Author |
Message |
markhuebbe Samba Member

Joined: March 08, 2006 Posts: 379 Location: St. Louis, USA
|
Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2008 9:08 am Post subject: Which brand air filter for dual IDFs... K&N or CB? |
|
|
Got a question about air filters. Which are better, K&N or CB? I got a set of CB filters that came with my carbs & CB bases and they seem to let a lot of dirt thru them. I also wrap them with a UNI foam pre-filter. Would real K&N filters be any better?
My bug gets a bit dirty.
_________________ 1970 Beetle - Rally car
http://www.Rally-America.com
http://www.HuebbeRally.com |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
akokarski Samba Member

Joined: May 24, 2004 Posts: 2098
|
Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2008 11:23 am Post subject: |
|
|
paper or better yet an oil bath, the tricky part is getting it hooked up to the carbs.
Anton |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
RIS Samba Member
Joined: December 18, 2003 Posts: 3044 Location: Youngstown, Ohio
|
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Scott Novak Samba Member
Joined: October 12, 2004 Posts: 1586 Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
|
Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2008 5:53 pm Post subject: Re: Which brand air filter for dual IDFs... K&N or CB? |
|
|
markhuebbe wrote: |
I got a set of CB filters that came with my carbs & CB bases and they seem to let a lot of dirt thru them. I also wrap them with a UNI foam pre-filter. Would real K&N filters be any better? |
I found out the hard way that genuine K&N 4-1/2" by 7" oval filters will NOT fit the CB Performance 4-1/4" x 7" oval air cleaner bases.
Their ad copy is incorrect. It specifies the CB air filters as 4-1/2"x 7", when in fact they are 4-1/4" x 7". I Notified CB Performance of this error over 3 months ago and they still have not corrected it.
http://www.cbperformance.com/catalog.asp?ProductID=509
The other potential problem is that the mold sprues on the CB Performance air cleaner bases have not been ground flat and can keep the air filters from seating properly. The air cleaner bases need finish work before you use them.
I hear a lot of people complain that K&N air filters let sand in. But I wonder how much of this is the filter not seating properly on a poorly made air cleaner base.
Scott Novak |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
SRP1 Samba Member
Joined: January 06, 2007 Posts: 4342
|
Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2008 10:02 pm Post subject: |
|
|
To staight out answer your question, K & N. The CB filters pass a lot of dirt.
However RIS is correct, you need a UMP unit if you want to keep the sand and silt out of your engine, the K & N's will not get the job done for you, period. Sorry there is not other way around it. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
markhuebbe Samba Member

Joined: March 08, 2006 Posts: 379 Location: St. Louis, USA
|
Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2008 6:47 am Post subject: |
|
|
Do you think adding an oiled layer of UNI green foam in addition to my red uni pre-cleaner would help any? I don't see why I need some huge air canister when Baja trucks run Uni filters.
_________________ 1970 Beetle - Rally car
http://www.Rally-America.com
http://www.HuebbeRally.com |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
jign4bass Samba Member

Joined: December 09, 2006 Posts: 588 Location: Bakersfield, CA
|
Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2008 7:17 am Post subject: Re: Which brand air filter for dual IDFs... K&N or CB? |
|
|
Scott Novak wrote: |
markhuebbe wrote: |
I got a set of CB filters that came with my carbs & CB bases and they seem to let a lot of dirt thru them. I also wrap them with a UNI foam pre-filter. Would real K&N filters be any better? |
I found out the hard way that genuine K&N 4-1/2" by 7" oval filters will NOT fit the CB Performance 4-1/4" x 7" oval air cleaner bases.
Their ad copy is incorrect. It specifies the CB air filters as 4-1/2"x 7", when in fact they are 4-1/4" x 7". I Notified CB Performance of this error over 3 months ago and they still have not corrected it.
http://www.cbperformance.com/catalog.asp?ProductID=509
The other potential problem is that the mold sprues on the CB Performance air cleaner bases have not been ground flat and can keep the air filters from seating properly. The air cleaner bases need finish work before you use them.
I hear a lot of people complain that K&N air filters let sand in. But I wonder how much of this is the filter not seating properly on a poorly made air cleaner base.
Scott Novak |
I just installed K&N E-3341 filters on my CB bases. Outside dimensions are 7"X4.5"X3.25" Fit like a glove!! _________________ Rob
So....how much is this going to cost me?
62 Custom Beetle
1776cc w/Dual Dell 36 DRLA's |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
SRP1 Samba Member
Joined: January 06, 2007 Posts: 4342
|
Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2008 7:27 am Post subject: |
|
|
Actually yes you can add the foam wrapper to the elements. It's not the best, but it can work if you pay attention to detail and clean them often.
Here is how we set up filters like you saw for Baja.
-K & N element, oiled, and with greased seal lips.
-"Outerwear:" wrapper, no oil
-Foam Uni filter wrapper, lightly oil on the inside only. No oil on the outside, that would attract silt and you don't want that.
Grease most any motorcycle shop has this stuff-
http://www.revzilla.com/product/bel-ray-waterproof-grease
Outerwear- http://www.cbperformance.com/catalog.asp?ProductID=558
Foam wrapper- http://www.cbperformance.com/catalog.asp?ProductID=1391
I'm not sure what Scott is talking about, I have never had a problem installing K & N filters on CB bases, and I have installed a ton of air filters in my days. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
turboblue Samba Member

Joined: October 09, 2003 Posts: 4216 Location: Central Indiana
|
Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2008 7:36 am Post subject: |
|
|
SRP1 wrote: |
To staight out answer your question, K & N. The CB filters pass a lot of dirt.
|
CB's pleated K&N version or their FilStar version? _________________ Gary
Turbo VW Sand Drag Buggy
"If you don't run into the Devil every once in awhile, you must be going in the same direction!" |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
SRP1 Samba Member
Joined: January 06, 2007 Posts: 4342
|
Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2008 7:42 am Post subject: |
|
|
Pleated. I assumed that's what he meant when comparing K & N to CB, that's the only comparable filters between the two companies. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
markhuebbe Samba Member

Joined: March 08, 2006 Posts: 379 Location: St. Louis, USA
|
|
Back to top |
|
 |
MConstable Samba Member
Joined: May 04, 2004 Posts: 1822 Location: Saint Charles IL
|
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Scott Novak Samba Member
Joined: October 12, 2004 Posts: 1586 Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
|
Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2008 1:23 pm Post subject: Re: Which brand air filter for dual IDFs... K&N or CB? |
|
|
jign4bass wrote: |
I just installed K&N E-3341 filters on my CB bases. Outside dimensions are 7"X4.5"X3.25" Fit like a glove!! |
I would strongly suggest that you take a much closer look at the fit of the K&N 3341 filters on the CB filter bases.
I've got a a pair of K&N 3341 air filters and the CB intake manifold bases distorted the K&N Filters to the point that they were not going to seal correctly. This distortion I saw was exactly what was going to allow sand to infiltrate and require the use of heavy grease or other sealers to keep the sand out. (CB P/N 6480, Cross Bar Linkage for Straight Manifolds with air cleaner bases)
I dumped the air linkage and and air cleaner kit and made my own air cleaner bases.
Scott Novak |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
|