Glueing Airfilters

[WulfeRyder]

G'day again, another SP question.
OK, the airfilter I need is cylindrical.... like an open can with one end still attached. I've got the foam to make what I need but I'm not too sure what kind of glue to use. I've done a bit of searching and hot glue has come up a couple of times.
Is this going to last when covered with oil?

Also, whats the best way to glue the edges together. I'm figuring that two 19mm edges won't glue together very strongly (?). Should I overlap the edges, cut them at an angle to give more surface area?

Thanx heaps folks 

[montynut]

Given that the air filter is the only thing between your engine surviving or certain death in a short time the cost of a proper filter from Unifilter (Gosford NSW) or similiar seems cheap insurance. They will make a dual stage filter element and cage if required to your design, existing cage or for your model for around $35-45 in only a few days. The foam and glues/joining methods used in air filters is specialised as it needs to be fuel proof, continually wet with oil and the ability to filter air very clean with minimal restriction makes it a simple decision in my mind.

Just my input.

Clark rubber sell specialied foam rubber glues not sure if it is fuel proof though.

[Davey Crocket]

Mate, do what the bloke above says and save youself alot of heartache.....but buy 3...it's cheaper and you wont get stuck thatway.

[oldfart]

To answer your question .....Aeroflex close cell ( comes in a blue can ) sticks like shit to a blanket and is water resistant.

[Nathan S]

Contact adhesive works great if the foam is clean enough. I buy the foam from my local bike shop and make 90% of my old bike filters with it, and have not had a hint of drama with them.
I've had only moderate success gluing old torn filters back together, though - the normal 'cleaned and ready to re-oil' is NOT clean enough to allow the glue to stick - generally by the time I've cleaned it thoroughly enough for the glue to stick, I've either torn the tired old filter or I've wasted so much time that I should have just made a new filter....

And beware the new 'improved' contact adhesive because it is hopeless on air-filter foam. Its white, rather than the good old tan/snot coloured stuff.

[LWC82PE]

Moto Air also do filters for SP370/400

http://www.motoair.nl/english/air_filters/suzuki.asp

order from here

http://www.bandcexpress.co.uk

[D project]

I've had good results with silicone on new foam. Just need a thick bead and it absorbs into the foam, let it dry overnight

[BJJ]

I have used Clark Rubber foam around a Prev '73 MXA,  2 x cable ties to keep the foam in place.  Worked well.

[TonyB]

The very best and easiest way of repairing filters is washing them thoroughly to get ALL oil residue off and then applying that blue glue from bunnings that you use for joing and gluing pvc plumbing pipes. Its cheap and comes in a small plastic jar with a paintbrush under the lid. The filter is permanatly repaired after that and oil does not affect it.

[firko]

I've been told and have read that the normal "Clark Rubber' cushion style foam is unsuitable for air filters. I have no scientific evidence to back my claim, only the memory of an article in an American magazine somewhere in my distant past and a conversation I once had with a guy who worked for UniFilter at the time. Apparently the generic material from Clarks doesn't have the flow characteristics of the 'proper' filter foam and doesn't handle petrol well and could break down and possibly be sucked into the engine. 

[Rossvickicampbell]

if you are going to glue them definitely cut the joining edge at an angle to maximise surface area - but as everyone has said be careful with glue type because some glues actually work by melting the surfaces together and only G knows what this will do to an airfilter.

[GD66]

I've had good results with silicone on new foam. Just need a thick bead and it absorbs into the foam, let it dry overnight

BUT don't wash your filter in petrol ! When it gets grubby, wash it out with detergent, let it dry then re-apply your filter oil as usual.

[LWC82PE]

I use Trups, then detergent. Just detergent is not good enough, at least not for the oil i use.