For those of you who are using the SE Filters with the paper element (non-oilable type), you may want to consider going with the the K&N replacement filter. I decided to go this route last week after reading a post on this forum. I have inspected my SE filter many times over the last 3 years and it alwasy looked fine. But when I pulled it off the back plate to replace it, I found the foam gasket was deteriorating. Glad I caught it before it became a problem. Thanks for the info fellas. That's why I come to this forum.

Damaged SE Filter

Front of Damaged SE Filter

K&N Part Number

 

Here is a picture of a blue SE paper element. This has been going on for at least 5 years, so it appears that HD doesn't much care.
I guess HD wasn't making enough profit when they supplied a K&N element, with the SE air filter. Prime example of what you get when you go with low bid.
Tom

 

tmitchellof PG,
Was that part of the filter melted or just lousey manufacturing?
Makes me glad I went with the K&N without even bothering with anything else.
Thanks for the warning guys.

 

My SE filter started coming apart after about 800 km's. After a few hard starts with smoke coming out of the AC, I decided to take a look, especially after reading about it here. Low and behold, pieces of the blue filter were being sucked into the motor. Went to the dealership and told them of the problem, and they tried to give me another SE AC and said they would keep replacing them as long as need be. I told them I would pay the difference for a K&N. They found a K&N tucked away and gave it to me. Without the foreseen problem learned on this forum, I probably would have taken another SE AC. For those of you still running the SE AC, change it out because it is bound to come apart.

 

In '02 the Screaming Eagle intake came with the K&N(red) washable & oilable filter. Mine is still in good shape!

 

Thaks for the warning. I'll have to check mine soon.

 

Wish I would have known this before I replaced my stock filter with the S/E kit this past Nov. Will just have to wait and see because Im not dropping more money to replace a new filter...Hopefully, I'll get a few years out of the S/E.

 

does the SE heavy breather have the same problems?

 

Paper is still best but you have to change it more often every service
whcih is not cost effective
But for high air flow you cant go passed k@n
Here ave a look
http://www.roadkill.com/~davet/moto/air.filters.html

 

Nope. It's K&N element.
Ron