oiling pods?

[Rob S.]

Soon after I bought my '82 1100e in 2013, I installed APE pods on it. I had the carbs re-jetted, and the bike ran great, but I don't remember the instructions saying anything about oiling them. I recall the instructions saying to occasionally clean them by blowing them out from the inside, but unless my mechanic did it, or they came pre-oiled, my pods have never been oiled. In a few weeks it will be the second anniversary of my Suzuki starting or being rode (The Sportster was one thing, but the 11e was just too loud to start in the living room of my apartment.)

1. Am I doing something wrong (or was I, while I was riding it?)

2. What is the purpose of oiling pods in the first place?

[standswithabeer]

here ya go, from the APE site:

Tech questions and orders: (661) 256-7309

[chuck hahn]

as lightly as possible

[mmattockx]

2. What is the purpose of oiling pods in the first place?

It helps them trap dirt, just like the oiled foam filters used on dirt bikes and many newer street bikes. As Chuck says, you oil them as lightly as possible. Too heavy and it will restrict flow and change your jetting. They don't need cleaning often unless you put on a ton of miles in dirty/dusty conditions. I clean mine every spring and then maybe once more in the summer if they are looking dirty.

Here is some info from K&N on cleaning and oiling your pods: https://www.knfilters.com/cleaning.htm


Mark

[gsrick]

They sell a spray made just for this. Do not use the oil designed for the foam filters mentioned above. it is basically regular oil and in fact regular oil can be used. You saturate the foam in a plastic bag then squeeze out the excess.

K&N, PJ1 and other brands sell the proper oil for your pods. It is thinner and is died red so you can visually see its coverage. Since most pods are made from cotton sandwiched between the metal mesh. When you spray the outside it will migrate into the cotton. They really is no need to spray inside.

[Nessism]

I agree that talking with APE is best. There are lots of filters on the market that look like a K&N but they are not built the same way and shouldn't be oiled.

[gsrick]

I agree that talking with APE is best. There are lots of filters on the market that look like a K&N but they are not built the same way and shouldn't be oiled.

A clue would be if there is a metal mesh to hold the cotton. I don't think the paper pods have the metal mesh. If they have paper elements then no, but I think APE pods are cotton like K$N pods.

[Nessism]

A clue would be if there is a metal mesh to hold the cotton. I don't think the paper pods have the metal mesh. If they have paper elements then no, but I think APE pods are cotton like K$N pods.

Emgo pods are paper but they also have the metal mesh.

[mmattockx]

I agree that talking with APE is best. There are lots of filters on the market that look like a K&N but they are not built the same way and shouldn't be oiled.

Ed,

I have had both K&N filters and APE, the APE pods are twins to the K&N ones as far as I can tell. Both use cloth held in place with mesh and certainly seem to work the same for me.


Mark

[Rob S.]

Here is some info from K&N on cleaning and oiling your pods: https://www.knfilters.com/cleaning.htm

Mark

Instructive and interesting - thanks.