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I want to clean my air cleaner/filter - its a foam one which should be oiled. Took the cover off tonight and the thing is dry.

According to the Haynes manual I should clean it with petrol, which I'm not comfortable about. I've got some in a jerry can but I don't want to be sloshing it around TBH, I'm a bit wary round petrol

On http://www.dansmc.com/aircleaner.htm it says to use 'solvents'. What is this? Thinners? White spirits?

Yes, white spirits are a solvent, confirmed by my dad

Don't use gasoline if you can possibly avoid it. The scrubbing action can create static build-up(and discharge), and really F-up your day. Especially bad if you use a plastic container to wash it in.

Kerosene, Varsol(not sure if that's what you call it over there) Naptha, or some other less-flamable solvent will work.

They also sell a heavy-duty soap to be used with water specifically made for foamfilter cleaning at more off-raod oriented bike shops that is the safest way to go. Just make sure the filter has had a couple of days to dry before re-oiling.....

And re-oil it with foamfilter oil. It is specific oil made just for foam(not gauze) filters and available at bike shops. You can use motor oil... if you don't really care about your engine. It will drain out of the filter(making a bike mess on your bike as it does) in a few days, leaving you unprotected.

Oh.. ok, I was going to re-oil it with the car engine oil I have on the shelf

So I can clean it with white spirits, but need to buy a special filter oil to re-oil with. Ok. Thats another little thing to my list. Filter oil, indicator relay, and LHT locking nuts.

Ain't bikes fun?

Yes they are. But they ain't cheap, nor is any motorized vehicle. If you do try to cheap it out, the machine will suffer in the long(or not-so-long) run. Sad fact of life...... no way around it that I've found.... well maybe crime, but I wouldn't recomend it.

The shop that sells the oil should also have a filter cleaning solution that is non-flammable. Solvent is probably cheaper, but it's probably better to have a can of the filter cleaner about the house instead of a can of solvents, especially with a little one running about.

Oh, I've already got thinners in the bolted-highshelved-dangerous substances-cupboard! But will certainly have a look to see the price of the particular oil/foam filter cleaning stuff.

Well, I got some special foam filter oil today - then my neighbour reckoned that the foam was oiled enough and would be ok So, being a woman an'all, I just sprayed a tiny amount on and gently rubbed it in to the foam so it just felt a little bit oilier

Also today bought a flasher relay. One of the first things I got for the bike were some nice little iridium spear mini indicators. Only thing, wired them up and they didn't work. Took the fuel tank off the other night and saw that there was no relay. So, today, got the indicators to work at last! And they look great. Who'dve thought that a set of flashing indicators would bring so much joy

There was a loose wire somewhere in the bunch behind the headlamp, tracked it down to the wires coming down from the headlight switch on the bars. But then... the new battery, which I doubt I had charged fully in the first place, then suddenly decided to fade away

So that was it for tonight, and the bike has been tucked into bed behind the car in the garage. Her fuel tank is off, seat off, battery off - it looks so skeletal and skinny!!

But I am really enjoying taking bits apart and getting to know the bike personally - really knowing how things work and fit together - its very gratifying. Always was with the car, but with the bike - I don't know - its so much more intimate. Maybe because of its size.

Becoming a real thorn in my side though, are the mirrors. I got a fantastic pair of chrome ones 2nd hand from eBay for a great price. Strangely enough though, they are both left hand thread. I got a right hand thread adaptor for the left hand bar (Yamaha bike you see) only now I need to find two left hand locking nuts for the stems.. and this seems to be proving an elusive item, thats for sure. Spare for buying two new stems and using the nuts from them, I am at a loss... no-one seesm to have them, just make that teeth sucking noise saying "Oooh thats an odd one... doubt you'll find them around.. not much call for them you see" Might have to resort to superglue to fix them in place

suggestions on a postcard, please. Or you can reply to this thread