Where is the air filter on the 4T?

[desmolicious]

Ok, more to the point, how do you access it? Do you go in through the left side, after removing the spare tyre etc?

[Silver Streak]

Yes, you have to get at it from the left side, behind the rear wheel.

This Genuine dealer prep video discusses it:

http://vimeo.com/20618680

[desmolicious]

Thanks Dave!

[gilbee]

Yes, you have to get at it from the left side, behind the rear wheel.

This Genuine dealer prep video discusses it:

http://vimeo.com/20618680

The video just tells you where it is is there. Is there any trick to taking it off?
my gas milage has reduced to about 60 mpg where it used to be around 110 or so. i just changed my oil, so i'm assuming cleaning the filter would bring my MPG up.
what do you guys think?

[ericalm]

Yes, you have to get at it from the left side, behind the rear wheel.

This Genuine dealer prep video discusses it:

http://vimeo.com/20618680

The video just tells you where it is is there. Is there any trick to taking it off?
my gas milage has reduced to about 60 mpg where it used to be around 110 or so. i just changed my oil, so i'm assuming cleaning the filter would bring my MPG up.
what do you guys think?

Are you having other issues such as poor idling, hard starting, stalling? if your filter was dirty enough to drop your MPGs that low, I would think there would be other signs.

[gilbee]

Yes, you have to get at it from the left side, behind the rear wheel.

This Genuine dealer prep video discusses it:

http://vimeo.com/20618680

The video just tells you where it is is there. Is there any trick to taking it off?
my gas milage has reduced to about 60 mpg where it used to be around 110 or so. i just changed my oil, so i'm assuming cleaning the filter would bring my MPG up.
what do you guys think?

Are you having other issues such as poor idling, hard starting, stalling? if your filter was dirty enough to drop your MPGs that low, I would think there would be other signs.

I just cleaned it yesterday and i got a few of those problems. Low idling and I'm not sure my mpg's went back up. I just rode it to work (30 miles) and after warm up it seemed to idle fine.
What else would cause the mpg drop?

[magnato1]

I just cleaned it yesterday and i got a few of those problems. Low idling and I'm not sure my mpg's went back up. I just rode it to work (30 miles) and after warm up it seemed to idle fine.
What else would cause the mpg drop?

I'll state the obvious here, not that you haven't considered it, but riding style can certainly have a big effect on your MPG. I ride a short distance to work each day with a lot of stops and starts. I accelerate quickly and then have to stop again, repeat. MY normal MPG is between 50-60. But, when I take it on longer runs with at a constant speed, my MPG increases significantly, going up to between 80-90 MPG. So, if you've changed your riding style or destinations recently, it could certainly affect the situation. [/quote]

[ericalm]

I just cleaned it yesterday and i got a few of those problems. Low idling and I'm not sure my mpg's went back up. I just rode it to work (30 miles) and after warm up it seemed to idle fine.
What else would cause the mpg drop?

Everything! Not being facetious—in general, the smaller the engine, the more sensitive it is to any change in conditions. Tire pressure is a big one that many people ignore. The weather plays a part in it. We get differently-formulated gas in the "winter" in CA, too. Put on a few pounds, lower MPGs.

But a drop as steep as yours is unusual. Is that tracked over multiple fill ups? What are you using to gauge your MPG?

Do you know if your air/fuel mix or carb have ever been adjusted?

[gilbee]

I ride from Tustin to Brea and back 4-5 days a week. I generally fuel up every other day or so but recently I've been refueling about every day. It's more so a general read. On my next refuel I'll write down my milage and track it that way.
I haven't checked tire pressure and I've never changed my fuel type or mixture. I've only ever fueled up at chevron on supreme. My riding style has also been pretty consistent too throughout this experience.
And I don't know anything about air/fuel mix. Would that fix anything?

Thanks for your input guys. I appreciate it.

[rondothemidget]

I ride from Tustin to Brea and back 4-5 days a week. I generally fuel up every other day or so but recently I've been refueling about every day. It's more so a general read. On my next refuel I'll write down my milage and track it that way.
I haven't checked tire pressure and I've never changed my fuel type or mixture. I've only ever fueled up at chevron on supreme. My riding style has also been pretty consistent too throughout this experience.
And I don't know anything about air/fuel mix. Would that fix anything?

Thanks for your input guys. I appreciate it.

I'm stoked to find another Stella rider in OC! I commute through Tustin nearly every day. My route is basically the entire length of Jamboree and I've been averaging 100 mpg for nearly two years. There's something wrong if you're getting half that mileage.

[gilbee]

I ride from Tustin to Brea and back 4-5 days a week. I generally fuel up every other day or so but recently I've been refueling about every day. It's more so a general read. On my next refuel I'll write down my milage and track it that way.
I haven't checked tire pressure and I've never changed my fuel type or mixture. I've only ever fueled up at chevron on supreme. My riding style has also been pretty consistent too throughout this experience.
And I don't know anything about air/fuel mix. Would that fix anything?

Thanks for your input guys. I appreciate it.

I'm stoked to find another Stella rider in OC! I commute through Tustin nearly every day. My route is basically the entire length of Jamboree and I've been averaging 100 mpg for nearly two years. There's something wrong if you're getting half that mileage.

I'll definitely have my mechanic check things out when I get my exhaust repaired.
Yeah, I didn't know that there were any other stella rider's in oc! We should ride some time!

[jimmbomb]

Yes, you have to get at it from the left side, behind the rear wheel.

This Genuine dealer prep video discusses it:

http://vimeo.com/20618680

The video just tells you where it is is there. Is there any trick to taking it off?-------

-------what do you guys think?

I believe the video did say that to get to the 4th screw on the air filter cover...
you have to remove the shock bolt at the bottom.. then the rear wheel goes up into the chasis and exposing access to that final 4th screw...

i could be wrong about the vid... but the shock bolt thing is for real... good luck

[Spiffy]

you have to remove the shock bolt at the bottom.. then the rear wheel goes up into the chasis and exposing access to that final 4th screw...

I used needle-nose pliers to get at the screw from its left side... didn't need to do the trick with moving the engine to get it to line up with the access hole...

[rondothemidget]

I finally tackled the air filter cleaning on my own and it's not as bad as I thought.
1. Take off left cowling
2. Take off spare tire
3. Take off rear tire. I place a 2x4 under the engine block to "jack up" the rear.
4. Take out shock absorber bolt and pull shock away, and down. That's the top image. This will pull the engine down and give access to the elusive 4th air filter screw (bottom image).

It would take 10 minutes or less after you did it once.

[misterbrackets]

Is the Stella 4T air filter different from the 2T or a PX? I haven't inspected mine yet.

[misterbrackets]

rondothemidget : thanks for the details on getting to the air filter.... they were helpful.

I cleaned my air filter last night and had no idea how dirty it was. It's kind of a messy job..... and I say set aside an hour to do it.

I separated the 2 foam elements, and turned the inner one inside out to expose all the grime. Then I put them, one at a time, in a container of mineral spirits and sloshed them around like a little washing machine.

They must have needed it, because the bike runs a little better I have 4000 miles on it now, and I don't think the filter had been cleaned yet. (got the scoot used)

Question : adding the motor oil to the filters once they're clean --- is that to protect them from drying out, or to help trap the dust... or both?

[jimmbomb]

Is the Stella 4T air filter different from the 2T or a PX? I haven't inspected mine yet.

Yes.. very much so...
The 2t air filter sits on top of the carb.
no wheel removal. Very easy to get to..
Just one flat head screwdriver.
And they're NOT compatible with the 4t's
Good luck

[fisher1]

Question : adding the motor oil to the filters once they're clean --- is that to protect them from drying out, or to help trap the dust... or both?

to help trap the dust