How to clean the Twin H Oilbath Airfilter

[Deleted User] · November 2009

I took off one of my oil bath air filters from my 52 Hornet 308 and am a little baffled on how to clean it. On my 54 Buick I could disassemble the air cleaner and wash the different parts in gas. Other than taking off the end I do not see how to clean it or how/where to fill it with oil. A little help from someone who has done this before would be very nice.

53jetman · November 2009

Michael - What you have is the "Dry Type" air cleaner. You would wash out the filter media in gasoline, then squirt a little oil on the media, and bingo you've got it serviced. You can also substitute the filtering media with a dry type air filter which would be much more effecient than the media that you have there.

Jerry

53jetman

[Deleted User] · November 2009

53jetman wrote:

Michael - What you have is the "Dry Type" air cleaner. You would wash out the filter media in gasoline, then squirt a little oil on the media, and bingo you've got it serviced. You can also substitute the filtering media with a dry type air filter which would be much more effecient than the media that you have there.

Jerry

53jetman

Thanks for the information, I had really been expecting an actual oil reservoir bathing the filter element. Who sells replacements? Do you know part #s? Is there really no cleaning of the main body? Thanks again.

RL Chilton · November 2009

Michael-

Don't forget to use the "Search" feature. This is a common topic and has been well covered in past threads. Check out the following for some reference #'s and info:

http://classiccar.com/index.php?option=com_jfusion&Itemid=62&jfile=showthread.php&t=17636&highlight=filter

Unknown · November 2009

mjsandbe wrote:

Thanks for the information, I had really been expecting an actual oil reservoir bathing the filter element. Who sells replacements? Do you know part #s? Is there really no cleaning of the main body? Thanks again.

Msjandbe:

This is a Hudson oil bath air cleaner. and it also can be converted to a paper filter.

[Deleted User] · November 2009

mjsandbe wrote:

Thanks for the information, I had really been expecting an actual oil reservoir bathing the filter element. Who sells replacements? Do you know part #s? Is there really no cleaning of the main body? Thanks again.

The original premise of the metal filter assembly is a well oiled filter would catch all the dust and dirt. (Remember when your car was new most of the roads outside of main street were unpaved.) The rest of the aircleaner body is actually a muffler meant to quiet carburetor intake noise. The oil bath is another rendition which actually had an oil resevoir in which the oil caught the dust, dirt and debris. Changeing to dry filters makes the job of servicing aircleaners a swapout versus a remove clean and replace job. Which ever you use is a matter of choice. For me I like the look of the metal filters albeit they are a bit nasty to clean.

Clutchguy · November 2009

When using air cleaners, there is a difference in the 2. The oil bath was optional,and it also was considered a severe usage item. If you look & understand how it works,it is very efficient. Usually there is alot of dirt in the sediment ring. When the engine is running,it pulls the oil up into the wick type screen. The oil laced wick catches the dirt particles. When the engine is turned off, the oil runs off the wick filter and goes to the bottom. The next time the engine is started. it pulls the separated oil up the filter. It you look at the difference in the paper filters being dirty and the oil bath type, I have found it hard to believe that the paper would ever come close to filtering that much fine particles. Always service as per the service manual,no more oil , no less.:cool:

4starservice · November 2009

Michael,

I have the same filter in single form on my 1949 Super Six. They are not all that bad to deal with but if you decide to clean and reuse it I have some recommedations. First find a small bucket/container the filter will fit into lying on its flat end or standing on the outside of the circle. Add enough solvent to cover about 1/4 to 1/3 of the filter and with it standing on the outside of the circle agitate it in the solvent (Can be gasoline or kerosene). You could also set the filter on its flat edge and pour the solvent through the filter.

If necessary clean it a couple times. Leave it sit for 12 to 24 hours for solvent to evaporate. To re-oil you need straight 50W oil. Clean the bucket pour and in just enough oil to cover the metal of the filter (1/4 to 3/8") with the filter standing on the outside of the circle rotate the filter and add oil if necessary to coat all the of the cleaned filter.

Now the important part. The filter is cleaned and oiled but has way too much oil. I set the filter on its flat edge in a large funnel and leave it sit that way for 24 hours with the excess oil draining away.

A little time and labor but far less expensive than a new element. Nothing against a new paper element if you choose that route. Just some information on how I worked out cleaning my filter.

Drew Meyer

[Deleted User] · November 2009

4starservice wrote:

Michael,

I have the same filter in single form on my 1949 Super Six. They are not all that bad to deal with but if you decide to clean and reuse it I have some recommedations. First find a small bucket/container the filter will fit into lying on its flat end or standing on the outside of the circle. Add enough solvent to cover about 1/4 to 1/3 of the filter and with it standing on the outside of the circle agitate it in the solvent (Can be gasoline or kerosene). You could also set the filter on its flat edge and pour the solvent through the filter.

If necessary clean it a couple times. Leave it sit for 12 to 24 hours for solvent to evaporate. To re-oil you need straight 50W oil. Clean the bucket pour and in just enough oil to cover the metal of the filter (1/4 to 3/8") with the filter standing on the outside of the circle rotate the filter and add oil if necessary to coat all the of the cleaned filter.

Now the important part. The filter is cleaned and oiled but has way too much oil. I set the filter on its flat edge in a large funnel and leave it sit that way for 24 hours with the excess oil draining away.

A little time and labor but far less expensive than a new element. Nothing against a new paper element if you choose that route. Just some information on how I worked out cleaning my filter.

Drew Meyer

Thank You.

How to clean the Twin H Oilbath Airfilter

Comments

Categories

In this Discussion