what holds my air filter snug to my airbox?

these little screws? they dont even touch the air filter. There is a little bit of dust in my air box before the carbs. The needle valves were prettly clean.I checked the airbox before I bought the bike, it was 400bux if the engine goes I can part it out. Is ther supposed to be a strap in there? those screw holes were molded into the airbox top. thanks
http://i632.photobucket.com/albums/uu46 ... 59/air.jpg
http://i632.photobucket.com/albums/uu46 ... airbox.jpg
http://i632.photobucket.com/albums/uu46 ... irfilt.jpg

 

the filter (looks very similar to the setup on my xj650 from the exploded views on bikebandit.com) should have a tab at the top and bottom. The bottom tab should be seated when the filter is placed in the box, and the top one is held in place by the lid when it is secured. Unfortunately, the filter will give you a hard time sometimes; with the top tab hanging too far back to be snagged by the retaining lip of the lid. You have to peer under the lid as you pop it back on and make sure the lip is catching the filter tab, or it will cram it down in the opposite direction, making an even bigger gap of unfiltered air. Hope that helps.

 

thanks that seems pretty dumb. I am going to buy some small hooks and a rubber band. i will screw the hooks into the airbox and streatch the band across the filter. set it and forget it. the xj has a dinky seal without gravity or pressure. it allows dirt to simply flow between the filter and box. thought it was a POs stupidity, glad thats an issue with all bikes

 

The filter should have a foam gasket on the flat side that seals it when its in its proper place.

MN

 

there is but since the only pressure holding the filter in is old 82' bent plastic I am going to custimise a filter clamp I will get pics when done.

 

I have a question about my airfilter. there is no way when I put the top of the box on that it is sealed. the PO probly rode thousands of miles with essentially no airfilter. I am trying to rig up a clip or something to hold it in place but so far I havent been able to. its an aftermarket K&N thanks

 

The small screw hooks w rubber bands didn't work? I thought that was a good idea. You may want to try the regular, stock paper filter. I bought the k&n, tried it and didn't like it. I even wasted time fabricating a thicker gasket(using the sears, green, filter material) for it. But I deceided not to use it after holding it up to light and noticing the large holes in the filter. My tabs in the box seem hold the filter in place.

 

The stock paper (not really paper, BTW) filter, with a smear of silicone grease on the foam gasket, should seal very nicely when the tabs on the cover engage it properly.

 

Be sure to put the filter tab in front of the lid tab, then move the lid forward to push the filter in place. You don't want to just put the lid on straight down. You want to set it back a bit and slide it on.

K&N usually has a little tube of sealer grease in the cleaning kit to seal the rubber to the plastic body.

 

Those don't look like the right screws.
That Filter don't look like it fits.

What to do?
Fabricate.

Visit a Hardware Store and get one, long, section of Foam Weatherstrip with the "Peel-off and Apply" adhesive strip.

Cut and Stick some Foam Rubber to the Perimeter Opening of the Air box.

Fold a Tuna Can Lid in half ... forming a 90-Degree angle.
Affix the Piece the the Top of the Filter so the Can Lid covers the space not sealing to the Box.

Peel and Stick some of the Weather Strip to the Lid.
Use a set of Tin Snips to trim the Lid for a perfect fit.
Peen support ridges in the lid to prevent it from bending back.