Hi,
I got my GS used, and it came with K&N air filter.  What is the proper method to clean it from time to time?  Thanks.

We use K&N filters on are sprint car and I clean them, so I think it should be the same as a filter for a bike.  You need to wash it out with water, just swash it around in your sink or somethin. Then get some type of cleaner in a spray bottle (Simple Green works real good) , we ran out of Simple Green and I used a little car wash soap in a spray bottle, but I would use Simple Green. Then get a moderatly hard scrub brush just a little one will work, a tooth brush would probley work. Spray the Simple Green onto the filter and scrub it with the brush, do this to the whole filter and then rinse it again. After done rinsing let it dry for at least 24 hours possibly longer. After it is completly dry you need to get K&N filter oil in a spray can and coat the filter with that, if you dont use filter oil then the filter will not work. That should be it just make sure you use oil and follow the directions on the can.  

I use dish washing soap...use the hand washing kind not the dishwasher.
Cool.
Srinath.

I use the K&N cleaner. It came in the kit, but you can use a mild soap instead. Rinse it from the inside out so you push the dirt out of the filter instead of deeper in. You don't really need to leave it out for 24 hours, just make sure the gauze is dry before you reoil it. Generously oil the filter with filter oil - this is the most important step. The oil is actually what catches the dirt - an unoiled gauze filter screens about as well as chicken wire. The K&N oil is dyed red so you can tell if you've missed any spots.

BTW, I would disagree with Sprint on the scrub brush. You don't really want to be too rough on the gauze. Just rinse the dirt out.

How about a little bit of compressed air?

 -Anti

hare is how they say to service it.    soak in K&N filter cleaner, rinse with water, dry completely.    DO NOT USE COMPRESSED AIR   re0oil with K&N filter oil

http://home.planet.nl/~luppe018/kn.jpg

edit:
img to url, for pantablo
that's the original cleaning instructions from my k&n filter wanted to keep it a bit readable

The compressed air blows holes in the gauze - then you're back to chicken wire.

Quote from: octaneRinse it from the inside out so you push the dirt out of the filter instead of deeper in.

Are you talking about pod filters?  They would be different from an in-airbox replacement filter.  If I remember correctly, the stock air filter is "cleaned" periodically by hitting it with compressed air FROM THE OUTSIDE.  That makes sense, because it's the inside of the filter that's "exposed" to the atmosphere.

So, it seems to me that the filter (if it's an airbox-replacement type) should be rinsed from the outside in.  Did I figure this right?

Spaz,
PLEASE REDUCE YOUR PICTURE SIZES IN YOUR POSTS FOR CHRISSAKE...

Quote from: Kerry

Quote from: octaneRinse it from the inside out so you push the dirt out of the filter instead of deeper in.

Are you talking about pod filters?  They would be different from an in-airbox replacement filter.  If I remember correctly, the stock air filter is "cleaned" periodically by hitting it with compressed air FROM THE OUTSIDE.  That makes sense, because it's the inside of the filter that's "exposed" to the atmosphere.

So, it seems to me that the filter (if it's an airbox-replacement type) should be rinsed from the outside in.  Did I figure this right?

Yes you are right...Pod clamp ons are dirty outside, the air box one is dirty inside. In a bicket of warm water and dish soap though they all get immersed in till they are full and then take them out till they are empty, repeat till you are blue in the face...then dry it...or in NC we put it out in the rain...Then put oil and back in the bike...frankly a bit of water dont hurt it...just oil it so its right after the water is sucked up by the motor. BTW dont buy that green honda oil, looks too much like dirt...Honestly lemon pledge works just as well and K$$N oil and is less $$.
Cool.
Srinath.