Technical O’Brien Truckers Tri Power Air Cleaners

You get them yet?

 

Good info! Thanks!

 

Rats! I really like your choice. I recently bought these that I really like from OTB Gear, but I like your choice even better.

John

 

I received my Obrien Truckers Edmunds air cleaners and they are nice looking but in my typical fashion I don't like the way they are put together and the screen the filters are wrapped with.
They're wrapped with 2 layers of different screen and they are awkward to take apart and put back together which will happed when you want to clean the washable filters.

So, I picked up some materials and will create something that will work much better. Details to follow

 

I agree, I ended up just taking the screens out and went with just the filter. Interested in your solution. Post it when it’s done.


Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

I finally sorted out the air cleaner screen situation.

As you may be aware I have woven stainless steel mesh in my grille as an insert and I also have stainless mesh in my Boling bros Lincoln front brake backing plate vents.

So I picked up some woven #8 stainless steel mesh and proceeded to cut it and weld it into sleeves to cover the air filters allowing easy assembly and cleaning the filters when needed.

Anyone ever try to weld .023 wire diameter stainless steel mesh with a TIG machine?


Are we having fun yet

In any case setting the machine up for a low temperature pulse of about 15-20 amps at a very small duration pulse and a full arc off cycle between pulses every 3 seconds did the trick.

And I do mean trick
Almost like magic because do the wrong thing and there’s no mesh anymore

Another thing about woven mesh is that after you cut it you can unravel it without too much trouble as the strands at the edges aren’t well secured.

So if you look close you will see that each vertical wire mesh strand has been welded to the top and bottom wire of the sleeve making sure they won’t come unraveled.
There are 109 vertical strands on each sleeve

I’m pleased with the results, here are pictures for your viewing pleasure.

 

Very nice !

 

X2

 

Does it run better now?

 

Those turned out really nice

 

I like those . Kudos.

 

Yes it certainly does. Running really nicely and breathing as it should.

 

I know how frustrating it can be to chase a problem, so I'm glad your changes worked well for you. I plan to run a 2x4 set up on top of a 500 Cad with ported heads and bigger valves. One of the things I have been concerned about was that certain breathers that I like might restrict the air intake and negate the modifications. You have demonstrated that those concerns are valid, so I will be taking a better look at what breathers I use.

 

Hadn't been back to this thread till now and thought I'd address the window screen and 1/4" chicken wire we wrap the red element in.
I didn't actually choose the screen/wire wrapping - I copied it. Those are the materials used on the original Eddie Edmunds air cleaner that I had to go by when I designed my updated version. And that is all the original Edmunds air cleaner used - just the screen and chicken wire - no element whatsoever inside. Not something I was willing to sell with such better choices available in today's world. So you have Eddie to thank for that outer wrap.
I went with that and then had a cotton gauze element made to fit inside the screen / wire to protect today's higher tolerance (and expensive) motors.
The good news is that the screen/wire combo does a good job of hiding the "modern" red element inside.
Tech tip for when you disassemble the A/C for cleaning: when you reassemble the element/screen/wire "subassembly". double wrap a standard 1/4" wide rubber band around the top and the bottom to keep everything tightly wrapped, start your stud a half turn into the strap across the base, put in the element assembly and then start screwing the cover on to stud. That should work pretty well.
Another thing I always point out. If you're using these on Rochester carbs, throw away my stud and cut a piece of 1/4-20 all-thread rod to screw into the carb and reach up to go into the threaded bung on the bottom of the cover. The lip on the top of the Rochester is VERY short and not made to be used with an air cleaner with a set screw - it's just tall enough to "locate" the air cleaner and keep it concentric with to carb. All factory Rochester air cleaners are attached to a stud that goes down into the carb and is just about guaranteed to not fall off while you're going down the street.

Dennis O'Brien www.obrientruckers.com

 

So Dennis, did you see the final screens I fabricated for my air cleaners ?

 

Yes I did and they are way above my welding pay scale - real works of art. 327 welds for the tops and bottoms - plus the three vertical seems - WOW! That would certainly raise the price of my air cleaners slightly!!!!
Can I send guys your way?