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[porkypig]

Just my luck.  whenever I do a search for things, it throws me, "no results found".   So, I thought by now someone had posted a question about the K & N equivalent to the stock filter our bikes come with, but couldn't find it.  My question is, "do any of you clean your K & N filter?  How often, and how??  do you use the cleaning kit that is available from K & N for $17.95?  How long do you let the filter dry once you wash it and allow it to dry?  How messy is this whole process??  and finally, with the experience I had recently with the "rain sock" during rain showers, does it seem feasible to spray a quanty of oil on the K & N filter and then apply the rain sock for trips or am I risking getting the rain sock all oily in the process?  Just questions I wondered if someone had already experienced and has an opinion on.   Pork.
The price is the same as it was on the stock white paper filter for '10 and '11 but now that is the only filter Harley has for these bikes is the K&N.  $59 for either but not sure the white one is available any longer.  I used to just change it out every 5,000 miles. 

[Rooster]

I use the kit every oil change. It is messy and don't saturate with new oil or it will be on your bike.

[porkypig]

thanks for the reply.  After only having white paper filters (which are dry when new, I didn't notice whether the K&N is damp with oil when it is new or not.  Are they??  I have a spare new K&N filter (well, I don't have it yet because the dealership doesn't stock it; has to be ordered, of course, which is an extra $1.50 if you can believe that!  But having an extra may be my fix; put my spare on, take off, and clean the other at my leisure, and it will be ready for the next time.

[Rooster]

I don't remember if it was charged or not when new. I like to do the process on a sunny day that way after using the cleaner I leave it in the sun to dry out, then recharge with the oil and remount.

[grc]

The other K&N filters I've purchased always came pre-oiled and wrapped in plastic, but I've never bought the one that fits your bike.  I can't imagine it wouldn't come oiled like all the other K&N's.

As for the cleaning and oiling process, unless you ride in extremely dusty conditions once per year should be more than sufficient.  The cleaning process is basically the same as the one for the stock paper element, and you will want the material to be dry before you oil it. You can speed up the drying time with very low pressure air if you like, but I always found mine dries fine just sitting overnight in the garage.  Once it's dry you use a spray can of K&N oil to oil the gauze of the filter.  Just follow the instructions and make sure you cover the entire surface of each pleat, but be careful not to go overboard.  Excess oil will drip and get all over the place and the bike.  I usually do my filter in conjunction with winterizing the bike, so I can let the filter set for a couple days to allow any excess oil to run to one end of the pleats and then just use a paper towel or rag to blot off the excess.

Jerry