99' Gs500e airbox/air filter questions

[grubbgrubb]

I bought this bike last month and figured it was time to clean the carbs, bla bla bla I clean the carbs it's all good until I go to put back the airfilter. The dang thing just wont pop onto the carb. It looks like the last owner removed the airbox and now just has a standalone K&N filter comming off the carb. I think I've seen other bikes GS's with this mod online before, he also put a after market muffler on too and It's been rejetted. Anyway I think the bike it set up for this filter set up but I just can't get it back on. The rubber boots of the filter are circular while the carb openings look oval. Is there a special way to slide this on? Is there another filter that would work better? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Here is an album of the filter and carb: http://imgur.com/a/oaNbj

[lucas]

I have the same filter on my engine, it is a little tricky to get on but not much worse than the stock air box.

Make sure the hose-clamps are all the way loosened.  Try starting with the bottom of the oval in the filter and wiggle and push the filter while pulling up.

That filter looks filthy, could stand to be cleaned and oiled

[Torstein]

Not sure how to get the K&N to slip on easily as I don't have one. Sorry

With my stock airbox, I had a hell of a time getting it to slip back on over the carbs. Same deal, oval vs round. After messing with it, I found the easiest way to do it was pull the filter out of the box, then put my hand inside the airbox to the rubber gaskets and work it over the carbs from the inside. With this method I was pretty easily able to get the airbox on and off pretty easily. I don't know if that helps you with the K&N filter, but maybe it'll give you an idea. I struggled as well...