Is this not the dumbest most restrictive air filter design?

[Hersheyfarm]

Was cleaning my u48-5 mini ex air filter and it dawned on me how restrictive it is. I had a kx040 before this with basically the same motor and i don’t remember this design. This isn’t the first time cleaning, it’s just i was think this time how to get dirt blown out from the bottom that is completely incased in the metal. There is no reason for this design except to cut down on air flow.

Why? It’s in an air box and doesn’t need protection. Crazy. And the filter media continues all the way down to the rubber seal.

 

[redman135]

I used to drive a small tractor that had a filter with just under 1/2 the filter blocked off. Your one is not to bad by comparason.

 

[dstig1]

Engineers don't do things for no reason, so I'm guessing there is a reason for it. Now I can't say if it is a GOOD reason or not ...but I would suspect so. Since it obviously is not going to help airflow, it must be for another reason.

 

[ruffdog]

My toolcat has a similar filter design. You'd be surprised how much dust that thing will hold! Better than you would think.

 

[bcp]

If the filter goes in vertically with the shielded part on the bottom, it might be to catch dirt that would otherwise drop under the filter when the filter was removed.

Bruce

 

[JWR]

Hershey: without measuring air pressure differential outside to inside with this filter design & comparing that to other designs there is no reason to condemn it. Do you have some problem that could be tracked to restrictive filter flow ? No I don't think so. Your observation is that the thing is needlessly restrictive (and maybe so, you may be right) but at this point there is no evidence and even less evidence that it will ever matter. My Perkins diesel filter looks very much like that one (though without the solid sheet metal section lacking holes.) Does anyone in the forum have an engine problem due to restrictive filter design?

 

[workinonit]

That's not restrictive at all. My track hoe has filters just like that, much larger but same design. As a matter of fact, it has a second filter that fits inside a filter like that.

 

[Hersheyfarm]

Hershey: without measuring air pressure differential outside to inside with this filter design & comparing that to other designs there is no reason to condemn it. Do you have some problem that could be tracked to restrictive filter flow ? No I don't think so. Your observation is that the thing is needlessly restrictive (and maybe so, you may be right) but at this point there is no evidence and even less evidence that it will ever matter. My Perkins diesel filter looks very much like that one (though without the solid sheet metal section lacking holes.) Does anyone in the forum have an engine problem due to restrictive filter design?

My guess is its air restriction for maybe emission reasons, to help stay at a lower HP, or to help achieve a certain air to fuel ratio…

You and i dont know, but it ain’t going to keep me from trying to figure it out.

 

[Hersheyfarm]

That's not restrictive at all. My track hoe has filters just like that, much larger but same design. As a matter of fact, it has a second filter that fits inside a filter like that.

Its pretty restrictive, especially when you take into account the amount of dust that gets in it, and almost all equipment have the secondary filter set up.

 

[big bubba]

a gauged bench test of the filter design would be the way to answer your visual speculation. if that design were faulty the intake would be starved & show up under load.

 

[Hersheyfarm]

Oh boy…


Anyways, i was going to add that my svl75 and m59 and m62 did not come with these RESTRICTIVE filters.

It’s absurd some dont want to think covering up parts of a filter is not the least bit restrictive, even in a pleated cartridge. I’m absoluty sure it’s engineered for it, but why? It really does make cleaning it out harder too, especially at the bottom.

 

[workinonit]

Oh boy is right. Change it out and put a filter on that doesn't have the guard on it. You could probably replace it with a filter that is 1/4 the size of the one that's on it now.

 

[big bubba]

other than visual, how have you determined the "restrictive" air filter design you describe impedes the volumetric efficiency of your engine? or is it just a visual opinion?

 

[dodge man]

A guess on my part but if it pulls air in from the bottom area maybe that creates some turbulence that the blocked off area prevents. I’m sure it’s there for a reason, it just might not be a good one.

 

[Hersheyfarm]

other than visual, how have you determined the "restrictive" air filter design you describe impedes the volumetric efficiency of your engine? or is it just a visual opinion?

Try this. Open your mouth wide and take a deep breath. Then, with mouth still open, close your teeth and take a deep breath.

Report back.

Without a sophisticated lab or flow cage, we’re still able to make assumptions on life experiences. We know air doesn’t flow good through solid material, if it did kubota would have just put a metal sleeve on the filter without the holes.

Did none of you ever take your toys apart as a kid? My room was just a mess with disassembled toys, some hooked to each other. I remember when I figured out that a small electric motor was also a generator. Thought I was big time hooking up a motor to another to spin it to light up a small led. Lol.. my parents thought I was going to be a genius, lol, so one Christmas they got me a Vic 20. I was about 10. I’m sure some of you know what it is. Within a week it was in pieces. I had no idea what computer was or why you’d want to sit in front of it, but was curious how the keys were spring loaded.

 

[big bubba]

nothing wrong with curiosity or speculation

 

[Hersheyfarm]

A guess on my part but if it pulls air in from the bottom area maybe that creates some turbulence that the blocked off area prevents. I’m sure it’s there for a reason, it just might not be a good one.

Which could be, some filters have fins at the bottom.

 

[Tinhack]

Typically, it's to keep the filter media from being crushed when installed. It's cheaper to make them that way instead of a thick and glued design. I bet there's an inner filter used in there too. Does that mean you're going to leave the inner filter out for sake of restriction too?

 

[Fixastuff]

How much hp does your excavator make? I've seen air filters in 300hp cars with less Sq inches of filter material. I don't think your excavator is being choked out by that filter.

 

[ruffdog]

A cheap filter may have more of an open design but may let much more dirt pass to the engine.