| Author | Message | ||
     Dannyzuko |
I have been curious about the benefits of rerouting the breather lines to a catch can, but I am curious if anyone has actually ran a dyno test to prove the results of doing just that mod. I mentioned it to my dad and he said that the little blowback there is wont affect the engine. I told him that I read on here that people claim that it will increase hp up to 5hp.(My dad says bs but he would love to be proven wrong lol) | ||
| Firebolteric_ma |
i believe the dyno test was done by AL. only like a 2 horsepower gain give or take. i think it is due to getting the hot humid air from the heads breather away from the intake filter. allowing cooler air into the filter gives the bike that little bit of extra horse power. | ||
| Glitch |
Read this. I believe it'll answer your questions. | ||
| Firebolteric_ma |
there ya go..i stand corrected. still good reading such a test.. THANKS Glitch!  | ||
| Glitch |
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| Djkaplan |
"The only thing that mattered was removing the blowby from the intake, and anyone can do that for free. That gave a nice 1 to 2hp gain over a wide rpm range." I think it has more to do with not letting blowby and oil dilute the air/fuel mixture than a temperature difference. | ||
| Spatten1 |
Seems like two horsepower is a lot on a Buell, expecially on a cost/benefit basis. | ||
| Dannyzuko |
Thanks for all your responses! I might decide to do something cheap, but I cant see myself paying $130 for a catch can that will only give me 1-2 hp. | ||
| Jackbequick |
Here is my vision on something cheap. I did this on my M2 and put about 4,000 miles on it before I sold it. http://users.adelphia.net/~jackerbes//Buell/breather.html I made a similar one for the FXD that replaced the M2. Jack | ||
| Slaughter |
You can do what a lot of racers do - just route the hoses into a plastic bottle that is zip-tied out of the way somewhere. Cut the zip ties to dump and re-tie. Total cost less than $5. | ||
| Cereal |
I used a jar. Just cut a couple of holes in the top, two for the blowby and one for the breather. Painted it black and stuck it next to the battery. I dump it once a month and it has never been more that 1/10 full.  No, it has never come unscrewed.  Mounted the breather under the rear fairing.  | ||
| Pwnzor |
classic mod with the jar dude. Click HERE to see mine in another thread from a while back. (Message edited by pwnzor on August 01, 2006) | ||
| Whodom |
I noticed a while back that all sorts of catch cans are all over ebay for dirt cheap. For example: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/OIL-CATCH-RESERVOIR-TANK-CAN-SILVER-S2000-CIVIC-M 3_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33556QQihZ017QQitemZ270013293459QQrdZ1 Evidently they're the latest hot accessory for import "tuner" cars. Look like they'd work fine on a Buell. | ||
| Pupu |
i just tucked my hoses up and i wipe the drip every couple of weeks. didnt cost nothing and there is nothing cluttering up the bike. the drummer catch cans are nice, but it is more want than a need. | ||
| 99buellx1 |
But they're a work of art!  | ||
| Glitch |
But they're a work of art! Very well made. I have one just like that. | ||
| Diablobrian |
I have a Norris Performance/Drummer catch can, and I love it. The CNC work is very nice, and it is a perfect fit for the XBs. However the cheaper methods such as this one:  are just as valid of a solution to the problem. (the tubing is green, not the contents) but I'd advise using a longer vent hose with the breather mounted higher. | ||
| Cacciola |
why do i need a breather filter at the end of hose that comes out of the catch can?? is there any problem if there is no filter at the end of the hose? | ||
| Blasterd |
 Mine! | ||
| Diablobrian |
Why do you need a filter? Air can go both ways through the breather, despite valving, and you don't want to risk getting dirt in your crankcase. (Message edited by diablobrian on August 01, 2006) | ||
| Al_lighton |
"Air can go both ways through the breather, despite valving..." Nice Save  The breather valves are one of the real beauties of the XB design relative to the old XL design. The flapper valves in the middle rocker box slice on the XL lived in a harsh world there...continuously bathed in some of the hottest oil in the engine. And they were a minor PITA to replace. The XB lives in that relatively cool plastic PCV housing on the top of each rocker box. It's a much happier place. And if/when the flapper dies, it couldn't be easier to replace it. If it is in good repair, I'd bet there isn't a whole lot of dirt entering there..could be wrong, though. The other major reason for the filter is less that it is a filter, and more that it is a diaper. Your bike will mark its spot with just a raw hose end, but with the filter, you just need to clean it every now and again, it won't drip unless you let it get REAL bad.. | ||
| Diablobrian |
Thanks Al! <bow> Like you said the XB valves on the vents are good and easy to replace, but unfortunately all good things come to an end. I haven't seen any oil accumulating on my filter, but I have it on a long hose, so I guess the oil doesn't make it that far. Loop seals rock if you can keep the velocity down  A circle of hose (a fairing can hide a multitude of sins) has kept the oil from reaching the end of the hose. I held it in place with zip ties so I can pop them and drain the loop back to the catch can when needed. The loop is maybe 8-10 inches in diameter. My time as a Navy MM is paying off in several ways! | ||
| Jerseyguy |
Kevin sells them too, as a complete kit.  | ||
| Speedfreaks101 |
This is my setup. http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/32777/181083.html?1142180903 No need for a breather since the catch can itself is vented at the very top. | ||
| Typeone |
i took the super-simple approach, cost me like $12. T fitting connects the two breather lines underneath airbox base, drilled hole through base, capped off with a filter, plugged factory holes with rubber stoppers mounted from underneath. i get a tiny bit of spooge in the filter but i just swap it out for a new one every few months or so. i figured the stock config runs the lines vertically anyway, i just wanted them to vent outside the direct intake path.  | ||
| Glitch |
Nice! Good thinking. Looks cool too. Now all you need is a Kick Ash air box cover. | ||
| Firebolteric_ma |
where you have that breather element looks like a very nice and clean installation. if you were to get that breather away from the main filter you actually gain a little horse power. ask me how i know...  | ||
| Typeone |
i can't take credit for the idea saw a pic of something similar last year, but it seems to work fine. simple solution. its a little crooked in that photo, it actually sits fairly straight up, but is very close to the main filter. i extended the length of the lines underneath after that pic was taken. it was pulling a little 'cause they were short. why would moving it away produce more power, Firebolteric? curious. i figured as long as they weren't venting into the direct path (e.g. inside the filter like stock) i was pretty much accomplishing what i was after. i've tried a drilled inner box and didn't like it. noisy and down on torque a little. this setup has felt the best, so i've left it alone. always interested in more though.. . | ||
| Diablobrian |
turbulence in the airstream is bad for flow volume. That little filter is a much larger obstruction to flow than you would think. Kind of like the turn signals and mirrors affect on the aerodynamics of a motorcycle. They create far more drag than their size would indicate from an intuitive standpoint. | ||
| Firebolteric_ma |
The heads push the hot dirty air out of that small filter,(notice it smoking once in a while when idling) that air is oily, misty, and hot. That air is then sucked in by the air filter, which displaces the cooler cleaner air it could injest(sp?) into the motor. basicly cooler air produces more horsepower. it doesn't seem like much but it has been proven that moving it away from the air filter will indeed give 1-2 extra ponies. my profile picture has a similar set up. i'm doing the home made catch can thing this weekend while i have the bike apart. | ||
| Typeone |
hmm, i understand exactly what you guys are saying... just not sure it really is making all that much of a difference with my stock motor and minor intake/exhaust mods. i see no oily residue next to the little filter on the larger K&N and how much bad turbulence could really be occurring when the main direction of air (through that not-so-smooth frame hole) is going directly to the left-front of the main filter anyway? wouldn't the air funnel back into shape once through the filter due to the nipple on the cover and velocity stack design? turbulence outside of the filter would really effect things to a noticeable degree? not criticizing the comments, def appreciate them, just discussion. i really wouldn't be able to tell unless the setup was aerodynamically tested and placed on a dyno before/after for HP readings. having said all that... once i've got the spare cash, i want a Drummer catch can anyway. VERY nice piece of work. | ||
| Firebolteric_ma |
i hear ya, the gains are minimal and unless you were racing, trying to get every ounce of power out of the motor it seems not worth the time/effort. just food for thought, and good discussion. The Drummer is an excellent choice and is very nice looking! I am on the fence with buying one or not.  | ||
| Diablobrian |
You are correct that the effect is relatively small, but you are talking about basically "free HP" that you're leaving on the table. There are lots of small things that were done to my bike internally, and externally that have added up to quite a bit in sum. That's how you build almost any motor, by making samll improvements here and there that add up. Kind of like finding fuel 5 cents a gallon cheaper when you're filling up 200 gallon tanks on a Kenworth. It's only a nickle here and there but it all adds up. Do it a couple of times and you are talking about some real money. |
