Filthy air filter discovered during break-in service?

32995 Views 73 Replies 21 Participants Last post by HavasuDave, Dec 7, 2020

formerchfo

Discussion Starter · May 25, 2019

During initial service (@ 230 miles) discovered air cleaner was very dirty and needed to be replaced ($47)? I principally ride in the S/W desert of Nevada where plenty of dust does occur on the roads and trails. I try as best I can to minimize exposure to dust while driving in the desert. It appears to me to be a design flaw absent a barrier between the air filter and intake to filter out some of the dust before it arrives in the air filter? Has anyone else experienced this short shelf life of their air filter, and or, found a work around to a likely dust intake problem??

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Garey

· #2 · Jun 2, 2019

Just completed 1st service 114 mile. Mild dust conditions. Very ezey accese to all gear boxes.
I inspected the air box no dust on filter or box at all!
We need others to reply there experience.
Thanks to all Garey

wldracer07

· #3 · Jun 11, 2019

Yes mine was very dirty and the air filters are on back order, been waiting weeks for them

Reactions: 1

Idiot

· #4 · Jun 17, 2019

Live in Arizona and checked mine when i did the first service at 122 miles and the air filter looked like it had the normal amount of dirt on it not real bad and certainly was not dirty enough to replace. I am hoping the aftermarket will produce one that we can clean.

nm6r

· #5 · Jun 21, 2019

wldracer07 said:
Yes mine was very dirty and the air filters are on back order, been waiting weeks for them

I just ordered oil filters, o-rings and a few other items and was told the air filter is still on backorder, with no eta.

Garey

· #6 · Jun 21, 2019

nm6r said:
I just ordered oil filters, o-rings and a few other items and was told the air filter is still on backorder, with no eta.

Rocky Mountain has air filters $43 order 2 and no shipping charge

nm6r

· #7 · Jun 22, 2019

Garey said:
Rocky Mountain has air filters $43 order 2 and no shipping charge

At $43/ea, they have already including shipping in the price.

$34.65 from DiscountHondaParts.com. I will wait for them to come in.

formerchfo

Discussion Starter · #8 · Jun 23, 2019

Checked with my dealer today and discovered they have eight on back-order. If anyone gets wind of an after-market vendor please post?

formerchfo

Discussion Starter · #9 · Jun 23, 2019

nm6r said:
At $43/ea, they have already including shipping in the price.

$34.65 from DiscountHondaParts.com. I will wait for them to come in.

Please advise when you acquire the air filter(s) from DiscountHondaParts.com if they are comparable (acceptable replacement) for the ones currently offered by the honda dealers?

nm6r

· #10 · Jun 27, 2019

formerchfo said:
Please advise when you acquire the air filter(s) from DiscountHondaParts.com if they are comparable (acceptable replacement) for the ones currently offered by the honda dealers?

It is not a comparable (acceptable replacement). It is a Honda filter offered by a Honda dealer.

Doug W.

· #11 · Jul 3, 2019

2

formerchfo said:
During initial service (@ 230 miles) discovered air cleaner was very dirty and needed to be replaced ($47)? I principally ride in the S/W desert of Nevada where plenty of dust does occur on the roads and trails. I try as best I can to minimize exposure to dust while driving in the desert. It appears to me to be a design flaw absent a barrier between the air filter and intake to filter out some of the dust before it arrives in the air filter? Has anyone else experienced this short shelf life of their air filter, and or, found a work around to a likely dust intake problem??

I have similar issues with excessive preloading on the air filter, including microdust on the clean air side of the casing/intake. 260 miles first air filter trashed, 320

Automotive exterior Vehicle Auto part Car Vehicle door

miles second air filter trashed. Excessive dust from wheel well and undercarriage. Snorkel intake NOT properly sealed around upper shock tower and vertical/horizontal frame assemblies. Dust from the rear wheel well is pulled thru the open unseal areas into the snorkel, prematurely overloading the filter. Ordered three new filters, intend to change them out every 300 miles; hopefully, the engine is not damaged, not using oil yet..?
l

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formerchfo

Discussion Starter · #12 · Jul 4, 2019

If you would be so kind to take photos of the areas around snorkel you describe contribute to the problem it would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Doug W.

· #13 · Jul 5, 2019

3

formerchfo said:
If you would be so kind to take photos of the areas around snorkel you describe contribute to the problem it would be much appreciated. Thanks in advance.

The upper side panel removed to provide visibility to the air filter snorkel intake, please see attached photos illustrating the open, unsealed areas into the the wheel well and roll cage horizontal and vertical member. Excessive open, unprotected unsealed areas where dirt/dust are sucked into the air intake snorkel. Air supply to the snorkel should come from upper vented area of the rear cab region NOT from the wheel well, undercarriage areas.
This is a serious concern, resulting in premature loading of foreign material (dust, dirt, debris) into the air intake filtering system. [re: filter loading pictures] Predictable result will be premature engine failure. Please ask Honda to address this deficiency immediately by providing seals to close the wheel well/shock suspension equipment and frame assemblies open areas. Desired result is clean air from the atmosphere, NOT dust laden dirty air from the lower body area.

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formerchfo

Discussion Starter · #14 · Jul 7, 2019

Thanks Doug for the additional effort to expose a serious deficency. Hopefully; a fix will be forthcoming very soon before severe damage occurs to the engine.

fartsalot

· #15 · Jul 8, 2019

I also noticed the open areas around the air intake that are exposed to wheel dust etc etc. I went to walmart and picked up a sheet of furnace filter material that you cut to fit your furnace. I cut this stuff to size and packed it around the open areas around the air intake. Before I inserted the material I sprayed a light coat of K&N filter oil on the filter material to catch the dust. I think this helps and I want to see if I can attach this material on the inside of the air intake opening that is in the body just behind the passenger's right shoulder.
For added filtering take some Belray chain lube that does not throw off that is used for dirt bikes. This stuff will jell up and stay where you put it. Take a stiff small brush and paint the inside of the air box especially around the intake tube. Inbound dirt will collect to the oil and not in the air filter. After each dusty ride take some break cleaner and wipe it out and re-apply,, if nothing else just use hard grease such as wheel bearing grease. I even coat the two intake tubes with grease just in case something gets past the filter. I do this for my street car and truck,,, it makes the filter last much longer.

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formerchfo

Discussion Starter · #16 · Jul 11, 2019

fartsalot said:
I also noticed the open areas around the air intake that are exposed to wheel dust etc etc. I went to walmart and picked up a sheet of furnace filter material that you cut to fit your furnace. I cut this stuff to size and packed it around the open areas around the air intake. Before I inserted the material I sprayed a light coat of K&N filter oil on the filter material to catch the dust. I think this helps and I want to see if I can attach this material on the inside of the air intake opening that is in the body just behind the passenger's right shoulder.
For added filtering take some Belray chain lube that does not throw off that is used for dirt bikes. This stuff will jell up and stay where you put it. Take a stiff small brush and paint the inside of the air box especially around the intake tube. Inbound dirt will collect to the oil and not in the air filter. After each dusty ride take some break cleaner and wipe it out and re-apply,, if nothing else just use hard grease such as wheel bearing grease. I even coat the two intake tubes with grease just in case something gets past the filter. I do this for my street car and truck,,, it makes the filter last much longer.

Thanks for the suggestions.

formerchfo

Discussion Starter · #17 · Jul 17, 2019

Good news to report, S & B Air Filters have a Particle Separator system in R&D for the Talon. Hopefully, the system will be available September/October 2019. If you have experience with their products please share.

Reactions: 1

DRKnight

· #18 · Jul 27, 2019

I have the S&B particle separator installed on my Talon X.

I did not want to wait for them to develop it, plus I have a full safety glass rear window.
There design will probably be developed for attachment to the roll bar which will not work with the rear window.

I ordered the particle separator for the Polaris 1000S and used the separator, flex hose, clamps and wiring harness only.
I installed a 1" x 2" rectangular tube just under and behind the top attached to the down sloped roll bars.
Cut a small hole the size of the dust outlet on the bottom of the separator in the center rear of the top and up close to the rear window. Made my own brackets to mount the separator to the cross bar.
I cut a 4" inch hole in the top of the panel by the fender flare to route the flex hose too.
I used a piece of 3/8" flex wire loom to dress around the edges of the hole to protect the flex hose and make it look good.
The 39" flex hose in the kit was just the right length to connect to the factory air box.
I removed the factory air intake from the filter air box and used a ABS 3" DWV X sewer bushing to connect the flex pipe to the filter air box.
Worked out very good and easy...DRK

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NV BLU

· #19 · Aug 6, 2019

I have had four Polaris RZRs with the current one being a '18 1000 XP. The single most important after market add on is the S&B Particle Separator. I am looking at changing horses and going with the Honda but I'll wait for the PS to come out for the Talon. I too live in Nevada (Western) and dust is an issue...all the time.
I keep my RZRs for two years or 10,000 miles...which ever comes first. This '18 has 6500 miles on it so I'm on the hunt...kind of..

DRKnight

· #20 · Aug 6, 2019

NV BLU said:
I have had four Polaris RZRs with the current one being a '18 1000 XP. The single most important after market add on is the S&B Particle Separator. I am looking at changing horses and going with the Honda but I'll wait for the PS to come out for the Talon. I too live in Nevada (Western) and dust is an issue...all the time.
I keep my RZRs for two years or 10,000 miles...which ever comes first. This '18 has 6500 miles on it so I'm on the hunt...kind of..

I think you would be happy with the Honda Talon, I know the more I use mine the more I like it. With the Dual Clutch trans mission being the single most thing I like about it. But Honda is way behind in other areas compared to the Polaris. I have been watching the new videos for the 2020 Polaris and they have really made some improvements to stay the leader in the UTV market.
As for the Particle Separator, It is a real necessity on the Honda Talon.
I sent them pictures of my installation and things I used to install it on my Talon since I have a full rear window and I believe there unit which will be available in another two weeks, will not be designed for units with the rear window. I could be wrong on that, and I did not want to wait to find out.
It will be interesting to see what they have come up with for the Honda Talon....DRK

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