Fitting K&N to 1978 GS550

[Spartacus]

Hi All,

I have a 1978 GS550 that I picked up last year. I had tried to put K&N pods on, but found that the RC-2314 didn't fit right. After some deliberation I sent them back to Amazon and ordered a K&N SU-5500 - the replacement for the stock air filter. So today I oiled the new SU-5500 filter and dropped it into the airbox and... It doesn't fit right. There is a large rubber tab sticking out at the top preventing it from seating properly. I can't get it close enough to put the bolt back in!

Has anyone else had this issue? Did you shave it down? Am I doing something wrong? When did changing an air filter get so complicated? lol.

Thanks.

 

[Spartacus]

Here is a photo of the stock air filter:

 

[Spartacus]

And the new K&N filter:

 

[cowboyup3371]

I don't use their air filter but i found even their oil filter causes the cover to sit proud which leads to leaks. You're really better off using OEM in that situation in my personal opinion

 

[Big T]

I think an email to K&N is in order

 

[Spartacus]

I think an email to K&N is in order

I just recently replaced the brake master cylinder; I was going to rebuild it, but when I looked up the part on bikebandit the rebuild kit was for a round one, and the one on my bike was rectangular so I just bought a newly aftermarket one... And did I mention that I bought K&N pods last year (RC-2314), and they didn't fit right either? ...I'm beginning to wonder if this is a GS550 at all or some kind of chimera lol.

Can anyone with a 1978 GS550 confirm that their air filter looks like mine, or like the K&N version?