[toolcraft4100]

Wow. This was harder than I expected. I struggle to understand how some of the connectors disengage and to get my fingers or a tool on the little tabs that you depress. The Service manual and the 2 videos I watched skipped right over the parts that I struggled with. And then I find this nest inside the filter box!
I was able to get it all apart without damaging anything and I suppose the "nest" could have been much worse. I took pictures and it can probably only go back together one way. I just hope I can actually reassemble it!
I see that you can install these aftermarket screens in the intake ducts that prevent vermin from getting into the airbox. But I'm wondering if those butterfly wings I found would block the airflow. Does anyone have experience with the aftermarket in-duct filters?

 

[AZgl1800]

just take some Rabbit wire, the kind with 1/4 inch squares, and cut it to size, so you can flare it out, and around the air intake horns.

some have used the exterior screen from an auto air filter.

 

[cihilb]

Use the screen from the old filter over the snorkels. Form it over the opening and secure it with a long tie wrap.

 

[Bike...and Dennis]

Pretty butterflies though. .🤪

 

[dragratnow]

I used the old auto air filter screen like others have said.Actually did this with the air tubes still in the bike,its a very tight fit but got it done! Still can not believe that Honda would hide a regular maintenance item like that air filter!

 

[DenverWinger]

I bought my 1500 almost 6 years ago with 43k miles. That summer I opened things up for timing belts and other stuff, found a couple acorn husks in the air filter, and a little dusty but otherwise Okay. Plenty of light shined thru it. I put it back in.

Last year same story, minus the acorn husks. I put it back in again.

Unless you drive dirt roads all the time or you are building a hotel for mices these filters last a long time.

Same thing with sparkplugs. I unscrewed a couple, looked at them, and screwed them back into the engine. Just fine... No reason to believe the other four were any different. And quite likely they are original sparkplugs....

 

[DaveO430]

Still can not believe that Honda would hide a regular maintenance item like that air filter!

They will make 50,000 miles no problem so what's the big deal.

 

[Bryanlj]

Where else would you put an air filter apart from in the airflow and out of the water

 

[harveysmedlap]

May be to late to mention this ,but I hope you remembered to plug the wire that hides behind the air filter and front of the seat back in or you'll be pulling the top shelter back off. I forgot once.

 

[toolcraft4100]

Thanks for the replies. I’m on vacation so the bike is still in pieces. I need to order the filter. I plan to install rear speakers before I reassemble so I have a couple of items to order.

 

[drssg]

They will make 50,000 miles no problem so what's the big deal.

If that's the case, I wish the manual wouldn't tell me to replace it every 12,000 miles. It also seems like I should periodically check that I don't have a nest in there, like the OP. If I go through all the work required to look at it, I'm inclined to go ahead and replace it.

 

[Pwhoever]

There is an easier way than pulling all the parts off to open the air filter housing. You would probably only need to remove either the right or left dash pockets to be able to access the snorkel opening. Use a lighted borescope and it's supposed to be a breeze to check it. Here is one that I picked up last year but haven't checked the air filter yet. Although it came in real handy when I checked the valves and the washer for the left cam chain adjustor fell back into the engine but that's another story...

NIDAGE Wireless Endoscope for Automotive Inspection Semi-Rigid Flexible Waterproof 5.5MM WiFi Borescope Camera Compatible Android and iOS Smartphones, iPhone, iPad (4.92FT) https://a.co/d/bVWkJnf

 

[RambozoClown]

There is an easier way than pulling all the parts off to open the air filter housing. You would probably only need to remove either the right or left dash pockets to be able to access the snorkel opening. Use a lighted horoscope and it's supposed to be a breeze to check it.

Will this work if your bike is a Capricorn and you are a Taurus?

 

[Pwhoever]

Haha! Good catch. Stupid fat thumbs and spell check got me again!!!

I fixed it now...

 

[DaveO430]

If that's the case, I wish the manual wouldn't tell me to replace it every 12,000 miles. It also seems like I should periodically check that I don't have a nest in there, like the OP. If I go through all the work required to look at it, I'm inclined to go ahead and replace it.

It tells you to replace the spark plugs every 16,000 and I run those 50,000 also. The rest of the maintenance is sensible.

 

[cihilb]

There is an easier way than pulling all the parts off to open the air filter housing. You would probably only need to remove either the right or left dash pockets to be able to access the snorkel opening. Use a lighted borescope and it's supposed to be a breeze to check it. Here is one that I picked up last year but haven't checked the air filter yet. Although it came in real handy when I checked the valves and the washer for the left cam chain adjustor fell back into the engine but that's another story...

NIDAGE Wireless Endoscope for Automotive Inspection Semi-Rigid Flexible Waterproof 5.5MM WiFi Borescope Camera Compatible Android and iOS Smartphones, iPhone, iPad (4.92FT) https://a.co/d/bVWkJnf

I made it easier on my 2012 after the first filter change. Before putting the air intakes back on, I drilled a one inch hole on top of the left one about mid point. I plugged the hole with an electrical box plug. Now I can use my borescope easily by removing the plug and pushing the camera in the hole.
I had put screens on the intakes so I could not just push the camera from the front.

 

[AZgl1800]

I bought a similar WiFi borescope camera last summer,
a bit fiddly to get it to work, but once I did, was able to use it to find a lost wire harness in my sister's Kia left rear fender.
some kid broke the side lamp and shoved it back inside the fender, ticked her off ... he is banned from her property now....

 

[Pwhoever]

You are correct and it took a bit of a learning curve to get it working but was an extreme help with tracking down the lost washer I mentioned above. Of course, the washer was aluminum so my magnet on the end of the long springy shaft was useless... My only wish was that the borescope could be used over Bluetooth instead and I think it would be more versatile then.

 

[AZgl1800]

You are correct and it took a bit of a learning curve to get it working but was an extreme help with tracking down the lost washer I mentioned above. Of course, the washer was aluminum so my magnet on the end of the long springy shaft was useless... My only wish was that the borescope could be used over Bluetooth instead and I think it would be more versatile then.

I agree with that, it was a super PITA to make the WiFi stay connected

 

[toolcraft4100]

OK, I'm back to working on '05 Goldwing. I salvaged the screens from my old air filter to use on the intake horns or snorkels or whatever. The Duct (Left) and Duct (Right) attach to the Air Cleaner Cover on each side. Those came out with the cover. On the upstream end they fit into the respective Air Ducts (Upper) that are attached to the inside of the fairing. This attachment looks a little complex and I'd rather not remove them.
Is the recommendation from post # 2 and 3 above to attach these screens to the upstream end of the Upper Air Ducts? So I will need to get down in front of the bike and reach back into the fairing tunnel with both hands and wrap and secure the mesh to the end of those things? I'm wishing I would have done that when I had the forks out.

Toolcraft4100