350 AIR FILTERS

[moonpup]

These pop up on eBay every now and then and after checking the parts manual, I see that they are an older style that were changed over to a different filter.
 
Were they defective, did they allow too much debris through, why the change? Can they still be used with some sort of alteration/addition to make them more effective or should they be avoided? What's the poop here?  

[Richard Clark BS parts]

350 air cleaners (both styles) were the poorest designed item on the 350, they are the main
reasons the 350 went through cylinders.  Please read my link posted in the TIPS section of this site, I have
directly linked it below.

http://bridgestonemotorcycleparts.com/index.php?topic=421.0

The early filters, as shown in post above this one, were nothing more than oiled wire mesh,  fine for 1930 but no good today.
But they did filter out the birds! 

Questions? or need Bridgestone parts? call:

Richard Clark
812-944-1643  8am-6pm EST Weekdays

[moonpup]

Thanks Richard, I'd read your thread before and planned on using your tips when the time came to but hadn't heard much on these older style filters. Were they just too porous as well and can they be modified?

[Richard Clark BS parts]

I use the system that I described in my TIPS message

Questions? or need Bridgestone parts? call:

Richard Clark
812-944-1643  8am-6pm EST Weekdays

[ztnoo]

Richard,
Do you have (or maybe others....Mr. Reed, Mr. Anderson, etc., Etal), have any pics of the suggested modification in the link http://bridgestonemotorcycleparts.com/index.php?topic=421.0.  ??
There's nothing quite like good pics to clarify a modification suggestion.

It would definitely seem like this is the weakest link in the whole bike and helps explain why a lot of 350s with low miles probably got parked within a few thousand miles of ownership.......especially when operated in dirty and dusty conditions.

Regards,
Steve

[reed]

Steve,
I will post some pictures of the air filter's tomorrow.
Thanks.
Steve Reed.

[ztnoo]

Thanks Steve.

[ziggy stardust]

This is how I did it. The filter material is clamped within the bridge using shaped strips of aluminium and the original screws.

Z

[moonpup]

Ziggy, thanks for posting your picture. I searched for pic's of this late last night as I thought I'd seen it before, but couldn't find it. 

Another question if you don't mind..... Is this type of foam intended to be used dry or does it need to be oil soaked as well? It looks like a type of foam that doesn't need it but thought I'd ask anyway. 

[ziggy stardust]

No problem Moonpup. I bought the filter material in sheet form off eBay. 

This type of filter needs to be lubed, smear or spray your favorite filter oil onto it then squeeze out the excess.

Z

[reed]

Picture of a Bridgestone GTR air filter front and back etc.
Thanks.
Steve.