Author Topic: Uni air filter not fitting on the 2014s?  (Read 998 times)

Nathan Haley

  • Wanderer
  • *
  • Posts: 14
  • Karma: +0/-0
    • View Profile
Uni air filter not fitting on the 2014s?
« on: June 24, 2014, 10:18:40 pm »
First of all - I don't believe in bringing up problems with products until I give their support and retailer the chance to fix it. I've been in touch with both Uni and KTMtwins a few times over the past few weeks but they seem to have lost interest in my case.

The front silo on the air filter bottoms out on the bottom of the airbox. The filter won't stay mounted flush to the airbox - it'll pop out because the filter doesn't fit in the box. There's a gap there that is plenty big for dust to find its way through, even with proper grease application around the lip of the filter. It's possible the snorkel/airbox lid will force the filter down into place, but it will still be bottoming on the bottom of the airbox and putting a lot of pressure on these warp-prone components. Anybody else have this problem? Am I doing something wrong? It looks like the 2014s have different airboxes than earlier machines, though KTMtwins claims the filter should fit 2014 bikes...the stock paper filter has already let some dust into my engine, so I'm hoping to get this solved. Thanks!

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter


Rusty Shovel

  • Aimless Ne'er Do Well
  • Administrator
  • Grizzled Adventurer
  • *****
  • Posts: 553
  • Karma: +8/-1
  • Houston, TX
  • Location: Katy, TX
    • View Profile
Re: Uni air filter not fitting on the 2014s?
« Reply #1 on: June 25, 2014, 04:17:49 pm »
I'd like to see some photos of what you're describing, perhaps THAT would convince UNI that their filter is wrong.
D==[#)
2014 KTM 690 Enduro R

Nathan Haley

  • Wanderer
  • *
  • Posts: 14
  • Karma: +0/-0
    • View Profile
Re: Uni air filter not fitting on the 2014s?
« Reply #2 on: June 25, 2014, 06:05:33 pm »
It's hard to photograph - the air filter just pops up wherever you're not pushing it down like whackamole. I sent KTMtwins a video as they requested, no response after that.

Nathan Haley

  • Wanderer
  • *
  • Posts: 14
  • Karma: +0/-0
    • View Profile
Re: Uni air filter not fitting on the 2014s?
« Reply #3 on: July 14, 2014, 09:42:48 pm »
Update - KTMtwins has removed the 2014 690 Enduro R ABS from the fitment chart for the air filter. UNI part number US 1417 officially does NOT fit the 2014 - airbox is too shallow. I ordered UNI AU 1417 and while it still bottoms out on the bottom of the box, I can cram the lid down without the inserts popping loose (well, almost - JB weld saved me there) so that's what I did. I greased the living daylights out of the seams...hope it works.

bigbikejohn

  • Explorer
  • ***
  • Posts: 65
  • Karma: +0/-0
    • View Profile
Re: Uni air filter not fitting on the 2014s?
« Reply #4 on: July 14, 2014, 10:59:59 pm »
Keep us updated on how it seals and works next time you check it. I know I'm very interested to see how it does. I'm not comfortable having a one time use paper filter and nothing else on hand for my 690, since most of its life is spent offroad.

Nathan Haley

  • Wanderer
  • *
  • Posts: 14
  • Karma: +0/-0
    • View Profile
Re: Uni air filter not fitting on the 2014s?
« Reply #5 on: July 14, 2014, 11:25:05 pm »
Keep us updated on how it seals and works next time you check it. I know I'm very interested to see how it does. I'm not comfortable having a one time use paper filter and nothing else on hand for my 690, since most of its life is spent offroad.

2 street rides later, the filter is still flat against the lip of the airbox as best as I can tell. It's hard to see up front there - I think I'm going to remove my shrouds to triple-check everything is in ship shape, and then take it offroad. I'll keep you updated.

One note for installation of AU 1417: It's not easy to get the lid's tabs to fit into the holes in the airbox because the rim of the filter extends too high and blocks them. You have to wiggle the lid in and then and then slot the front of the filter in after it as best as you can. Someone punch me if I'm the only one who thinks this is awkward. Maybe a tiny trim of the filter seal would be in order, if only I had courage for such things. What I find works best is the following:

1) With the lid and filter removed, insert the filter but don't push it all the way forward.
2) Push the front of the filter down and below the rim of the airbox while pulling the filter back gently
3) While holding the front of the filter down, insert the airbox lid tabs down into their cutouts
4) Push the filter forward and tuck it underneath the tabs
5) Gently insert and tighten the airbox lid screws into their brass inserts but be careful - it is exceedingly easy to pull them out of their towers. I was not careful, and therefore I JB weld.

Pain in the ass for a "drop in" filter, but it seems to work. It's foam and this material has been tested in some truly dusty conditions so I know if there's still dust on the inside of my box when I check it next, I have a leaky airbox or inadequate oiling or something.

As yet another side note: AU 1417, the orange one (NOT US 1417, which is black) says on the package it comes pre-oiled. I guess there's a tiny bit of oil on there. I always wonder if the pre-oil amount is enough. Is filter oil combustible in teeny tiny quantities? Is it bad to have too much (it generally ends up at the bottom of your airbox)? I got some grease on my filter when I stuffed it in there - is my engine going to grenade? (or - sometimes I think this almost as bad - just lose power gradually without me noticing as the piston gets torn up because of my incompetence?)

Air filters literally keep me up at night - I have work in 6 hours. Why can't they just fit and seal well!?!?! Sheesh...

bigbikejohn

  • Explorer
  • ***
  • Posts: 65
  • Karma: +0/-0
    • View Profile
Re: Uni air filter not fitting on the 2014s?
« Reply #6 on: July 15, 2014, 05:24:33 pm »
As far as the oil goes, I wouldn't worry too much. I get grease on my kx500 filter all the time and never had an issue. It generally just sticks wherever you got it until you clean it again. I've been using no toil oil on my filters, and it's great. You can wash them in the sink or even a washing machine on bikes with all foam filters. The main thing with any filter oil is to just give it time to set up before you ride. Some bikes get fussy  and won't start if you bathe a filter in oil then slap it straight in and try to go. Spray on oils seem to set up faster, and the no toil stuff seems to as well.

My solution to this In  the past has been to get 2 or 3 filters, clean and oil them, then when I swap one in, clean and oil the dirty one, etc etc.

Do the foam bits on the 690 filter come out of the plastic? When I oil my filters, I usually wring them out pretty well without twisting them (to prevent premature wear of the stiching) which also helps make sure the oil is evenly distributed. That may solve your problem of getting filter oil drips in the air box.
« Last Edit: July 15, 2014, 05:27:49 pm by bigbikejohn »

GSP

  • Adventurer
  • ****
  • Posts: 106
  • Karma: +2/-0
    • View Profile
Re: Uni air filter not fitting on the 2014s?
« Reply #7 on: July 24, 2014, 08:15:28 am »
I installed the K&N, very nice filter and fits perfect

$45.61   + $7.29 shipping

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002FFFKLC/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

« Last Edit: July 24, 2014, 08:18:11 am by GSP »

CaDirtRoads

  • Wanderer
  • *
  • Posts: 6
  • Karma: +0/-0
    • View Profile
Re: Uni air filter not fitting on the 2014s?
« Reply #8 on: August 05, 2014, 12:12:20 pm »
Hmm...  I'll have to check mine.  I got the Uni from KTMTWINS also...

Randy

fasteer

  • Wanderer
  • *
  • Posts: 1
  • Karma: +0/-0
    • View Profile
Re: Uni air filter not fitting on the 2014s?
« Reply #9 on: December 31, 2014, 06:54:40 pm »
as of right now, the KTM Twins site lists a UNI-690.
the product details says: * NOTE: Yes, it does fit the 2014 690 Enduro. *
No mention of 2015.
No mention of US1417 or AU1417.
there is a long review by Jack explaining why some folks may have had fitment issues.
I don't have an opinion one way or the other; just looking for information.