TM 5-3895-359-14&P
AIR CLEANER
The air cleaner is designed to remove foreign matter
comparatively clean air. The most satisfactory service
from the air, pass the required volume of air for proper
period should be determined by frequently inspecting
combustion and scavenging, and maintain their
the air cleaner under normal operating conditions, then
efficiency for a reasonable period of time before
setting the service period to best suit the requirements
requiring service.
of the particular engine application, The following
maintenance procedure will assure efficient air cleaner
The importance of keeping dust and grit-laden air out of
operation.
an engine cannot be over-emphasized since clean air is
so essential to satisfactory engine operation and long
1. Keep the air cleaner tight on the air intake pipe to the
engine life. The air cleaner must be able to remove fine
engine.
materials such as dust and blown sand as well as coarse
materials such as chaff, sawdust, or lint from the air. It
2. Keep the air cleaner properly assembled so the joints
must also have a reservoir capacity large enough to
are strictly air tight.
retain the material separated from the air to permit
operation for a reasonable period before cleaning and
3. Repair any damage to the air cleaner or related parts
servicing are required.
immediately.
Dust and dirt entering an engine will cause rapid wear of
4. Inspect and clean or replace the air cleaner element
as operating conditions warrant. In the dry type cleaner,
valve mechanism resulting in a loss of power and high
it is possible to clean and reuse the element several
lubricating oil consumption. Also, dust and dirt which is
times as long as the paper is not ruptured in the
allowed to build-up in the air cleaner passages will
process.
eventually restrict the air supply to the engine and result
in heavy carbon deposits on pistons and valves due to
5. After servicing the air cleaner, remove the air inlet
incomplete combustion.
housing and clean accumulated dirt deposits from the
blower screen and the inlet housing. Keep all air intake
passages and the air box clean.
Air Cleaner Mounting
The air cleaner assembly is remotely mounted on the
6. Where a rubber hose is employed, cement it in
right hand side of the engine hood and is connected to
place. Use a new hose and hose clamps, if necessary,
the air inlet housing by air tight ducts.
to obtain an air tight connection.
Air Cleaner Maintenance
7. Carefully inspect the entire air system periodically.
Although the air cleaner is highly efficient, this
Enough dust-laden air will pass through an almost
efficiency depends upon proper maintenance and
invisible crack or opening to eventually cause damage
periodic servicing.
to an engine.
Damaged gaskets, loose hose connections or leaks in
Dry Type Air Cleaner
the duct work, which permit dust-laden air to completely
The Donaldson dry type air cleaner shown in Fig. 1. is
bypass the cleaner and enter the engine directly, will
designed to provide highly efficient air filtration under all
lower the efficiency of the air cleaner. If the air cleaner
operating conditions. The cleaner has a replaceable
is not serviced periodically, the engine will not receive a
impregnated paper filter element that can be cleaned.
sufficient amount of clean air.
The fins on the element give high speed rotation to the
No set rule for servicing an air cleaner can be given
intake air, which separates a large portion of the dust
since it depends upon the type of air cleaner, the
from the air by centrifugal action. The plastic fins, the
condition of the air supply, and the type of application.
element and the gasket make up a single replaceable
An air cleaner operating in severe dust will require more
element assembly.
frequent service than an air cleaner operating in
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