Air filter inspection

[SequiMike]

This has probably been brought up before, so pardon me if it's a duplication of a past post. A friend and I were discussing inspection of his air filter (2002 Gold Wing) and all the work involved in getting to it. I recently changed the filter on my 2014 and know what a big job it can be, so to try something different than tearing it all down, I removed the left fairing pocket from my bike and inserted a small inspection camera (think cheapo proctoscope-like) into the intake tube and ran it down to the filter. I think I paid less than $20 for the camera setup, and it connects to my iphone via wifi, allowing me to view the results and take pictures. This would have been handy years ago when I bought a used 1500 that had been stored in an outside shed and finally got around to changing the filter. Turns out it was completely covered with acorns (damn squirrels!).

[keithg64]

That's a great way to inspect the air filter. Thank you and congratulations.

[GoldWingrGreg]

Pretty much the same can be done by removing either air duct and looking in with a flashlight.

[SequiMike]

Can you pull the ducts without removing any of the bodywork? That would certainly be easy if it works.

[GoldWingrGreg]

Can you pull the ducts without removing any of the bodywork? That would certainly be easy if it works.

No, the shelter needs removed to get a duct off.

[keithg64]

And remember when you are in there to change the filter, put a screen over the inlet of the air ducts to prevent any critters entering into the filter and making a home.

[SequiMike]

Can you pull the ducts without removing any of the bodywork? That would certainly be easy if it works.

No, the shelter needs removed to get a duct off.

That's kind of the point of using the little scope - almost nothing has to be disassembled to do the inspection.

[Shiney Side Up]

That's a great idea to use the 'scope.' That would encourage me to check the filter more often.

[dtrider]

That's a great idea. Care to share the details of the specific camera that you use?
/dwight

[SequiMike]

That's a great idea. Care to share the details of the specific camera that you use?
/dwight

It was something very similar to this - http://tinyurl.com/y7dyrd6g I've had it laying around here for some time now, so I don't remember exactly where I bought it. Most likely from one of the (many) Chinese outlets, or from ebay.

[WingAdmin]

That's a great idea. Care to share the details of the specific camera that you use?
/dwight

I've been using this camera for a while now with great success. I used it just this past weekend, in fact. Cheap, reliable and it works.

[GoldWingrGreg]

Many use them in conjunction with a smart phone such as this one.

https://www.amazon.com/USB-Borescope-En ... 7488&psc=1

[hvyrtft]

This has probably been brought up before, so pardon me if it's a duplication of a past post. A friend and I were discussing inspection of his air filter (2002 Gold Wing) and all the work involved in getting to it. I recently changed the filter on my 2014 and know what a big job it can be, so to try something different than tearing it all down, I removed the left fairing pocket from my bike and inserted a small inspection camera (think cheapo proctoscope-like) into the intake tube and ran it down to the filter. I think I paid less than $20 for the camera setup, and it connects to my iphone via wifi, allowing me to view the results and take pictures. This would have been handy years ago when I bought a used 1500 that had been stored in an outside shed and finally got around to changing the filter. Turns out it was completely covered with acorns (damn squirrels!).
IMG_5794.JPG

Did you go to a K&N filter or are most folks using a stock air filter? I'm thinking about changing out my stock to a K&N so as to not have to tear everything apart as often.

[keithg64]

I run oem as I believe most of us do. With oem you still won't have to check or clean or replace until 40k to 50k miles as long as no mice have gotten in there. And with that when you do check your filter put a screen over the intake runners.

[hvyrtft]

I run oem as I believe most of us do. With oem you still won't have to check or clean or replace until 40k to 50k miles as long as no mice have gotten in there. And with that when you do check your filter put a screen over the intake runners.

For screen material are you just using some window screen material or something else like chicken wire size which I would think has too big of a hole.

[keithg64]

It was a chicken wire type with smaller holes but bigger then a screen.

[LARSONEM]

I know the GL1800 challenges us with the air filter element. Our local dealer also uses a scope to check filters on customers motorcycles as an option to the tear down process. I haven't invested in a scope of my own, nor have I had him use his scope to check the filters in our bikes. Instead each Spring, I simply tear into each of our bikes and just replace the filter with a brand new OEM filter which I can usually buy for roughly half of list price including shipping and no taxes by searching around online. I figure for the time it takes to tear it apart to inspect it, I might just as well put in a new air filter element when I do it. I've had enough practice doing it to two bikes over the past half a dozen riding seasons that I can remove all the pieces, replace the air filter and put it all back together in about 2.5 hours. My experience has been that with about 15,000 miles per season that there is actually enough dirt and fuzziness on the air filter that it was worth my time to change it anyway. Remember that the GL1800 air filter is slightly smaller than the GL1500 air filter and as such in my opinion it gets dirty quicker. I may be spending money and time doing something unnecessary, but in my opinion if it prevents problems it is worth the effort from a preventative standpoint. The fact exists that there are mice in my pole barn where I store all of my summer toys and while I do my best to eliminate them (I've taken 27 of them out of traps since early November) I can't keep them out. Therefore I take the air filter element to the next level to make sure it hasn't had any of the feature creatures inhabiting it throughout the winter storage period.

[vicmatmar]

Great idea... I need to try it. I've been using the scope camera to check break pads

[cihilb]

Pretty much the same can be done by removing either air duct and looking in with a flashlight.

ON a 2012 it's almost impossible to remove the push pins holding them in without some disassembly after the shelter is off. The bracket Honda added to the 2012 gets in the way. And the right side is worse. The cruise module is in the way of pulling the air duct.
On my 2012, I used a hole saw and made a 1 inch hole in the top of the air duct as close to the air box as I could. Plugged it with a 1 inch round plug. Now I can push my camera right in just by removing the pocket and the plug.No more trying to force it in opening of the air duct.

[Goldwinger365]

I'm with Larsonem,when in doubt,change it out. I can also use my phone with borescope adapter,but to actually "see" the condition,it really is necessary to remove and inspect,at that point,it's out,I'm putting in a new one. I've seen alot of air filters look ok from top,but bottom (intake side) is stained, saturated,and obstructed from misty fuel byprodoct blow back.

[Pam]

Looks like a warm day project. Was not looking forward to the tear down to check a filter.

[LARSONEM]

Looks like a warm day project. Was not looking forward to the tear down to check a filter.

Yes it is unless you have a heated shop. Plan on at least 2.5 hours if you done it several times before, longer if this is your first time.

[cihilb]

Looks like a warm day project. Was not looking forward to the tear down to check a filter.

Yes it is unless you have a heated shop. Plan on at least 2.5 hours if you done it several times before, longer if this is your first time.

Even longer on a 2012+. Honda mounted more stuff on top of the air box, and a three piece shelter.
Just did mine, over 3 hours, but I took my time. On my 2004, I could do it in less than 2 hours (after the first time).
Make yourself a cardboard template for all the screws. Not all are the same.

[LARSONEM]

I forgot about the template. After I screwed myself by putting all the screws on the workbench not realizing they were specific to a location until I went to reassemble it ended up going in and looking at a factory parts explosion to see what sizes went in which location. I now have a board under the bench with holes drilled in it to hold the screws as they come out of the shelter.

[Pam]

Got to remember that template, I have use on on other projects made reassembly much easier. But won't be tackling this today even though there is a heat wave on right now. Up to -13 c (9 f) up from -30 c (-22 f)