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Cleaning The Air Filter On Your Dirt Bike
The air filter on your bike handles the massive responsibility of preventing sand, dirt and foreign materials from entering your dirt bikes engine. It can only perform its job if it is kept clean. If allowed to become dirtier than Arnie in his prime, it will not be able to function properly. Plus your bikes performance will be affected by the lack of air flow through the mud-caked breathing holes in the filter. There is nothing exciting about cleaning the air filter, but if you neglect to do it on a regular basis you can cause some real damage to the piston and barrel.
 
What your filter looks like after a few hours riding in the dunes! Before and after shots.
Here are 7 easy steps to cleaning the dirty bugger:
- Firstly, make sure the area around the air box is clean. Take the air filter out making sure no muck falls into the air intake. Place a clean rag in the intake while you have it exposed.
- Now, depending on what oil you have previously used on the filter, you can either rinse it straight out in a bucket of warm water with washing powder. Or, if it doesn't come clean you may have to rinse it first in mineral turpentine (not petrol - this will harm it).
- Allow it to dry properly.
- While it's drying, clean the air box. This will have dust and dirt stuck to the inside that needs to be cleaned out.
- Once the filter is dry - I've found the best way to apply the filter oil evenly is to squirt the oil into a plastic bag, then chuck the filter in. Give it a good squeeze and a massage... have fun with it... When it's soaked, wring out the excess so there's no heavy patches of oil.
- Apply grease around the rim of the filter. This will ensure a good seal.
- Screw the filter (and the plastic filter cage) back into position making sure there is a complete seal around the air box flange.
When cleaning the filter, always check for holes or tears. If there are any replace it immediately! A new filter is less than 30 bucks. Don't risk damaging the engine because you are lazy, or you'd rather spend the money on a cold dozen for after the ride.
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