Screaming Eagle Air Cleaner element rusting
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,255
Likes: 11,384
From: San Diego, CA
Is that the Harley SE dry element filter or the SE K&N that requires the element be oiled.....?
I use the SE dry element filters in my bikes. I don't like the gauze, oiled filters by K&N. I have washed my dry element filters several times, let them air-dry in the sun, and never got any rust from the metal mesh bleeding onto the dry element...? I have a one that is 18 years old... it shows no rust from the wire mesh...
If it's the K&N oiled filter, it should clean up and the oil should hide the rust.
If it's the SE dry element filter, I'd try to clean it up.... If it doesn't clean up, maybe take it to dealer and see if they would consider it defective and replace it, but I wouldn't use the K&N oil on a dry element filter just to hide those rust marks....
Good luck with the clean up...
Last edited by hattitude; Apr 17, 2023 at 08:13 AM.
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6th Gear
Joined: Mar 2023
Posts: 11
Likes: 5
From: Nepa
Is that the Harley SE dry element filter or the SE K&N that requires the element be oiled.....?
I use the SE dry element filters in my bikes. I don't like the gauze, oiled filters by K&N. I have washed my dry element filters several times, let them air-dry in the sun, and never got any rust from the metal mesh bleeding onto the dry element...? I have a one that is 18 years old... it shows no rust from the wire mesh...
If it's the K&N oiled filter, it should clean up and the oil should hide the rust.
If it's the SE dry element filter, I'd try to clean it up.... If it doesn't clean up, maybe take it to dealer and see if they would consider it defective and replace it, but I wouldn't use the K&N oil on a dry element filter just to hide those rust marks....
Good luck with the clean up...
I use the SE dry element filters in my bikes. I don't like the gauze, oiled filters by K&N. I have washed my dry element filters several times, let them air-dry in the sun, and never got any rust from the metal mesh bleeding onto the dry element...? I have a one that is 18 years old... it shows no rust from the wire mesh...
If it's the K&N oiled filter, it should clean up and the oil should hide the rust.
If it's the SE dry element filter, I'd try to clean it up.... If it doesn't clean up, maybe take it to dealer and see if they would consider it defective and replace it, but I wouldn't use the K&N oil on a dry element filter just to hide those rust marks....
Good luck with the clean up...
yes it is the dry filter. It’s odd to see that. No idea what caused it. Idk if K and N cleaner is the same as Harley cleaner but as you said it’s a non oil filter
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,255
Likes: 11,384
From: San Diego, CA
When I clean my dry element filters, I sparingly use "Extreme Simple Green", on any grease, oil, grime spots... It's a special formulation for aircraft so it's not hard on aluminum and other metals like the normal Simple Green...
Yes, it's more expensive than the regular Simple Green. I keep it on hand for my motorcycles, mountain bikes, and cars.. I used to use it in the engine room on my boat too..
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6th Gear
Joined: Mar 2023
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Likes: 5
From: Nepa
I guess my only concern is any of the particles getting into the head.
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Joined: Oct 2012
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From: Texas, USA
Is that the Harley SE dry element filter or the SE K&N that requires the element be oiled.....?
I use the SE dry element filters in my bikes. I don't like the gauze, oiled filters by K&N. I have washed my dry element filters several times, let them air-dry in the sun, and never got any rust from the metal mesh bleeding onto the dry element...? I have a one that is 18 years old... it shows no rust from the wire mesh...
If it's the K&N oiled filter, it should clean up and the oil should hide the rust.
If it's the SE dry element filter, I'd try to clean it up.... If it doesn't clean up, maybe take it to dealer and see if they would consider it defective and replace it, but I wouldn't use the K&N oil on a dry element filter just to hide those rust marks....
Good luck with the clean up...
I use the SE dry element filters in my bikes. I don't like the gauze, oiled filters by K&N. I have washed my dry element filters several times, let them air-dry in the sun, and never got any rust from the metal mesh bleeding onto the dry element...? I have a one that is 18 years old... it shows no rust from the wire mesh...
If it's the K&N oiled filter, it should clean up and the oil should hide the rust.
If it's the SE dry element filter, I'd try to clean it up.... If it doesn't clean up, maybe take it to dealer and see if they would consider it defective and replace it, but I wouldn't use the K&N oil on a dry element filter just to hide those rust marks....
Good luck with the clean up...
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,255
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From: San Diego, CA
Most of the high flow air cleaner elements are K&N, as well as a large number of Screamin' Eagle filter elements.
A guy once called me out on this forum telling me that Screamin' Eagle doesn't have a dry filter element.... He still didn't believe me when I posted a pic of the element, box, and part number....
I'm having a harder time finding dry element filters these days. FuelMoto just introduced a couple models of dry elements.... They sell the high flow dry filter element for the Stealth Air filter. I bought one rigth away and got rid of the K&N that was on my 124" crate engine...
Last edited by hattitude; Apr 17, 2023 at 02:56 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,255
Likes: 11,384
From: San Diego, CA
OP......
Here is a pic of of my first dry element, washable air filter. I bought it in 2003, when I put the big bore kit on my then new 2003 Heritage. It was on that Heritage until 2017. I bought a couple others at that time and split them between a few bikes. This one was cleaned, and is up next in the rotation...
In it's almost 20 years of service, it has been cleaned probably 10-12 times. While I don't ride in the rain much, I wouldn't be able to guess how many times over the years, it has been exposed to water when I washed and cleaned that Heritage..
As you can see.... not a hint of rust from the metal mesh.....
Here is a pic of of my first dry element, washable air filter. I bought it in 2003, when I put the big bore kit on my then new 2003 Heritage. It was on that Heritage until 2017. I bought a couple others at that time and split them between a few bikes. This one was cleaned, and is up next in the rotation...
In it's almost 20 years of service, it has been cleaned probably 10-12 times. While I don't ride in the rain much, I wouldn't be able to guess how many times over the years, it has been exposed to water when I washed and cleaned that Heritage..
As you can see.... not a hint of rust from the metal mesh.....
Last edited by hattitude; Apr 17, 2023 at 06:48 PM.
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