Air Filter Element

Bought my Townmate about nine months ago and been very happy with it, i use it instead of the car whenever i can (unless it's raining)  When i first bought it the first thing i done was change the oil, so i had peace of mind. It was (is) running so well i havn't looked at any other maintainence, but this week i thought i'd look at the air filter so that i'm getting the best possible MPG. Too my horror the filter foam element was crumbling into little bits, and probably been sucked into the engine, but it's never missed a beat so must have gone straight through. I would say it's never been replaced from new (16000miles). Got a new element on ebay for under a fiver, thicker than the original and you have to cut the shape out yourself. If you replace it, don't forget to soak the foam in engine oil and then squeeze it out.  The rubber carb' intake hose was a b**stard to refit as it had hardened with age, i'll have to look to see if Suttons have got a new one.

Suttons don't have any stock so I don't think they are available anymore. The trick is to heat the hose up in hot water before re fitting, it will soften it so as to make it easier to fit.

I use and old hair drier to heat the rubber pipe