Racer11
Member
Anyone use a non ) Kubota air filter,,,I would like something that I could clean and reuse such as a " K&N" filter. The Kubota filter is pricey to be changing all the time.
B2400 air filter substitute
- Thread starter Racer11
- Start date
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Use a K&N type filter and what you save on the filter will go towards a new engine. If your filter is getting dirty that fast then your K&N type will be next to worthless.:2cents:
B2400
Platinum Member
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- Jun 13, 2003
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- Western Illinois
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- 2016 B2650 ROPS, 1998 B2400 (sold!)
K&N filters do NOT filter dirt very well. They do flow air, but at the expense of filtration. They are primarily sold for street use, or race use where engine maintenance is a constant. A diesel engines worst enemy is dirt/dust. It doesn't take much to kill compression in a diesel.
rswyan
Super Star Member
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- May 12, 2004
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- 13,238
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- Northeast Ohio
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- Kubota B2910, Cub Cadet Pro Z 154S, Simplicity 18 CFC, Cub Cadet 782
Ahhh .... why can't you reuse the Kubota filter ?
The manual for my B2910 explains how to clean them - compressed air normally (blow from the inside, with less than 71 psi) .... and washing in detergent if the filter becomes sooted up or oily ....
Although they say to replace it every so many years (1 ? .... 2 ?), 1400+ hours after we purchased it, I'm still using the original filter, which I alternate with a second one I purchased ...
I think the materials used in filters degrade like anything else, becomes brittle, small cracks, who knows. I'm also amazed at how much fine dust comes out of mine when I flush it with air. Over time that has to reduce the airflow because I know I'm not getting it all. Also not sure how many times you can wash something before it wears out. Even underwear can only go through the laundry so many times.
My owners manual says nothing about washing it out, in fact the media looks like any other paper filter that is made to discard. I do reverse blow mine out frequently, but in the back of my mind I always wonder how restricted it is. I mostly cut grass with mine in the summer but there is a lot of dust flying around.
What I have done to prolong the life, I slip a leg section of Panty hose over the outside to act as a pre-filter that I can just throw away, in addition I coat the inside of the air box with hard grease,,just a medium coat,,,that will catch a lot of crud before it gets to the filter. The grease and Hose trick is something we did with our ATV's when we would ride in the sand dunes in Southern California. We did eventually use KN filters with a mesh outerwear instead of Hose,, that kept the fine sand out of the engine 100%. I know clean air for a Diesel is upmost important since they use a lot of air compared to a gas engine.
What I have done to prolong the life, I slip a leg section of Panty hose over the outside to act as a pre-filter that I can just throw away, in addition I coat the inside of the air box with hard grease,,just a medium coat,,,that will catch a lot of crud before it gets to the filter. The grease and Hose trick is something we did with our ATV's when we would ride in the sand dunes in Southern California. We did eventually use KN filters with a mesh outerwear instead of Hose,, that kept the fine sand out of the engine 100%. I know clean air for a Diesel is upmost important since they use a lot of air compared to a gas engine.
David_Kb7uns
Veteran Member
In the newer Kubota owners manuals they do discuss washing and reusing the air filter a couple of times if they are not real bad.
David Kb7uns
David Kb7uns
They also say you can wash your fuel filter too. Why would anyone risk a $6000 engine for a filter?:confused3:
rswyan
Super Star Member
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- Kubota B2910, Cub Cadet Pro Z 154S, Simplicity 18 CFC, Cub Cadet 782
Probably true .... at some point ....
I know I finally replaced the metal inner air filter screen on the B2910 this last time - because it finally had started to rust (after 10 years ?) .... and I don't want that going thru the engine ....
Yup - for me it's usually a 20 to 30 minute job, just to blow mine out .... simply because if one is persistent and continues with it, it will continue to produce dust .... patience is the key.
It's surprising how crap comes out when ya actually wash (and rinse) them :thumbsup:
Likely true .... but then unless you are flow-testing it, it's hard to say whether that reduction is at all significant (and therefore relevant or important)
The fact of the matter is, generally speaking, that an air filter actually filters better the dirtier it is ....
Given the manner/procedure that is prescribed for the washing (which is fairly gentle), I'd say quite a few times ....
One should keep in mind that the manufacturer intended the filter to be washed in the prescribed manner and probably designed or spec'ed the part with that intention in mind ....
Clearly, they did not intend them to be throw away every time they become the least bit dirty.
Certainly true .... but the common, conventional "wisdom" (or quiet hysteria, if you prefer) regarding vehicle air filter replacement has been affected by the propaganda from OEM's, filter manufacturers, and retailers .... I know - I was one of them once
In my work van (I understand that it's a totally different application, and not necessarily prone to the same type of dusty, dirty environments) - which is powered by a 5 cylinder Mercedes diesel engine - I generally change the air filter every 120,000 miles or so .... which usually equates to every few years .... and the filter has always shown no appreciable restriction (the vehicle has a restriction gauge on the air filter box)
It is done largely for convenience reasons, rather than actual need ....
Having said that, I do realize that it's possible to encounter conditions that could require replacement in as little as say 30,000 miles .... or less ....
What I do is simply the difference between planned, periodic maintenance and conditions-based maintenance .... it's not for everyone ....
RobertN
Super Member
The B8200HSTD that I used to have, was an older generation than the B2400. the Owners Manual recomended washing the air filter. They also recomended special Kubota cleaner(added to water). It also indicated to blow the filter from inside out, with LOW pressure air.
I used to wash mine with solution I got from my local independant shop.
I used to wash mine with solution I got from my local independant shop.
rswyan
Super Star Member
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- Northeast Ohio
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- Kubota B2910, Cub Cadet Pro Z 154S, Simplicity 18 CFC, Cub Cadet 782
Yeah .... the low pressure part sticks in my mind as well .... although I swear that when I was looking at the manual the other day it said less than 71 psi .... (not exactly my idea LOW pressure ....
) .... but it could have been a different piece of equipment ....I use whatever dishwashing detergent the wife has laying around ....
I use a tall, round Tupperware container and fill it so that when the filter is setting in it, the top of the filter (the end with the hole in it) is just above the water level - which ensures that none of the larger dirt or debris from the outside goes inside the filter. I take the and raise and lower it in the water as the agitation/washing action, after I've let it soak for awhile. Might go thru 2 to 4 batches of wash water, until it no longer looks as dirty. Rinse it by initially running water into the inside of the filter. Then let it dry for at least a couple of days before use.
RobertN
Super Member
It's been a couple years since I sold the B8200; I don't recall the pressure exact that is was low. Guessing 20psi or so. Better to start really low and work your way up, then to start high and blow the side out of the filter
Tractor is still going string; I know the guy that bought it. Still get together now and then to share homebrew beer. So I think the years I had it, and blew out and or washed the filter, worked out just fine.
Tractor is still going string; I know the guy that bought it. Still get together now and then to share homebrew beer. So I think the years I had it, and blew out and or washed the filter, worked out just fine.
Yeah .... the low pressure part sticks in my mind as well .... although I swear that when I was looking at the manual the other day it said less than 71 psi .... (not exactly my idea LOW pressure ....
RobertN
Super Member
True, what is a $25 filter after a $10k, $15k, $20k or more investment.
On the other side of the coin, it(washing and/or blowing out a filter) is spelled out in more than one manufacturers manual, across numerous models from home owner to commercial/contractor duty.
This is from memory, but I think my old Kubota manual indicated to only wash an air filter a few times.
On the other side of the coin, it(washing and/or blowing out a filter) is spelled out in more than one manufacturers manual, across numerous models from home owner to commercial/contractor duty.
This is from memory, but I think my old Kubota manual indicated to only wash an air filter a few times.
grossgary
Silver Member
Stumbled on this thread trying to figure out how to clean these air filters. My owners manual said to wash them and then replace every 6 times...or something to that effect, 6 is i believe the number.
I'm trying to figure out how to clean it. As hard as grease and oil are to get out of stuff I can't see that black soot coming out of the filter very easily, but I'll give it a try. I'll try the wash it out in a basin as described and see what happens, if it doesn't look good enough I'll order another one. There are no convenient dealers to me (45 minutes or more away) so if I can avoid shipping or driving I'd like to be able to simply clean it. Next time I'm close to a dealer when it's open I'll pick one up to have a spare that I can rotate as mentioned earlier.
I'm trying to figure out how to clean it. As hard as grease and oil are to get out of stuff I can't see that black soot coming out of the filter very easily, but I'll give it a try. I'll try the wash it out in a basin as described and see what happens, if it doesn't look good enough I'll order another one. There are no convenient dealers to me (45 minutes or more away) so if I can avoid shipping or driving I'd like to be able to simply clean it. Next time I'm close to a dealer when it's open I'll pick one up to have a spare that I can rotate as mentioned earlier.
RjCorazza
Elite Member
I would not replace an OEM type filter with something else, but to each his own.
I used to blow out my filters maybe a dozen times before replacing them, but quit doing that when I noticed that the inner "disaster" filter was contaminated, which I had never seen before.
Now I inspect and just tap the primary filter against the shop floor, and after the 3rd cycle just replace with OEM.
I used to blow out my filters maybe a dozen times before replacing them, but quit doing that when I noticed that the inner "disaster" filter was contaminated, which I had never seen before.
Now I inspect and just tap the primary filter against the shop floor, and after the 3rd cycle just replace with OEM.
dieselscout80
Veteran Member
I was thinking Racer11 was saying that uni foam filter would be a pre-filter.
If he was saying to only use it as a filter then no it wouldn’t be a good idea.
RjCorazza
Elite Member
Ahhh... Now I get it. Sounds reasonable in that light.
