Cleaning your MaxFlow Foam Filter Element

CLEANING AND OILING YOUR MAX-FLOW FILTER

Video  MaxFlow Chainsaw Filter element oiling and replacement (youtube.com)

A MaxFlow filter will last anywhere from 5 to 30 tanks before needing to be cleaned.  This can be one day on a fire or a week on a logging job. The cleaning interval for a MaxFlow filter is dependent on cutting conditions. If you remove the filter from the saw and see any dirt in the throat of the carburetor or inside the cage, it is past the interval to clean and re-oil the filter element. It does not mean the filter isn't working!  It simply means that the oil that traps the dirt particles has been used up and particles are passing through the foam.  Ideally, the filter should be cleaned BEFORE the oil has been used up.  Your attention to this will determine the cleaning interval for your application.   

Whether you have many spare elements or field clean your filter element whenever it gets dirty, it is important to thoroughly wash the old oil and trapped dirt particles from the foam and then re-oil it with 20ml ( a bit less than 3/4 oz) of oil. We do not advise motor oil, vegetable oil or gauze filter oil such as K&N (which is too thin and will be sucked through the foam).  None of them will efficiently trap the smaller dirt particles.  Remember the quality of oil determines the effectiveness.  Suggested oils are Bel-Ray, UNI, PJ1, Amzoil  or No-Toil.   DO NOT use bar lube, it is not designed to be burned in an engine and will cause your rings to stick!  Cleaning is an easy job and with care it doesn't even need to be messy. 

When it comes to cleaning solvents, we know that there are many options. We suggest BEL RAY foam filter cleaner, or Stoddard solvent or non flammable white gas.  Some use their two stoke mix to field clean and re-oil, but since gas is so flammable, so we do not suggest it for normal cleaning. It is important to note that we specifically build our filter elements to be gas compatible by not using the cheaper glued seams of typical foam filters. There are no glued seams to disintegrate from solvents or gas. Many have found that they can skip the solvent cleaning altogether and just use a strong grease cutting soap cleaner like Ajax or Dawn dish washing liquid. No-Toil uses it a own filter cleaner. 

CLEANING PROCEDURE FOR THE MAXFLOW FILTER ELEMENT.

• Remove the filter from the saw.
• Remove the inner cage from the outer foam element.
• Using a cleaning solvent, such as Stoddard solvent or white gas, gently remove and flush as much of the old oil and dirt out of the element as possible.  It is best to have two cleaning pans, one for the initial removal, and one to work out the finer dirt. Be careful not to stretch or wring out the foam too aggressively or it may tear.
• Wash the element with warm soapy water, we suggest using dishwashing liquid (Ajax/Dawn), to removing the remaining dirt and solvent.
• Thoroughly rinse, then towel off the element. It is important to allow the element to then completely air dry.
• Re-oil each element with approximately 20ml (a bit less than 3/4 ounce of quality foam filter by either working it in by hand (after putting on disposable gloves), or by putting a number of elements into a plastic bag and then adding the oil.  Work the oil completely into each element.  It takes very little oil to completely saturate an element.  Excess oil will not filter any better than just the right amount. Oil should not be dripping off the foam.  Squeeze out any excess. 
• Slip the element back over the cage and reinstall it back onto the saw.

We have found that it is best to clean 5 or 6 elements at a time, and them have them stored in plastic bags ready for use. MaxFlow foam filter elements are reasonably priced, and can even be pre-installed over our filter cage for minimal down time on the job.

USING YOUR MAXFLOW FILTER
The ideal filter has high airflow  (cubic feet per minute, CFM) and high efficiency (particle removal), giving high  effectiveness over a long period of time. MaxFlow chainsaw filters allow the  longest period of effective filtering at high performance levels. Max-Flow  oiled foam filters are washable and re-useable and are easy to service with the correct oil  at suggested intervals.  When cleaned and installed correctly, MaxFlow foam filters outperform any other filter  style.