Xtrainer air filter fastener

[njbill]

The fastener that secures the air filter was extremely tight. Removal required a significant effort and getting it all buttoned up was almost impossible. I'm not a weakling so I cannot imagine this is right. It took a herculean effort to get it latched and unlatched. Am I missing some trick? Is there an adjustment? WTF!

[wwguy]

When this happens it's usually because the right-hand (hidden side) of the air filter cage isn't fully seated into the airbox. It's easy for it to get misaligned as you're reinstalling the filter. When this happens you can't see it from the left-hand (airbox door side) view. You can check/verify the filter cage is correctly seated by peering looking down from the top with the seat removed.

[njbill]

When this happens it's usually because the right-hand (hidden side) of the air filter cage isn't fully seated into the airbox. It's easy for it to get misaligned as you're reinstalling the filter. When this happens you can't see it from the left-hand (airbox door side) view. You can check/verify the filter cage is correctly seated by peering looking down from the top with the seat removed.

I cannot see anything useful from the top with seat off. When I feel around the inside of the filter, it feels seated. Let me restate that the fastener was super tight when I removed it for the first time. The bike was brand new. I am wondering if something is misaligned.

[Rv4Bob]

mine is the same way. 2016.
I usually need to use pliers to pull it on/off position.
You can try installing just the filter cage to see how things line up, and then adjust the pin on the wire to give the most slack.

[njbill]

Thanks, that makes me feel a little better. I did adjust the pin but it is still struggle a to get it all buttoned up.

mine is the same way. 2016.
I usually need to use pliers to pull it on/off position.
You can try installing just the filter cage to see how things line up, and then adjust the pin on the wire to give the most slack.

[Gazza]

I had the same with my 15 XT. I looped a cable tie on the wire retainer to give a better pull.

[JoeBeta]

I have a new-in-2017 Xtrainer. The retaining arm was extremely tight right from the get-go. Re-latching was impossible without good pliers or a vice grip. I have also used a stout wire tie to take up the gap between the end loop of the retaining arm and the anchor point. Having a another person hold the bike or having the front tire against something immovable (a wall) helps to stop the bike from moving forward while you're yanking on the retaining arm. My ridding buddy has a 2017 RR and he/it does not have this problem. A side by side comparison revealed the positioning and the angle of the anchor point to be different (i.e. better) on the RR than on the Xtrainer. I knew I should have paid the extra bucks for an RR.

[JoeBeta]

Here is the side-by-side comparison of the XTrainer v RR air filter. The Xtrainer is one with the retaining arm detached from the anchor point because it's such a PITA. There are slight differences in the angles of the photos but they don't obscure the truth that there are differences in the anchor points.

[ScruffyDroid]

Slide the retainer up or down to get the optimum angle. Then with the bike on the side stand, use the heel of your hand press down firmly on to the elbow of the retainer until it clicks over the hook. It is firm, for a reason - you need to get a good seal on the rim of the filter.

It is vital that you have the airfilter frame correctly seated against the intake manifold - it is very easy to miss the seating point at the back end (ie closest to the right hand side of the bike).

[JoeBeta]

It's connected now and I was very careful about retainer alignment and proper seating and sealing. Using the heel of the hand against the elbow makes sense; thank you. I'll try that next time - but gosh such an essential/basic maintenance task should not be such a chore. It wasn't on other bikes I've had and it isn't on the RR.