Do not buy K&N Wrench On oil filters: Busted on me

Discussion in 'Mechanics Garage' started by EricTrant, Mar 25, 2017.

  1. EricTrant

    EricTrant New Member

    Joined:
    Nov 17, 2014
    Messages:
    14
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    20170324_171532[1].jpg 20170324_171552[1].jpg

    So I got cute and tried a different type of oil filter, one of those K&N Wrench Offs with a nut on the end for wrenching it on. I'd never used one and never will again. About 2k miles into it, the tab on the top of the filter blew and spewed oil like an artery all over the road. Luckily I was commuting and was close to home. Scared the shit out of me, thought I'd thrown a rod, even though it ran just fine pulling off the road in that plume of smoke.

    Anyway, a word of warning on these filter types. Don't use them. It was even ~more expensive~ than the standard $6 Fram I always use (it was about $14 for the K&N), and I thought it'd be easier to install than trying to wedge my filter wrench in there. Maybe you'll say I over-torqued it, and maybe you're right, but whatever the cause, I don't like having one more failure mode on my machine. So no more nut-filters for me!

    K&N Wrench Off == HELL NO!



    - Eric
     
  2. RVFR

    RVFR Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Jan 10, 2006
    Messages:
    8,006
    Likes Received:
    265
    Trophy Points:
    128
    Location:
    Olympia Wa.
    Map
    Yep. It's Been said a many times here, DO NOT USE A K-N filter! Sorry, you didn't get the memo.
     
  3. Allyance

    Allyance Insider

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Nov 20, 2013
    Messages:
    3,522
    Likes Received:
    391
    Trophy Points:
    128
    Location:
    East Bay, California
    Map
    Maybe it is time for a K&N Class Action Lawsuit!
     
    VeeferEX250r likes this.
  4. skimad4x4

    skimad4x4 "Official" VFRWorld Greeter

    Country:
    France
    Joined:
    Jul 5, 2009
    Messages:
    2,269
    Likes Received:
    369
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    French Alps & London
    Map
    72eac5888b7c1f91041089320000297d.jpg

    Enough said.

    SkiMad
     
  5. NormK

    NormK New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2012
    Messages:
    1,821
    Likes Received:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Good one Skid, has anybody set this pic to K&N AM could end up saving many a motorcycle and riders lives. Maybe if we all sent them an email saying their product was shit, might give them something to think about because obviously they don't give a shit
     
  6. duccmann

    duccmann Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Oct 6, 2010
    Messages:
    9,214
    Likes Received:
    910
    Trophy Points:
    143
    Location:
    SoCal
    Map
    Maybe we can post that picture so when some unknowing motorcyclist
    Googles oil filters for bikes, her picture is the first to pop up--- type in VFRheader and see what comes up
    Jmon

    Glad ya made it out alive ET--- scary stuff that it's still on the market


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  7. V45mikie

    V45mikie New Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Aug 26, 2014
    Messages:
    22
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    1
    Yes they are junk!! a bud of mine had two that would not seal at the O ring. He had oil all over his NM4 just taking it down the street. It took us a afternoon cleaning that plastic wrapped V
    ader bike. Then his CBR600 had the same issue. He had bought a case of them and K&N had him send them back if memory serves.
     
  8. DriverDave

    DriverDave New Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Aug 15, 2010
    Messages:
    579
    Likes Received:
    57
    Trophy Points:
    28
    Location:
    Denver, CO
    Map
    I had 2 of them start leaking at the nut. This was on my 6th gen, back in 2011/12. Since then I only use Hi Flo filters (or Honda if the dealer does the work). I wouldn't use Fram either.
     
  9. TOE CUTTER

    TOE CUTTER Mullet Man

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Nov 30, 2008
    Messages:
    6,731
    Likes Received:
    85
    Trophy Points:
    78
    Location:
    Sacramento
    Map
    At this point I am shocked that some kind of action has not been taken because there is no way that riders have not gone down due to this terrible product.
     
  10. NorcalBoy

    NorcalBoy Member

    Joined:
    Aug 29, 2007
    Messages:
    6,120
    Likes Received:
    852
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Desert Southwest
    HD is still in business......
     
  11. sunofwolf

    sunofwolf New Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Sep 11, 2013
    Messages:
    3,383
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    36
    napa top filter Platinum41356 extra large fits with carbon canister removed works best at $9 if y:doh:eek:u see on sale
     
  12. 34468 Randy

    34468 Randy Secret Insider

    Country:
    Canada
    Joined:
    Dec 18, 2007
    Messages:
    13,741
    Likes Received:
    1,557
    Trophy Points:
    158
    Location:
    Chilliwack, BC Canada
    Map
    What I find incredible is that any member on this forum would even use one after all that has been posted on this site about this terrible product. K&N;s shit performance and dangerous qualities has to be one of the most complained about maintenance part on our bikes. I have never used a K&N oil filter because of all that has been posted here. Maybe we should see if we can get a warning and link somewhere in the header of this site to warn people who still don't seem to get the message.

    In addition to this, why don't those who have had an issue with them not only complain to K&N, but complain in a public manner about the shop that continues to sell to their customers, this piece of crap. Then tell that business that they have lost a customer and why this happened. If merchants stop stocking this piece of crap, maybe K&N will fix the problem or better yet, go out of business.
     
  13. sunofwolf

    sunofwolf New Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Sep 11, 2013
    Messages:
    3,383
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    36
    :hangme:the strange thing is I like my K*N air filter on my car, I think it is because K+N just don't want to bother fixing their VFR oil filter
     
  14. Badbilly

    Badbilly Official VFRWorld Troll Of The Year!

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Sep 9, 2007
    Messages:
    15,047
    Likes Received:
    52
    Trophy Points:
    48
    Can someone filter SOW?
     
  15. Lint

    Lint Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Aug 7, 2012
    Messages:
    4,805
    Likes Received:
    950
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Simi Valley, Ca.
    Map
    Hey, he's playing nice. Enjoy it while it lasts.

    I have a K&N AIR filter that came with my bike. I'll never use their oil filters. I told the K&N trip at the IMS Long Beach. He claimed he never heard of problems... I told him to read our forum and VFRD. So they have been made aware of it. Looks like a lawsuit is the only thing they'll listen to. It needs to happen before someone gets killed or paralyzed.
     
  16. A.M

    A.M Moderator Staff Member

    Joined:
    Oct 18, 2015
    Messages:
    2,840
    Likes Received:
    525
    Trophy Points:
    158
    Oh my...

    I'm so sorry.

    If people don't frequent this place, I can see where they don't get the memo.

    Go into any parts store or online retailer and what's one of the top products that comes up?...this piece of crap.

    And problem is they are reputable for their air filters so who would think twice about questioning oil filter?

    Some suggestions here are spot on:

    Class Action Lawsuit

    Getting pics like mine to come up just as quick as a search for VFR oil filter brings up K&N purchase suggestion

    Take this to a more public place. YouTube? Petition?

    I have no idea. And how do we do it? I could play to my gender on this one and really try to do something...people listen to a "poory" girl their shizz product almost killed ...but guys, I have no idea how to do stuff like that. I'd need help.

    But Imma be PISSED when I hear someone being seriously injured or dead from it.

    The guy who cleaned up my moto in Bozeman, decades of working on motos, said he saw so many engines ruined by these...

    It's not just us here.
     
  17. fink

    fink Member

    Country:
    United Kingdom
    Joined:
    Mar 6, 2013
    Messages:
    1,590
    Likes Received:
    457
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Ardnamurchan Penninsula, Scotland
    Map
    Has anyone actually sat down and written letter of complaint to K&N about the filters?



    Have got to say ,Have never heard of anyone complaining about them in the UK.
     
  18. James Bond

    James Bond Member

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Mar 26, 2006
    Messages:
    1,313
    Likes Received:
    155
    Trophy Points:
    63
    Location:
    Dixie
    Map
    Without proving damages clearly, a lawsuit will get no more than a big lawyer bill. But, yes, these people have a defective design. It's a miracle nobody (we know of) hasn't been hurt.
     
  19. TOE CUTTER

    TOE CUTTER Mullet Man

    Country:
    United States
    Joined:
    Nov 30, 2008
    Messages:
    6,731
    Likes Received:
    85
    Trophy Points:
    78
    Location:
    Sacramento
    Map
    Good point.
     
  20. SML

    SML New Member

    Country:
    Australia
    Joined:
    Nov 3, 2016
    Messages:
    151
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    16
    Thanks for the info, glad I've not tried these filters on the VFR.
     
Related Topics

Share This Page