Modern Vespa

Cleaned my air filter this afternoon. I was surprised for water to pour out when I pulled the cover off. Did ride in some heavy rain yesterday and all the other stuff that gets sucked in it should not be surprising water does too. Below is a picture of what the dirty side of the filter looked like which is typical for me. It is worse when people are mowing their lawns blowing the clippings onto the street.

Picture is before cleaning.

typical for agout 2-3k miles. water is what concerns me more. Luthorhuss and I both are lookin to install a aprilla rear hugger to help combat that though.

That's a picture of a filter doing what a filter does, and it seems to do it well for particulates and junk. Water is another story tho.

Question I have is what will you use to clean it and re-oil it? The 'petrol and motor oil' process or do you use something like a K&N filter cleaning kit?

I use the K&N cleaner but use a moto-x style filter oil, its really sticky so not dust gets in the injection system.

edit the reason I don't use K&N oil is it is made for a different type filter not a foam style.

Right, sorry I wasn't clear. I use motor oil after cleaning the filter but used the sodium metasilicate based cleaner from K&N instead of gasoline - with my natgas fired furnace and water heater in the garage I'm a bit reluctant to have gasoline fumes present. The cleaner worked well I think but its not the same as using gas, which probably is indeed better.

I use PJs cleaner that works well and then apply PJs foam filter oil It is extremely sticky. Learned to wear latex gloves when applying as it is hard to find anything that will wash it off.

PJs is widely available in motorcyle shops around here.

perfect. PJ's foam filter spray is good stuff and I like the foam cleaning products as they won't break down foam air filters like gasoline will over time.

your filter has not been installed correctly - you can see a print around the edge of the foam where it was sandwiched between the plastic - the foam should be tucked into the plastic and not become sandwiched - the bit where it has been sandwiched (the print mark) it where the filter halves seal together.

It looks absolutely fine to me.

this is normal. as you can see for the cut outsfor the shape then look at the inner edges of the filter housing, it is designed as to seal that gap .

In the picture the filter is flipped over compared to the cover it is sitting on. The imprint is from the raised portion inside the screw pattern and designed to seal against the filter. It was inside the outside portion of the filter cover and is contoured to miss the screws.

+1

If it's not sandwiched between the two halves air/dirt will go around the filter. It must be sandwiched between the halves to work properly. If yours is not installed properly you need to get it fixed ASAP.

Goodmorning (or afternoon )
There is a tiny round compartment in the rear part of the filter box. It can be easily seen. Does anybody know what is it?

I guess it's just a sort of overflow??
Any ideas?

We use MAXIMA filter cleaner and filter oil, both work very well and easy to use.
+ one on the filter installation looking proper, looks fine to me from the imprints.

You really should use filter oil. It is much tackier than motor oil & catches smaller particles of dirt.

Just bought the Maxima cleaner and oil today. "Air Filter Cleaner" spray, and "FAB 1" spray respectively. Around $18.00 with tax total.

Yeah, probably a ton of things I 'should' do, but I don't. For now just kind of following the O&M manual and using oil, but without gasoline. Not hyper-concerned about it, especially with the constant damp and cool weather.

What oil you should use on air filters (and how often to clean/change any filters) really depends on where you ride and the prevailing atmospheric conditions.

There's not one rule for all, but the 'book' intervals are very conservative. If doing your own maintenance, consider stretching these times/distances - use your own judgement.

Oh, and changing engine oil every 2000 miles and often in less than two months as one contributer does here is simply a waste of money.

Jim,

Do you have any developed opinions with regards to minimum / maximum time one should allow for oil changes?

EXAMPLE:

At a minimum every 6,000 miles / at a maximum go no longer than 10,000 miles between every oil change, etc., etc.

OR.... conservatively once every twelve months / liberally allow no longer than 18 months between oil changes regardless of usage...etc., etc.

chris

Zero miles? Some would say every year - but that is an obvious nonsense. How long has the oil been in the container...

It depends. On monthly/yearly mileage and the conditions. I personally reckon the Piaggio 6,000 mile interval is on the edge, it works for users who keep an eye on things, and not so good for numpties who look at fuck nothing between these intervals.

But it is the warranty service interval for FI engined scooters, so Piaggio are evidently happy to live with it.

If I just used my bike for commuting, I'd be far more concerned about battery issues than oil ones, I have to say. Horses and courses...