Air Cleaner instead of Flame arrestor

[Darringer]

Can I run an air cleaner instead of the spark arrestor? Maybe a small chrome air cleaner with a washable filter. It's a 1985 Seaswirl 3.8 stringer. The reason is that I have a small amount of rust on my pulleys that shaves a tiny bit off of the belt that finds it's way into the flame arrestor and then the carb. I've cleaned them up but they get that way after winter storage. They clean up easily but I still get a small amount of buildup.

 

[matt167]

Re: Air Cleaner instead of Flame arrestor

In short no. USCG requirement and marine specification is to use a flame arrestor.. Instead, pull the pulleys off and sand/ prep them for paint. If your pulleys are eating your belts, adding an air cleaner is not the solution

 

[boobie]

Re: Air Cleaner instead of Flame arrestor

Agree + 1............

 

[rickryder]

Re: Air Cleaner instead of Flame arrestor

+2 :thumb:

 

[Reinell-BRXL-191]

Re: Air Cleaner instead of Flame arrestor

There are K&N filters that are flame arrestor certified... and can be used in a open element air cleaner...

If you want to ditch the ugly steel arrestor, you can

K N 59 3414 Marine Flame Arrestor | eBay

if you don't want to remove the pullies to clean them up, You can clean up the rough edges on your pullies by starting it, and then in a place where the belt doesn't touch, hold a sponge sanding block against it, and then spray with spray paint... if you are clutzy, this could be a dangerous procedure.. so don't attempt it...

 

[Bondo]

Re: Air Cleaner instead of Flame arrestor

There are K&N filters that are flame arrestor certified... and can be used in a open element air cleaner...

If you want to ditch the ugly steel arrestor, you can

K N 59 3414 Marine Flame Arrestor | eBay

if you don't want to remove the pullies to clean them up, You can clean up the rough edges on your pullies by starting it, and then in a place where the belt doesn't touch, hold a sponge sanding block against it, and then spray with spray paint... if you are clutzy, this could be a dangerous procedure.. so don't attempt it...

Ayuh,.... Agreed,... Seems to Me, that Fixin' the Problem, is a much Better answer that tryin' to bandaid it with a filter that could catch fire....

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: Air Cleaner instead of Flame arrestor

I have another question about this. If (a big if) this boat has a dog house, how did the belt rubber bits end up down the carb? There is no wind through a radiator like a car/truck blowing pieces back into the flame arrestor. Most the bits would be on the dog house from centrifugal force, wouldn't they?

 

[Darringer]

Re: Air Cleaner instead of Flame arrestor

I have done exactly what was mentioned, I cleaned the pulleys and repainted them. Have done that the past 3 winters. Just looking to see if there is more I can do. The boat sits out all of the time so the pulleys rust where the belts sand off the paint. I guess the reason It ends up in the carb is it gets sucked in during accel and high rpm cruise. Very little is on the doghouse, but there is a bit on the front of the motor. There probably is some turbulence from the air inlet and outlet on the sides of the boat, and even some from the alternator fan.

 

[bradb]

Re: Air Cleaner instead of Flame arrestor

if you don't want to remove the pullies to clean them up, You can clean up the rough edges on your pullies by starting it, and then in a place where the belt doesn't touch, hold a sponge sanding block against it, and then spray with spray paint.

This is bad advice. Good way to lose an arm, hand, finger or eye.

Take off the pulley, sand down to bare metal. Use a primer and paint. Make sure you are using the proper width belt.

 

[Reinell-BRXL-191]

Re: Air Cleaner instead of Flame arrestor

It is bad advice the way you quoted it, good job on removing the last sentence to make it seem like there wasn't a warning about the dangers of doing it - if you are clutzy, this could be a dangerous procedure.. so don't attempt it...

I have done this many times in the past, and it is safe for me...

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Air Cleaner instead of Flame arrestor

this could be a dangerous procedure.. so don't attempt it..

This is all you needed to say.

Only need to be a clutz once!

You have to remove the belts to paint the pulley anyway so do the job correctly and safely.

 

[airdvr1227]

Re: Air Cleaner instead of Flame arrestor

In skydiving we have a saying...'you need to be smarter than the piece of equipment you're trying to operate'. Seems like it would apply here...

 

[Artwerke]

Re: Air Cleaner instead of Flame arrestor

Lets see , hand holding sanding block about 1/2" from belt running into pulley, rough spot on pulley, hello "Stumpy".

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: Air Cleaner instead of Flame arrestor

Once they start to rust, they aren't ever gonna stop.
Go to any speed shop and get crome plated pully's.
The belt fragments get thrown as the pully's turn.
If you really want a quick fix.
The element you find in a wet/vac.
It's removable and cleanable.
The cover you use in the winter. It seems to be keeping the moisture in.
The deck,carpet(?) needs to breath.