Hole in center of air filter

I was not paying attention when I took my air filter off of the air filter metal housing to service it, Is there a grommet that goes in the center hole in the air filter that goes on the metal cage??? (Did I inadvertently lose it?)

My XR400 had a rubber grommet in the middle of the air filter it seems odd that the WRR would have just a hole in the air filter, what seals it on the metal post?

Thanks in advance for an answer to my odd question

I don't remember there being a grommet on my stock filter, and know for sure there isn't one on my twin air or unifilters. My intake tract has always been clean, and I suspect that the foam's being a close fit plus the filter oil is enough to keep it sealed.

There wasn't one on my filter.

No rubber grommet.
It simply seals against the metal post sticking up from the filter cage.

The hole in the foam allows the foam to spread out and expose the middle of the top of the metal post so the filter retainer can push against the metal post and not the foam.

I appreciate all your quick responses! Now that I know I will put it back together.

I can kick myself!!! I am normally really good about doing maintenance...I let the air filter go way tooo long.

Hopefully I did not cause excessive wear. I bought the bike new in December I have about 3100 miles on it with most of the miles on the road and the last 300 miles of that off-road.

The air filter was dirty, but the dirt was not caked on and it was not excessively dirty. the air intact tract was spotless!

I had read the post were YZEtc had said to clean it the moment after touching dirt. I will do that the next time!!!

Any thoughts on how bad I abused my machine by waiting so long to clean the filter?

Thanks for the help

I'm sure its not great. But if it was oiled properly, I imagine it would just plug up and reduce flow for the most part. Since less air would go thru, arguably, you could call it a better filter, cause it would let less in. Tho that probably isnt a good argument to push...heh.
I think it was mentioned recently, that the oil loses its tackiness over time, so a freshly oiled filter sounds best, for sure.
You'll probably be fine,the engine sounds like it was designed with dummies like you and I in mind.

Abuse? You haven't really abused it yet at all. Hell at 3100 miles it isn't even really broken in yet. Try to clean the air filter every or every other oil change and/or hard dirt day and you'll be fine. Mine is sitting at 43,000 miles and still runs strong.

skierd wrote:

Abuse? You haven't really abused it yet at all. Hell at 3100 miles it isn't even really broken in yet. Try to clean the air filter every or every other oil change and/or hard dirt day and you'll be fine. Mine is sitting at 43,000 miles and still runs strong.

Incredible! 43,000 miles. Either you have one heck of a commute or you're not married and have alot of free time!

Have you had any issues with your WRR?

Old thread, but thought I'd say: I apply wheel bearing grease to that hole just like on the contact seat.

I agree with you Lightfoot. I put wheelbearing grease on mine too.

Where can I find the write up where Crawdaddy's motor was damaged?

Thanks

[quote="SLOWRIDER"]I agree with you Lightfoot. I put wheelbearing grease on mine too.

Where can I find the write up where Crawdaddy's motor was damaged?

Thanks[/quote]

I don't have a direct link or I'd post it for ya'.

edited text; was speculation

I like that idea of hooking up a smoke machine! Just make sure the motor is on TDC or the smoke will be puffing out of the tail pipe.

[quote="SLOWRIDER"]I like that idea of hooking up a smoke machine! Just make sure the motor is on TDC or the smoke will be puffing out of the tail pipe. [/quote]

good point

Here's a post from the ADVrider WR-250R Mega Thread after his bike quit running the first time around:

http://advrider.com/forums/showpost.php?p=19044925&postcount=29460


Speaking for myself and from my own experience, LOTS of riders neglect the air filter and don't service it often enough and/or don't do it properly (as in insisting on using bar and chain oil instead of foam filter oil, etc.).