike has 11500 total miles on it, been having problems with it and i think it was petcock related.  been riding with it on pri to see if that fixed it but i seem to notice a slight hesitation when crusing along, pulls then lets off, pulls then lets off sighlty.  I've cleaned and rebuilt the carbs, adjusted valves and made sure all the lines are clear. 

I had the same issue: when cruising, it felt like there was a misfire or something, just a very brief change in the "pull" and the noise... I figured it probably did it all the time, but it was only noticeable when maintaining a constant speed. After a sh*tload of searching, my problem was petcock-related as you guessed. Just in case you didn't guess the correct problem though, here's what my problem was: Fuel getting into the vacuum line (the skinny one going from the petcock to the left carb)!

Symptoms will be easy to spot:

• Fuel in the line after a ride (pull it off at the petcock if you can reach back there... I don't know if it's possible with the stock air box but it sure is with the lunchbox air filter)
• Left spark plug much darker than right one (very easy check with the tools that come under the seat)
• If you're lucky, a visible hole/crack in the diaphragm in the petcock (I couldn't see one, but there was definitely a leak)

If any of these apply to you (I suggest checking #2 first, it's the easiest if you have the stock airbox), then convert the vacuum petcock to an "always open" or "ON-OFF-PRI" set-up; you will find instructions in this forum. This solution is the cheapest (pretty much free) since the alternative is a brand new petcock (Suzuki doesn't sell diaphragms).

Please let me know if that was also your problem, I am a curious individual. Thanks!

[steitsma]

Do you gain a better fuel flow if you leave on PRI when riding as opposed to modifying to always on or off??  I have to allot some time to mess around with it and see if I can Sync the carbs, i haven't done that but why would they fall out of sync, the carbs have never been seperated?  Both plugs show the same amount of wear.  I thought i would just ride on PRI and switch to ON when parked to eliminate possbile float bowl overflow!

[The Buddha]

Carbcleaner - hell no, may eat the paper or the glue.
Gasoline - 3-4 times it seems to not hurt the paper or glue. I dunno what happens after 4 times, I only done it 4 times.

And yes a paper filter has to resist gas and oil ... even hot oil ... why, look on the bike and see where the engine vent goes. If it will die from gas, they will be swamped with warranty and liability claims.

Cool.
Buddha.