Melted air filter how to clean it?

My Honda 4 wheeler needed a tune up so I bought a plug, oil, oil filter and air filter for it last week, it warmed up yesterday so I tore into it. All went well the spark plug needed a very thin walled socket but I made one for that job. I went to change out the air filter and it was jello like and melted on the metal tube that runs through it?

I sprayed it with starting fluid but that did now eat it up I will try carb cleaner next then acetone unless any of you know what eats that foam material up.

Any clue?

Brake cleaner?

Could a back fire have ignited it. Hard concept to believe.

I hat a rat nest in mine once.

is it in a plastic housing also ?

acetone and some cleaners are very hard on foam , but probably took time also

I assume your trying to get the old stuff out so you can put a new air filter in

remove the housing and scrape clean with a razor blade would be my next approach if possible

Metal perforated tube the filter goes around but it’s a plated metal, the stuff looks like it’s breaking down like picking up hot butter.

That's crazy, I had one go bad

Replace it.

No matter what you do unless you get it perfect , you will have restricted air flow. Plus the possibility of chunks/bits getting sucked into the engine.

You would not want a dirty air filter , same thing.

Penny wise/pound foolish

Replace it.

Don’t know what could of got into the box it’s in a box with clips, it would not start so it did backfire a few times (bad plug) and I could smell gas. I’ll clean the tube and put the new filter on it one way or another I’ll get it clean. LOL

If you ever sprayed a foam cup with carb cleaner you would understand what I’m hoping to find here.

Foam filters will all of a sudden break down at a certain timeframe. At least you caught it before it got sucked into the engine. Rocky Mtn ATV will have the part.

Tough choice between a $40 carb or $80 tube if I replace that. I’ll try the carb cleaner the brake cleaner I have both on hand the parts cleaner or gasoline will be next. I’m in no hurry.

Will keep you posted on what works.

^ this.

Should put on a K&N paper replacement one but they are crazy priced. $80

I may be misunderstanding the concept but would steel wool shine up the tube?

I will most likely wire bush it or steel wool in then blow it out with the air compressor to see if I can get where it needs to be to go back into the ATV. The main issue is this glue like melted foam that needs to come out. I will check the junkers at the farm, maybe I can find a clean one in a dead 4 wheeler!

I got the loose jelly type stuff off now it is more caulk like it scrapes off then leaves a thin layer blocking the tiny holes but the carb cleaner seems to remove most of it I’ll keep at it I have cams to put out today I’ll let it soak until tomorrow then spray it again and air blow it out. It’s getting there.

I am wondering if gas might not be what happened to it. Our Honda is leaking now and will put a new carb on it rather then fight the float or whatever problem.

sand blast it ?

Torch might get the worst of it, then wire wheel.

It has a galvanized finish I’d hate to ruin that, if it rusted I’d be in the same boat again. I ended up getting a skunk call right around dinner time from a landowner that had skunks under his sale barn and his bull sale is tomorrow so he was in a panic. He wanted me to set some traps tonight me I’d trap them after the sale but it was his call. LOL

Anyways after I got home I put the air tube in a plastic ice cream container and covered it with straight gas I will drive that container around all day tomorrow and see if that splashes the crud off. That’s if the container does not melt tonight.

Some times not always depending on the material of each, I have found a real good freeze up in a good freezer tends to make materials separate easier, some pop off others crack and you can remove them easier.

Your not out nothing if you pop them in a freezer for a couple days and see what happens, at least you will not destroy the metal the stuff is stuck on !

Sat overnight in gas helped a whole lot the flat parts wipe clean easy I will give it another day in the pail in no hurry to smell like gas.

Looks like you're winning but wouldn't a blue pail work better than yellow?

Tried that the raccoons kept knocking it over!

I'd say that's pretty good progress. Does the screen look at good on the inside too...or didn't it make it through the screen at all?

Screens clear now another day in the pail I’ll blow the loose stuff off it will be good to go.

I'm guessing the outer foam is suppose to be dipped in oil, then your suppose to wring out the excess oil, before installing (oil bath type). Could be there was a chemical in the oil used last time ate the foam up. Try a regular oil, not synthetic, with the new filter. More than likely the back firing soak that filter with gas, and caused it to dissolve.
I had a mouse get into an airbox on a wheeler once, and the mouse urine did the same thing, except just on the top of the filter where it could stand while urinating on it.

Augh.. Rally it was getting back at you for working over all his bigger cousins that mouse was.
sticky float valve or needle abrasion leaking gas and dissolving

When the plug went bad I could smell gas when it was cranking over so that might of pushed enough out the exhaust onto the filter.

#2 gas has higher content of toluene( I think) and this just nukes foam
or one of the esters C=C bonds so the Chlorine used in making foam soaks it up, and poof

Throw that in the trash and buy a new one

My time is worth more than what the replacement costs

Guess if you don't have a to do list backed up for weeks then keep messing with it. If that is the case get a small propane torch and burn that crap off, then soak it in something

I’m not watching it soak for 2 days! LOL

2 days in the gas bath and blew it out with air it came out like new.