Hmmm. I've taken the air filter off several times, and haven't run into this issue. I think you have to be patient lining everything up before you clamp it down.

BTW, I modified that "snorkel" that intrudes into the airbox. I noticed that only an 1/8th of the air filter had any dirt on it. I just took a sawzall and cut most of that thing off. I'd like to increase the size of the opening that goes out into the fender, but haven't figured out a clean method yet.