The ad said 50,000 miles before cleaning is necessary depending on driving conditions. I am guessing you need to drive in a geodome to go 50k without a cleaning.

Is the kit sold in auto parts stores?

 

I clean our filters every oil change which is normally every 3,000 miles.

 

It really depends upon the conditions where you ride, and if you run the filter open, like I do, or not. I clean mine more frequently due to it being run open. I just look at it, and if it seems really black/grungy, I clean and oil it. It really doesn't take that long, and now I have 2 filters, so I keep one cleaned and oiled so when it's time to clean the one on my bike, I just swap em, and clean re-oil the second one. I also put a dab of white, high-temp, locktite on the screws.

You should be able to find the cleaning/oil kit at any auto parts store.

Cheers!
[sm=icon_rock.gif][sm=icon_rock.gif][sm=icon_rock.gif]

 

well that about covers it. thanks a lot everyone. BTW, I got the filter off a power seller on ebay for 55 shipped, which was about 20 less than all the others I saw.

 

Floydpink- was yours a stock element or a SE element?
I ask because the stock element in an '07 (maybe others) is washable and reusable. I cleaned mine a few weeks ago- I put the element in the sink and filled the sink with warm water & Dawn to the upper lip of the element. (Don't let the dirty water enter the inside of the filter- any dirt that gets inside will be hard to get out & any that stays behind will get sucked into the intake later.)
I let it soak awhile, swished it around, let it soak, swished it around, etc. for about an hour. It's amazing how much dirt & oil comes out. Rinsed it from the inside out with clean water then set it in the sun to dry. Came out nice & clean.
When installing, I don't use any Loctite on the bolts.
Nice of HD to give us a reusable filter!


I had a Big Sucker on mine for about 100 miles, but since the stocker is cleanable and I saw no significant increase in performance or mpg with the BS, I put the stocker back on. (I prefer stock whenever possible.)
I'll eventually Ebay the BS since I won't ever put it back on...

 

The tech at my local dealer told me it is a HD high flow and everything is washable. He's a really cool and honest guy who also told me the filters are like the Syn3 and contracted to the lowest bidder and he indicated the quality has declined in the last few years. I can't verify this to be true or false.

He also said it is washable but he mentioned he uses the K&N in his bike so that spoke volumes to me.

 

I washed my stock HD filter when I did my 5000 miles service. I used the bucket of water and car wash soap method. I let it air dry and it appeared to have held up well. I dont think I will try washing it twice. I think next time I will go with a K&N. I have used several K&N filters on other vehicle and have had great luck with them. They are very durable and hold up to lots of cleaning/re-oiling. They should absolutly be re-oiled after washing. K&N sells a kit with a spray bottle of soap and a can of oil to use. I know its a bit pricey ($10 or so) but it sure makes it easy.

 

Go to your nearest H-D dealer and buy a cleaning kit.

 

K&N here. The recharging kit is 15 bucks and comes with the cleaner and the oil. I have done mine3 times this year (open element)and the bottle still feels full. I think the 15 dollar kit will last me a few years.

 

K&N filters dont have to be washed very often.Even after they turn black,they will still filter and flow well.
The SE filter on my bike is washable,but going to be replacing soon with a K&N.