air filter element for z600

[richmccolman]

Some time ago --after doing some research -- I discovered that, with only slight adaptation, a K&N air filter HA-6592 works great in the stock z600 air cleaner box. The main difference is that the dimension between the seal and the metal plate is less than that of the stock filter element. (I want to say "height" here when describing the dimension, but since the filter sits on its side, it might be more accurate to say "depth" rather than "height" for this application.) I took care of this dimensional difference by not using the stock air filter element retainer clip and instead rigging up a custom part to compress the filter element's seal against the front inner surface of the air cleaner box. (The custom part is made using a round head 1/4-20 machine screw [1-1/4 inches long, as I recall], two 1/4-20 machine nuts, a fender washer, and a 1/4-20 coupling nut. When I get a moment, I'll post a pic or two of what I came up with.)
Since it's a K&N filter, it's essentially a permanent filter element that you apply oil to and then periodically clean and re-oil. You can get the filter on Amazon for $41.48, but you also need to by air filter oil, cleaning solution, and sealing grease (if you want to achieve a really good seal). But it's the last filter you should ever need to get. And it's a K&N filter, so the filtration is great, with minimal drag on intake air flow. And this arrangement allows you to use the stock air cleaner assembly, complete with the intake pre-heater function for cold-weather driving.
BTW, this K&N filter was originally intended as a replacement air filter element for a Honda XR650L motorcycle, so there's no concern about whether the filter should work with the z600 engine displacement.
Richard

[Laurie]

Hi again Rich,
We use K&N filters in all of our vehicles.Except the Honda.
Pics would be great ! I have about 4 original Honda air filters
i bought, but K&N would be a great plus since it is so dry and dusty here.
Thanx for your inovative ideas,Laurie

> ----- Original Message -----
> From:
> richmccolman
> To:
> 2cylinderhondas@yahoogroups.com
> Sent:
> Tuesday, February 19, 2013 7:05
> PM
> Subject:
> [2cylinderhondas] air filter
> element for z600
> Some time ago --after doing some research -- I discovered that, with only > slight adaptation, a K&N air filter HA-6592 works great in the stock z600 > air cleaner box. The main difference is that the dimension between the seal > and the metal plate is less than that of the stock filter element. (I want to > say "height" here when describing the dimension, but since the filter sits on > its side, it might be more accurate to say "depth" rather than "height" for > this application.) I took care of this dimensional difference by not using the > stock air filter element retainer clip and instead rigging up a custom part to > compress the filter element's seal against the front inner surface of the air > cleaner box. (The custom part is made using a round head 1/4-20 machine screw > [1-1/4 inches long, as I recall], two 1/4-20 machine nuts, a fender washer, > and a 1/4-20 coupling nut. When I get a moment, I'll post a pic or two of what > I came up with.) > Since it's a K&N filter, it's essentially a > permanent filter element that you apply oil to and then periodically clean and > re-oil. You can get the filter on Amazon for $41.48, but you also need to by > air filter oil, cleaning solution, and sealing grease (if you want to achieve > a really good seal). But it's the last filter you should ever need to get. And > it's a K&N filter, so the filtration is great, with minimal drag on intake > air flow. And this arrangement allows you to use the stock air cleaner > assembly, complete with the intake pre-heater function for cold-weather > driving.
> BTW, this K&N filter was originally intended as a
> replacement air filter element for a Honda XR650L motorcycle, so there's no > concern about whether the filter should work with the z600 engine > displacement.
> Richard

[Charles Gould]

This is a great idea, but it would seem that a cleaner and easier modification, and one which would appear more stock, would be to simply bend a strip of sheet spring steel just like the original retainer clip, but with a larger bend to make it taller (or deeper) , to compress the filter against the seal. My recollection is that this is a simple spring steel clip which slides into place ina a slot on the housing box.
Chas

On Feb 19, 2013, at 9:05 PM, richmccolman wrote:
> Some time ago --after doing some research -- I discovered that, with only slight adaptation, a K&N air filter HA-6592 works great in the stock z600 air cleaner box. The main difference is that the dimension between the seal and the metal plate is less than that of the stock filter element. (I want to say "height" here when describing the dimension, but since the filter sits on its side, it might be more accurate to say "depth" rather than "height" for this application.) I took care of this dimensional difference by not using the stock air filter element retainer clip and instead rigging up a custom part to compress the filter element's seal against the front inner surface of the air cleaner box. (The custom part is made using a round head 1/4-20 machine screw [1-1/4 inches long, as I recall], two 1/4-20 machine nuts, a fender washer, and a 1/4-20 coupling nut. When I get a moment, I'll post a pic or two of what I came up with.)
> Since it's a K&N filter, it's essentially a permanent filter element that you apply oil to and then periodically clean and re-oil. You can get the filter on Amazon for $41.48, but you also need to by air filter oil, cleaning solution, and sealing grease (if you want to achieve a really good seal). But it's the last filter you should ever need to get. And it's a K&N filter, so the filtration is great, with minimal drag on intake air flow. And this arrangement allows you to use the stock air cleaner assembly, complete with the intake pre-heater function for cold-weather driving.
> BTW, this K&N filter was originally intended as a replacement air filter element for a Honda XR650L motorcycle, so there's no concern about whether the filter should work with the z600 engine displacement.
> Richard

[richmccolman]

You could do that Chas (fashion a custom filter element retainer clip from spring steel). I'm not wedded to the retainer bolt idea, though it worked well for me.
One thing that makes what I came up with work pretty well is that the K&N HA-6592 filter has a dimple in the top plate ("top" in this case being positioned to the rear of the air cleaner box) that's just about a perfect fit for the round head of a 1/4-20 machine screw. With a fender washer fastened up against the underside of the screw head with a nut, the part rests nicely against the filter element and doesn't wander around under vibration in the engine compartment. Of course, the part has to be tightened between the filter element and the rear inside surface of the air cleaner box, and that's done via the 1/4-20 coupling nut. A second machine nut is is used to tighten against the coupling nut once the latter is adjusted to create the proper tension on the filter element.
But, yes -- I imagine that you could create a customized retainer clip as you describe, Chas. Whatever floats your boat -- and works.
Richard

--- In
2cylinderhondas@yahoogroups.com
, Charles Gould wrote:
> This is a great idea, but it would seem that a cleaner and easier modification, and one which would appear more stock, would be to simply bend a strip of sheet spring steel just like the original retainer clip, but with a larger bend to make it taller (or deeper) , to compress the filter against the seal. My recollection is that this is a simple spring steel clip which slides into place ina a slot on the housing box.
> Chas
> On Feb 19, 2013, at 9:05 PM, richmccolman wrote:
> > Some time ago --after doing some research -- I discovered that, with only slight adaptation, a K&N air filter HA-6592 works great in the stock z600 air cleaner box. The main difference is that the dimension between the seal and the metal plate is less than that of the stock filter element. (I want to say "height" here when describing the dimension, but since the filter sits on its side, it might be more accurate to say "depth" rather than "height" for this application.) I took care of this dimensional difference by not using the stock air filter element retainer clip and instead rigging up a custom part to compress the filter element's seal against the front inner surface of the air cleaner box. (The custom part is made using a round head 1/4-20 machine screw [1-1/4 inches long, as I recall], two 1/4-20 machine nuts, a fender washer, and a 1/4-20 coupling nut. When I get a moment, I'll post a pic or two of what I came up with.)
> > Since it's a K&N filter, it's essentially a permanent filter element that you apply oil to and then periodically clean and re-oil. You can get the filter on Amazon for $41.48, but you also need to by air filter oil, cleaning solution, and sealing grease (if you want to achieve a really good seal). But it's the last filter you should ever need to get. And it's a K&N filter, so the filtration is great, with minimal drag on intake air flow. And this arrangement allows you to use the stock air cleaner assembly, complete with the intake pre-heater function for cold-weather driving.
> > BTW, this K&N filter was originally intended as a replacement air filter element for a Honda XR650L motorcycle, so there's no concern about whether the filter should work with the z600 engine displacement.
> > Richard