Early Knuckle Air Snoot Filter

[Slojo]

The foam air filters absorb gasoline and hold it. Our early "leakhard" carburetors are a fire hazard on their own, the foam air filters increase the fire hazard.

I once owned a late model Harley twenty one years ago, upon starting, it back fired catching the foam element air filter and carburetor on fire. If not for the electric start sucking the fire out disaster would have been unavoidable.

I could not imagine kick starting fast enough to "suck start the fire out" on an early bike. Use caution when choosing foam or paper air filter elements.

Joe

[ricmoran]

Slojo said "Fire hazard" and steel wool....yea, I can see the flames now. The thicker material Len showed is okay, thinner perhaps not.

[40 Nuck]

"Chore Boy" brand scrubbing pads come in copper and stainless at the grocery, and are very inexpensive. I think I will try those as well. I think in the back of my head, I had worried about the foam elements catching fire, but hadn't gone beyond that. I think I will try the "Chore Boy" pot scrubbers and see what happens. Thanks, also, Len, for the part # and info on the lightweight filter ... I'll see about getting one for longer-term solution.

[40 Nuck]

A couple more pieces of info. Part #27805-47 is apparently a Hummer part? If so, it can be purchased for $80 from harleyhummer.com (see pic there also). As to the problem with the copper strands getting sucked into the carb, the "screen" solution on the backing plate I mentioned in the first item in thread should preclude that from happening.

[Slojo]

I used kitchen copper scrubbing pads in my 1914 Cannonball Gray Ghost muffler as baffling, it seemed to work ok except the strings of copper escaping the tailpipe and getting entangled with the brake light switch. I would not like to think of what might happen if they were entering from the other end.

The exhaust pressure leaving the motor is much more fierce than the intake velocity on the other end entering the motor. Wrap the copper pad in a stainless steel screen.

joe

[ricmoran]

Well, I tried the steel pads and then pad in the air horn, no go for my EL it stangled the engine for air and no carb adjustment would help the engine run right, so it is back to the 6" air cleaner.

I think the air horn does not have enough space inside the assembled cavity for this system to work with a M5 carb.

[Slojo]

I ran a copper pad in a 37 Knuck with an M5 carb, it worked fine.

Joe

[Steve Little]

Here is the other option for 1936-1937 air cleaner. The hair dryer was standard and the 6" air cleaner with the screws holding the cover to the backing plate was an option
This is the only 6 inch for 36-37 that I have seen for a couple of years.
I have to admit that I dont scan eBay every, day but I'm on there often enough to know that this is one of the hardest parts to find.


RARE ORIGINAL VINTAGE HARLEY KNUCKLEHEAD? 6" AIR CLEANER KNUCKLE HEAD 170746914489
Sale price: $1,275.00

[Chris Haynes]

I once saw a 1935 VL with a CAST 6" air cleaner.

[Steve Little]

Hi Chris.
Do you think it was a experimental part.
The 6" that went went through yesterday started as an option in 35.

[len dowe]

air cleaner

Well, I tried the steel pads and then pad in the air horn, no go for my EL it stangled the engine for air and no carb adjustment would help the engine run right, so it is back to the 6" air cleaner.

I think the air horn does not have enough space inside the assembled cavity for this system to work with a M5 carb.

ricmoran,
Thats wierd cuz my M5 works great with no problem. I only use 1 in the snout as pictured. The only 2 lightweight filters i have seen were on ebay and i bought them both. could you post a pic of your setup? I did find a nos in the bag 1955 filter in my lightweight parts #29036-55. It's a copper mesh and looks to be the same as a 7" element. The earlier ones i believe are the steel ones.. Hope this helps.
len.

[ricmoran]

Had 2 of the pads installed and yanked one out and dropped it on the road and did not go back to pick it up as the engine was not running like it should with these in the air horn.

The one image that shows the pad mid way had the second pad cable tied together as I wanted to be sure there was air space in front of the carb venturi.

After trying to make that work, I came back to the shop, cut the cable tie and then put one just at the start of the air horn and one mid way, closer to the stat of the air horn.

With the engine sputtering after trying to lean out the mixture, then enriching it wiht the low speed setting at about 20 - 25 MPH, that is when I yanked out the one closest to the oepenign of the air horn and dropped it on the road.

The engine is too starved for air with this, so I went back to the 6" air filter assembly and the bike is running as it should.

Steves posting of the original 6" assembly price is reasonable, that is if it sells for that price....reasonable that is in todays economy for these things, but unreasonable to me. The engine runs well with the repro 6" assmebly that has the Worlds Fair logo on it and the bike is a rider not a point bike.

[Steve Little]

Hi ricmoran
I was posting, that it sold yesterday for that amount.

I was bumped into second spot which equates to.... loser.
But i did get a lovely consoling message from eBay.
Made me feel so much better.

I will run my aftermarket 1938-1940 6" J hook and try to hold my poker face...like everything is normal.

[ricmoran]

Steve, better to run a filter than not, so no worries, there is someone else running a repop sayin' the same thing.

people ask me all the time if the bike is original...the answer is yes, original repop parts and original original parts. heck, your on the road riding and everythign else is like.......sex.

What I mean is that if your having sex with someone with the lights out or on your still having sex.

So riding something all OEM or not, your still riding.

The mind thing about this is original or not to me ends up being trivia cause in the end your on the road doing what you love, riding.

Now if your into a AMCA points bike, have at it all ya want, take that wallet and tip it over and let the dough flow and run those cards up to the max, open that vault and roll out wagons full of dough and never mind being crazy at spending your resources to gain the mindful orgasms of ORIGINALITY!

Ride on!!!!

[len dowe]

ricmoran,
Here is the one you need and it is a real H.D. part & part #... My fault, they're for the sprint's . I run just 1 right in front of my intake and no screens in front or back. Fits perfect and doesn't bog the carb down at all, even at my altitude. As i mentioned, I don't see these for sale very often..
Len.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/29056-61P-Ha...30508143403131