No air filter, replacement option questions

Hi guys. I've got my 641 gas conversion running and working well, thanks in large part to all the help you guys have given me here so far. Thanks!

There are still of course a couple things on the list though. It's been a wet, snowy winter here, and I've only been working it as much as I need for testing, so I haven't been worried about an air filter, but spring is coming (supposedly.....), and I need one now. My diesel 641 only came with the filter box, with the filter cover and filter missing, and is made to mount directly to the wider diesel intake. My 640 came with nothing.

Should I try to get an original oil bath gas engine filter? Why?

I've modified in modern air filters before, it's no big deal. Is there a reason that anyone would discourage me from doing that? Does anybody have a part number for an appropriately sized unit that was easy to plumb in?

Thanks for any info, Alex

I have K&N on my 960 which is used only for competition. It is easy to get one that you can simply clamp onto the carburetor inlet, or if you wish you can use a plastic elbow and a rubber boot connector to give yourself more room. You will get responses telling you that you will be booted from the Ford tractor brotherhood for making this change, because the old oil bath is best. That is of course baloney. If they were better we would still be using them because auto manufacturers are constantly looking to increase the longevity of their products. The K&N on my 960 is on the end of the air inlet tube tucked up under the hood, with the oil bath filter still in place so that it still looks original.

Ha, yes I can imagine there might be some strong opinions... but I opened it up, I'm interested to hear the potential benefits of the oil bath. And ya, I've converted in numerous air filters before, but my parts guy wasn't in the mood to help me figure out a modern filter of the appropriate size and a workable shape yesterday, so here I am asking for part numbers, if anyone has done it before.

(quoted from post at 05:48:55 04/11/18) Ha, yes I can imagine there might be some strong opinions... but I opened it up, I'm interested to hear the potential benefits of the oil bath. And ya, I've converted in numerous air filters before, but my parts guy wasn't in the mood to help me figure out a modern filter of the appropriate size and a workable shape yesterday, so here I am asking for part numbers, if anyone has done it before.

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I did the RPM and displacement calculation, if you just get one that fits the carb or the pipe, you will have way more air flow than it calls for.

.jcspecialty.net/shopping/AIR-FILTERS-C112.aspx
This might be something to look at. I use these filters plus a foam prefilter sprayed with K&N filter oil. there is also K&N filters there too if you want to go the extra money.

Should I try to get an original oil bath gas engine filter? Why?

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That depends on how you use the tractor. If just for mowing and pushing snow, the automotive type air filter will be sufficient.

If you are using it in a dusty environment, the oil bath filter offers less restriction and longer service intervals and self cleaning media - When the engine is shut down the oil that was being held in the wire mesh by the force of the air draft pulling it up drains back down into the cup and the small particles wash down with the oil. All the particles eventually settle to the bottom of the oil cup in the air cleaner.

(quoted from post at 02:27:27 04/12/18)

Should I try to get an original oil bath gas engine filter? Why?

Click to expand...

That depends on how you use the tractor. If just for mowing and pushing snow, the automotive type air filter will be sufficient.

If you are using it in a dusty environment, the oil bath filter offers less restriction and longer service intervals and self cleaning media - When the engine is shut down the oil that was being held in the wire mesh by the force of the air draft pulling it up drains back down into the cup and the small particles wash down with the oil. All the particles eventually settle to the bottom of the oil cup in the air cleaner.

Click to expand...

Bill, if the particles all fall down into the oil, how is it that when you pull the mesh out it is loaded with dried mud? This has been brought up here more than just a couple of times. And so far as service intervals, Bill, WHAT ARE YOU SMOKIN??? The sticker on the filter housing says to service daily, while on a heavy truck the owners manual tells you to not open the housing until the filter restriction indicator tells you to. I ran my Caterpillar powered truck on dusty construction sights and in dusty quarries for two years without the indicator calling for cleaning.

(quoted from post at 11:47:35 04/12/18)

(quoted from post at 02:27:27 04/12/18)

Should I try to get an original oil bath gas engine filter? Why?

Click to expand...

That depends on how you use the tractor. If just for mowing and pushing snow, the automotive type air filter will be sufficient.

If you are using it in a dusty environment, the oil bath filter offers less restriction and longer service intervals and self cleaning media - When the engine is shut down the oil that was being held in the wire mesh by the force of the air draft pulling it up drains back down into the cup and the small particles wash down with the oil. All the particles eventually settle to the bottom of the oil cup in the air cleaner.

Click to expand...

Bill, if the particles all fall down into the oil, how is it that when you pull the mesh out it is loaded with dried mud? This has been brought up here more than just a couple of times. And so far as service intervals, Bill, WHAT ARE YOU SMOKIN??? The sticker on the filter housing says to service daily, while on a heavy truck the owners manual tells you to not open the housing until the filter restriction indicator tells you to. I ran my Caterpillar powered truck on dusty construction sights and in dusty quarries for two years without the indicator calling for cleaning.

Click to expand...

I'm a firm believer in the oil bath. I have seen one of the Ford oil bath cleaners with dirt all up in the cleaner body. My uncle called me and said the tractor was blowing oil out the intake. It was pulling vacuum on the intake, let up on the start button, air would rush in and blow the oil out the top. I go to the tractor and pull the precleaner, its full of dried dust. I actually took the body apart to clean it. The only one I have ever seen that dirty. When the oil bath pan fills up with dust it starts pulling it into the cleaner body, then the engine. I just removed the bowl off a 600, it had not been cleaned in so long it was actually dry at the bottom of the pan with the oil above the dust line. I just dont like the water getting into them from the rain. You could make a paper bowl air cleaner with a precleaner cleaning it first. I know on some big Deeres they actually used the exhaust to pull dust out of the precleaner, it was leaving anyway.