Air Filter Assembly

This air filter system is designed to protect high precision engine parts from excessive abrasive wear due to particle injestion.  The three most common sources of particles are:

1. Airborn dust
2. Clutch liner particles
3. Dirt and sand

- Contents include filter element, mounting base, snorkel, plus a pair of zip ties, and a double-side sticky ring.

1)  Amazingly, some modelers actually believe their flying field is dirt free.  Yet airborn dust is always present because of winds (as well being kicked up by the main rotors during hovering maneuvers).  Fortunately, this air filter does a fantastic job at preventing engine damage from these particles because the foam filter element is very large and doesn't clog readily.  Moreover, it's designed to be lubricated with oil to aid in capturing these fine particles.  Where does the oil come from?  You add it automatically by rinsing the filter with that little bit of left over fuel, which remains when you switch to a new gallon.  Once the fuel's alcohol evaporates, the left over oil is just perfect to lube the filter element - what could be easier?

- After a case of fuel (4 gallons), it's well past time to rinse this filter with a bit of fuel, but it's still protecting your engine.

- How effective is the air filter?  The above unit was rinsed into a Mr. Coffee filter - convinced?

2)  Clutch liner dust is comprised of highly abrasive particles, which derive from the friction action between the clutch and the clutch bell's liner material.  By their very nature, they're highly abrasive and thus, protecting your engine's components is more urgent.  Why?  It's because they easily scratch the internals thereby quickly leading to reduced compression and thus, lower specific power output from the engine.  In effect, these particles prematurely wear out an otherwise perfectly running engine!

- After a mere 4 cases of fuel, an average summer's worth, loads of abrasive clutch liner dust has accumulated.

- Moreover, despite rotating at very high RPMs, even the fan blades themselves collect clutch liner dust over time!

3)  The third most common cause of engine damage due to particles are from those injested during a crash.  This is when the air filter really delivers the goods because in a crash (especially when the engine keeps running) the model flops around on the ground (much like a garden tiller) kicking up a tremendous amount of dirt and sand.  This is called a chicken dance and worse, it's not just bang and over because it may go on and on, e.g. until the fuel is exhausted.  Moreover, dirt and sand goes everywhere . . . especially inside the engine!  The end result may be a ruined engine.  Note how this one is absolutely covered in dirt and sand!

- Straight from a chicken dance, the engine, snorkel, and filter are covered in dirt!

So just how good is this air filter system at protecting your engine from the consequences of a chicken dance? Here's the money shot, e.g. when a picture is worth a thousand words - and more than 200 bucks for an engine.  Note how clean the inside of the carburetor throat is . . . need we say more?

- Sand got everywhere "except" inside the carburetor . . . the air filter assembly protected this engine!

SUMMARY:  All properly designed machines have air filters for protection, e.g. automobiles,  lawnmowers, motorcycles, full scale airplanes, and even the space shuttle! Moreover, while protecting your engine from excessive wear is always a good idea, it's especially important during tight economic conditions - after all, what's your engine worth?  With model helicopters in particular, an air filter is important because the engine is the very heart of the beast and hence, protecting it from airborn dust, abrasive clutch liner particles, as well as dirt and sand due to crashing takes on critical importance because once scratched, the finely machined surfaces deliver reduced compression and thus, less horsepower.

BONUS:  There are, however, two additional benefits you gain with this air filter system.

1. More horsepower
2. Easier engine maintenance

1.  By delivering cool filtered air from within the canopy instead of hot air from within the cooling shroud, the air sucked in is not only cleaner but cooler well because it's not been heated by contact with the clutch, clutch bell, and engine case.  As you may recall from high school physics and chemistry, denser air will accept more fuel in the mixture and thus, this results in more horsepower from your engine.  Simply put, this air filter system delivers cleaner air and more power . . . a win-win solution!

- Cooler, denser air delivered through the filter results in more fuel for the mix and thus, more horsepower!

2.  For purposes of maintenance, easy access to the engine's carburetor is important.  Another benefit of the air filter/snorkel design is how easy you can now dribble a bit of after run oil into your engine's carburetor.  After running the engine dry at the end of the day's flying activities (to remove as much of the moisture attracting fuel, which if left in the engine promotes bearing corrosion), the after run oil can be dispersed throughout the engine's internals by using your starter to spin the engine over.  Moreover, simply looping a rubber band over the filter element mounting flange secures it while making access convenient.

- We've learned the best way of securing the filter element to the base is via a simple rubber band - with a twist.

- AUD0063 Air Filter Assembly as packaged