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[Twolanerider]

PM air cleaner,model PM Merc air cleaner for 1991-2014 Models. Comes with the K&N filter which is in the shop getting fixed. If you have a JB parts book it is on page 392 upper right.

So a filter that doesn't use a center bolt to hold the cover.  If so you've got more hands in the porridge.  K&N can say "if you'd only use the center bolt as designed the bolt would have captured the nut and nothing bad could have happened.  So blame PM."  PM says, "huh, it's not our filter that broke."  Harley gets to say "and how much are you spending to fix this mess?"

Oy vey....

[donald p]

LAST estament was $2400 could go higher,a lot of damage.HEAD, piston, jug and maybe valves.

[phato1]

So a filter that doesn't use a center bolt to hold the cover.  If so you've got more hands in the porridge.  K&N can say "if you'd only use the center bolt as designed the bolt would have captured the nut and nothing bad could have happened.  So blame PM."  PM says, "huh, it's not our filter that broke."  Harley gets to say "and how much are you spending to fix this mess?"

Oy vey....

Looking at the installation instructions on PM's site - which unfortunately I can't attach here as my laptop is having technical difficulties- This air cleaner uses a small bolt FROM THE BACK SIDE! - as in right in the center of the intake path - to hold a decorative cover on - I assume it's that way so that no screw/bolt is visible when looking at the air cleaner --- seems kinda dumb to me 

[phato1]

scroll down to the air cleaners and download their .zip file and you'll see what I'm reffering to

http://www.performancemachine.com/tech/installation.aspx

[donald p]

A PM STICKEM goes over the bolt hole. NO bolt needed,but I forgot to take the NUT out of the inside of the filter.

[phato1]

The instructions  I saw don't tell you to do that.... Maybe PM will help ofset some of these costs as a good will gesture = even though their warranty clearly states " not responsible for consequential damages".

Personally, I think that the design of the either the PM unit or the K&N filter is faulty in that there should be no way for that "captured" nut to become "uncaptured" and get into the intake tract..

I would give them both a call AND an email stating your case - you might get lucky and one or both will help defray the repair cost.

[grc]

Actually the instructions DO say to remove the 1/4-20 locknut from the filter. 

"4. Disassemble and set aside the beauty washer, 1/4-20 flat head cap screw, and 1/4-20
locknut originally installed on the air filter element . (Will not be reused)"

OK, now the mystery is solved.

Jerry

[phato1]

I see it states that for the "Super Gas" model but the instruction for the "Merc" seem to leave that step out    Even though they are effectively the same part.
Either way it sure is a crappy way to ruin your engine 

[Twolanerider]

Actually the instructions DO say to remove the 1/4-20 locknut from the filter. 

"4. Disassemble and set aside the beauty washer, 1/4-20 flat head cap screw, and 1/4-20
locknut originally installed on the air filter element . (Will not be reused)"

OK, now the mystery is solved.

Jerry

I see it states that for the "Super Gas" model but the instruction for the "Merc" seem to leave that step out    Even though they are effectively the same part.
Either way it sure is a crappy way to ruin your engine 

That it's in some of the instructions as Jerry found, or not (as Phato mentioned), doesn't help with one unfortunately unpleasant fact.  It's up to us when using aftermarket (actually any) parts to first make the stuff play together and follow that with making sure the parts are good to go on the bike.  If there is a piece on the intake side of anything that might be ingested we have to be able to recognize that and eliminate the potential problem whether instructions tell us to or not.

Stop and think about where most instructions come from.  Some small (or perhaps not small) company has a few guys responsible for coming up with a new product.  The design team leader, foreman or whomever knows he has to get instructions ready for the public and get them ready for printing so the new product can be packaged as soon as its in production.

Who does this boss choose?  His best guy doing his best and most productive work?  Or the new kid or the schlub at the end of the line who is barely treading water to begin with and whose loss won't be felt for a few hours while he's tasked to write instructions?

That's not the guy you want to trust to keep your bike from locking up beneath you going down the road.  That guy is why it's incumbent on us to view and review everything we handle and see and exercise judgment beyond the instructions.

[Para Bellum]

Either way it sure is a crappy way to ruin your engine 

...and we know how MoCo is looking for any excuse to void the warranty.

[Banana man]

Time for a big bore build. 113 or 117 would be good.

[grc]

...and we know how MoCo is looking for any excuse to void the warranty.

While that is true, it doesn't really apply in this situation.  The part, and the instructions, came from Performance Machine, not Harley.  And it's not K&N's fault either, for those who were saying K&N should take care of the problem.

Jerry 

[FlaHeatWave]

I see it states that for the "Super Gas" model but the instruction for the "Merc" seem to leave that step out    Even though they are effectively the same part.
Either way it sure is a crappy way to ruin your engine 

Definitely not as much fun as blowing it up racing...