My 1st. air filter change

[xfootdoc]

I'm about to venture forth on changing the air filter on my 05 wing with Motor Trike conversion. I've been looking at the You Tube instructions and reading what I can about the procedure and remain somewhat intimidated. I'm concerned about all the electrical connectors. Do they come apart easily? Any tricks or things to avoid for a first timer would be appreciated.....Thanks...Alan

[Gabby Hayes]

I have watched several air filter changes and by far I would suggest getting the dealer to change it. There are a lot of things to be removed and moved out of the way. Our tech master spent almost 4 hours changing one last week and upgrading the inlet vent with mesh to keep out the bugs and critters. ALL the covers must be removed as well as ALL the connectors in the front.. Good luck.

Gabby

[Cycleguy]

I'm about to venture forth on changing the air filter on my 05 wing with Motor Trike conversion. I've been looking at the You Tube instructions and reading what I can about the procedure and remain somewhat intimidated. I'm concerned about all the electrical connectors. Do they come apart easily? Any tricks or things to avoid for a first timer would be appreciated.....Thanks...Alan

Here's a set of photos.

airfilter Photo Gallery by fred harmon at pbase.com

He also has a set of DVDs for sale. These walk you through this and other procedures in great detail.

http://www.angelridevideos.com/gl1800.html

From that site:

"DISCLAIMER/WARNING:
THIS MESSAGE SUPERCEDES ANYTHING SPOKEN OR PORTRAYED IN THE CONTENT OF THIS VIDEO. THIS VIDEO IS FOR ENTERTAINMENT ONLY. IT IS NOT AUTHORIZED TECHNICAL DATA. DO NOT TRY ANY OF THESE PROCEDURES AT HOME. READ AND USE THE HONDA GL1800 SERVICE MANUAL FOR ANY MAINTENANCE OR REFERENCE INFORMATION FOR YOUR MOTORCYCLE."

The connectors can indeed be tricky. They generally have a very small "locking" tab that you must find and apply a fair amount of force to in the proper direction, while also pulling the connector apart. Like everything else about the process it's annoying to do the first time, relatively easy once you've done it once and see how it works. The other thing notable about doing GL1800 work is that you frequently have to pull off plastic with an alarming amount of force, and have to know which pieces just pull off, and which have fasteners to be undone. If you've ever done work around the front fairing, or removed the rear fender to get the rear tire off, you know what I'm talking about.

Bottom line - too hard if you're just doing this once, more worth it if you expect to do this and other GL1800 maintenance yourself repeatedly. If you don't like the lag in your cruise control, this is a good time to adjust that, too.

Disclaimer - Just my amateur advice, not guaranteed to be complete. Working on your own bike can be hazardous, both to the bike and yourself. Proceed at your own risk.

[THWilson]

I watched the same youtube video. Watched it and looked at photos, I have a 2008. Couple of things are differant than on a 2005. It took me four hours to complete, but I had a couple minor set backs nothing major. Next time maybe 2 to 2.5 hours. My dealer was going to charge $ 200.00 in labor plus parts. Learned a lot doing it myself. Another 2000 miles will be doing it all over again. Next time airfilter, oil filter and plugs.
Just take your time.

[RickDeVon]

OMG...I just changed my mind about a new Wing...RickDeVon

[Cycleguy]

OMG...I just changed my mind about a new Wing...RickDeVon

A lot of bikes have similar issues. Such as the need to remove plastic to do maintenance, and the complexity of doing that. Or the tricky electrical connectors. Manufacturers (both bike and car) seem to think that ease of owner maintenance is no longer a virtue. Try this description for a "simple" oil change on a Kwasaki ZX-6E.

zx6e.net forums -> How To Change Oil

You won't be wanting to buy an Alfa GT, either. Have to jack up the car to replace the air filter?

http://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/alfa-...difficult.html

[jfingalls]

RickDeVon, about your impression of a Gold Wing - all I have to say is "if you want the luxury and happiness, you have to pay for it". Good Luck...

[Lunchbox1983]

Changing a filter is doable, and you will learn a lot about working on your own bike. Just be sure to think about anything you want to fix or upgrade and do it at the same time you have the Bike apart. I think it took me 5 or more hours but I did a little each night after my son would go to bed. Plus I replaced a burned out dash lamp,and upgraded front speakers at the same time. I also spent the time to detail clean front/ back and wax each panel before it went back on.


This is also why so many Wing owners put K&N lifetime filters on their bikes, including me.

[Lunchbox1983]

Dear Lunchbox1983,

More power to you if you have the ability to change your air filter. I do not and do not want to attempt this. My take by using the K&N filter is taking a one hour job and increasing it to three hours by having to wash the K&N filter allow it to dry thouroughly and reinstall it.

To save $22.00 (cost of a new OEM air filter) which I have installed every two years by making a one hour job into a three hour job is no my idea of savings.

My own personal rant.

Agreed it is not a quick job, but I guess what i was trying to say was that a lot of people put in a K&N and never touch it again ever (they read the LIFETIME), which they are wrong.

I clean mine, but I find that by the time I need the air filter cleaned i am ready to tear the bike down to detail it or fix something in the dash (1996 she is showing age). Sometimes my bike will stay stipped for a week or so in the winter while parts come in, but usually I try to pre order.


Right now on my list is to replace the power port cause it's all rusty, and add a gear indicatior. basically something to do during the winter rains. To do these things the dash must come out, so it requires more stipping than the air filter. I am also due for a timing belt, but I am still reading to decide if I want to take that one on ior not.

[cjmitch]

Take you laptop out to the garage, and follow along with it....
After you are done you will pretty silly about the perceived difficulty.
Took me about 1.5 hours, from first bolt to the last bolt...
REALLY its not that hard, at all

[dirtdobber]

I thought that was what winter was for. Now you know why some of us has more than 1 bike/trike

[rodeo1]

i have personally NEVER changed an air filter harder to do than the new wing. i personally think honda should be ashamed of themselves for making a regular maintainance procedure so hard for the owner to do, but i think we all know why they do it, right?

they would have been several ways to do the airbox that would have been a bunch easier, but then where is the fun in not charging $200.00 to change someones air filter?

some of you have that same old tired answer. if you can't afford to pay the price, don't ride a wing. i mean heck ! they are for friggin millionairs to ride, right ? well, i gotta tell you, i traded mine off and bought another valkyrie just cause i think anything that hard to work on (and i am a professional) is something you rich guys need to have, not one of us working guys.

blaze away ! i am good at ignoring it.:Sleep1:

[Stephen]

Lunchbox1983 I honestly do not understand why you would want to take an hour to 1.5 hour project and extend it longer. I do understand detailing and waxing the panels and I applaud your dedication to making the bike really pretty. That said, to change the air filter takes a skilled wrencher about an hour. That is between $60.00 to $150 at different local shops for this work.

Why, when an OEM filter costs only $22.00 would you want to make an hour's job extend it to three or more hours to wash a K&N filter then wait for it to dry then reinstall it in the bike? Not a slam, only giving a different perspective.

I spent about six hours doing my first air filter change. Why? Because I also did the cruise control and other tidbits while I had it apart. Took my dear sweet time and enjoyed myself rather than trying to rush though it like it was a dreaded chore.