What is your maintenance schedule for UNI Dual Pods?

[aigram]

I've been running the UNI Dual Pods from RPM for two seasons, and I've been oiling them 3-4 times per season. I don't live in a particularly dusty climate and generally my bike is a commuter & short cruise bike.
I recently was told a terrifying story about foam air filters bringing a quick death to a motorcycle motor, and now I feel like perhaps my maintenance schedule is lacking! The stock airbox sure is a pain, but one thing it does have going for it is not relying on an oiled medium to capture dirt and dust.

Should I be using the UNI Foam Cleaner product (Which I only just learned about)? Oiling more regularly? It's difficult to tell the overall condition of the filter, aside from picking off some dead bugs.

[racerrad8]

I've been running the UNI Dual Pods from RPM for two seasons, and I've been oiling them 3-4 times per season. I don't live in a particularly dusty climate and generally my bike is a commuter & short cruise bike.
I recently was told a terrifying story about foam air filters bringing a quick death to a motorcycle motor, and now I feel like perhaps my maintenance schedule is lacking! The stock airbox sure is a pain, but one thing it does have going for it is not relying on an oiled medium to capture dirt and dust.

Should I be using the UNI Foam Cleaner product (Which I only just learned about)? Oiling more regularly? It's difficult to tell the overall condition of the filter, aside from picking off some dead bugs.

Alex,

The UNI pods when maintained properly will filter better than the stock air filter.

I personally wash mine at every oil change. I use dish soap and hot water to clean them. Remove the springs from the inside and wash them several times. Every time I wash them, no matter who's they are the sink is covered in dirt:
http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=15922.msg160554;topicseen#msg160554

I have made many posts about cleaning the filters over the years, here are a few...

http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=17825.msg183167#msg183167
http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=14876.msg150357;topicseen#msg150357

I do only use UNI oil when oiling them to ensure the chemicals are safe to use with the foam.

Randy - RPM

[aigram]

Thank you Randy! I washed them up with UNI's cleaning/oil kit and was surprised at how much dirt came off of them. They sure do conceal their grime quite well.

[FJmonkey]

The red foam shows the dirt better than the black.

[Tuned forks]

Last year, when I bought my Uni Pods, they came in black.  The '93 I recently bought came with an unused set of red Uni Pods.  Are the red ones an older design than the black ones?

Joe

[racerrad8]

The red is what UNI sells.  They are not legal for use on the racecar as they have to be grey.

So,  I started have them made in grey so they would be in compliance for use in the racecar series,  plus still be the best filter available for the FJ.

The other benefit is the grey filters do not get so discolored like the red. The red fades to orange and stains resulting in them looking ugly.

Randy - RPM

[Pat Conlon]

That's interesting Randy. What's the beef with red color filters?

[racerrad8]

That's interesting Randy. What's the beef with red color filters?

Legends cars likes propriety parts and had the grey made back in the 90's.

We ran red ones for many years until we went to a national event and were told they were not "as delivered from 600 Racing" which made them illegal.

Fine I said,  I'll ask UNI  if they'll make them for me is grey and they did. That's the story and one if the first parts manufactured for RPM.

Randy  - RPM

[Tuned forks]

Seems very similar to NASCAR.  Thanks for the explanation Randy.

Joe

[Mike Ramos]

Last year, when I bought my Uni Pods, they came in black.  The '93 I recently bought came with an unused set of red Uni Pods.  Are the red ones an older design than the black ones?

Joe

Gentlemen,

Whatever color you use, know they do the job exceptionally well.

However, never show up at the R.P.M. shop with them dirty...!



I stopped in for a valve adjustment & carb sync and Holy Toledo (!) when it was discovered the air filters were somewhat past due for a cleaning, you should have heard the ruckus it caused...!  And the language I dare not repeat.  Although the carburetor internals themselves remained perfectly clean (a testament to the filter's efficiency) both R & R were almost inconsolable....       

From then on, I never, ever stop by R.P.M unless the filters are as clean as a whistle...!

Ride safe...!

[Tuned forks]

Apparently Andy had the same experience Mike.  Of course, if you can stand the verbal abuse, showing up with dirty pods ensures they will be cleaned for you.

Joe

[Pat Conlon]

....and never, ever, use Yamabond on your valve cover gasket.....ouch.

Randy gave me a crowbar and said, "YOU take it off..."

[Mike Ramos]

Apparently Andy had the same experience Mike.  Of course, if you can stand the verbal abuse, showing up with dirty pods ensures they will be cleaned for you.

Joe

Hmmm... never thought of it like that.

But then sitting in the corner with the cone shaped hat disturbs my gentle nature & calm disposition.... and it musses up my hair...!

I'll give it further thought...

[ZOA NOM]

One of Randy's favorite pics on this subject is of my pods in his sink...

[Tuned forks]

He cleans them with soap and water?

Joe