I'm with Cookie on this one. I've worked with enough engineers to know that when they specify a certain dimension for something, such as an oil filter O ring seat. It's usually for what they perceive to be a very good reason, be it scale of economy, to avoid a potential problem or maybe to correct an existing fault. It may, and I stress the word may, also be because the manufacturer has a tie in with another company, In this case lets assume it's Mahle, and wants the consumer to be locked into buying replacement parts, i.e. filters from that company. Do they always get it right? Not by a long shot, but they do get it right often enough to make their judgements valid. For sure RE/Harris could have designed the oil filter mount to accommodate any commonly available oil filter that would have fit in the space allotted for it, but for whatever reason they didn't. So far only one filter fits perfectly, and since no one has any problems with the stock filter's performance, I don't see any profound reason to install anything else. I buy my filters two at a time from my RE dealer, so there's always one on the shelf, and one new one on the bike. If someone that I trust: Baldwin, Wix, K&N or Mobil comes out with a certified replacement, I may be tempted to go that way just because I can buy them from my local auto parts store. Until then I'll stick with the OEM because they're easy to get, known to fit properly, and work.
Trustworthy K&N oil filters are made here in Thailand................
The point of my research is not to have to deal with a Dealer with no stock, and not to import unknown quality from India. If you insist on OEM that is fine, however some of us do not have a local choice, or do not want to import from India.
The problem I see with the common known brands is that the gasket is not identical. OD and length are not an issue in this case, as there are no great space constraints on external dimensions. Pore size, by-pass setting, drain back valve, etc are all within reason. Ours are not high flow rate engines, and the flow rate is most likely more than the engine capacity regardless of the number of holes in the filter.
The Full brand RE001 referenced is the only one that I can find listed anywhere as a direct replacement for the OEM filter, is dimensionally identical to the OEM, and like the OEM equipped with a DBV, and by-pass. If I knew detailed specs on the OEM filter, one could compare the critical criteria, however that information does not seem to be available.
The 20 micron rating, by-pass setting, and synthetic media is comparable to the "quality known brands", and what one would typically see in an OEM filter. Once I know the flow rate, and filter area of the RE001, then dissect the OEM, I can give a more informed engineering opinion.
From the specs I know now, the RE001 is going on my bike tomorrow
Topic: oil filter? (Read 56360 times)