| Author | Message | ||
     Nextcorner |
OK, I've read a bunch of threads, and I've seen a couple of YouTube videos (1 video showed a bike that put on 150 mile run and pulled the plug on the breather mod to let out about a dime-sized splooge). After a hundred-thousand engine stokes, yes there is splooge build-up, but the small amount that comes out of the crank, stroke by stoke, does that small amount really cause any problems or performance issues by going back into the airbox? | ||
| Ds_tiger |
If you are looking for a scientific report on bearing life on the engine and related components- I doubt it exists. So you will need to take a personal and pragmatic approach to weather you "need" this item. I got one. The idea of the engine gulping that poo back into itself was too much for me to resist putting one on my bike- all things considered. Sometimes I get a 3" diameter puddle of goo, other times nothing- seems to be humidity and other (?) related dependent. Just one opinion on the matter, Bro! | ||
| Hughlysses |
Geoff- the best objective evidence I've seen for the benefit of the breather mod came from Al Lighton of American Sport Bike. Al says that they consistently see a measurable increase in HP on a dyno from bikes with the modification; ~2-3 HP IIRC. That's not a lot, but it's practically free. People regularly spend $300-$500 for an aftermarket exhaust to pick up 5-10 HP. (Message edited by Hughlysses on August 20, 2009) | ||
| Froggy |
The breather mod really helps with low RPM riding, you could ride comfortably at 1500rpm. | ||
| Andymnelson |
I think it depends A LOT on the motor. My XB9 seems to be real tight- it burns no oil, and I have never had any puddles or gunk in the airbox, so I have not bothered to do it. I think I would be much more inclined to reroute if there were a bunch of goo in my airbox. | ||
| Glitch |
After 65thousand+ miles on my XB9S, I've thought about the mod. I have the Drummer catch can mounted, but not hooked up. Not sure if I will or won't. The breather mod really helps with low RPM riding, you could ride comfortably at 1500rpm. Interesting. How often does one go that slow? | ||
| Nextcorner |
I think it's crazy how much HP you can gain for a few hundred dollars. So, according to average reports, my K&N airfilter, Jardine Exhaust, Modified ECM and (to do yet) breather mod: I should have a net gain of maybe 10-15 HP? All for under $400. That's 13% gain. | ||
| Nextcorner |
I'll probably do the breather mod. I know it doesn't hurt, and if American Sportbike is claiming Dyno gain, that's more reason to do it. I've heard nothing but positive comments about American Sportbike. Plus, with a homemade catch can and other supplies from local auto parts store, $35 isn't bad at all. | ||
| Froggy |
I often shift at 2500 or less, so pretty often. I ride it right down to idle. Its a little jerky at times but fine for putting around in traffic. | ||
| Teeps |
Froggy Posted on Thursday, August 20, 2009 I ride it right down to idle. Its a little jerky at times but fine for putting around in traffic. I doubt the jackhammer, like, jerking does the drive train any good, especially the final drive belt... | ||
| Vortec57 |
I've got one on my bike. Constantly getting "something" out of it. Sometimes looks like pure water, other times its a milky splooge. I'd rather not have my motor drinking water or splooge. | ||
| 1_mike |
Funny thing... IF..you don't open/clean the new breather canister everyday...it'll end up with garbage in it. With an engine in good shape...not worth the effort and money. IF...tyou have an engine that needs rings...yea, you can get a few more miles out of a bad running engine by removing the oil contamination from the intake. The condensation most see (with a drop of oil), will get sucked up in the first coupla miles after the first startup of the day...and just be dry air after that. OR...if you just drive a few miles at a time...and don't let the engine get to and hold running temperature for a miles...then yea, that may be a reason to spend the money. Want proof....put clear line in place of the black tubing. That way you can actually see what happens. 1. First start of the day - tan moisture/oil mix. (Oil and water DO mix!) 2. After the engine comes up to running temperature, the tube will go clear again. I've talked to Al in the past and respect his knowlege....BUT...2 to 3 hp....from WHAT? It's just air...and with a good OEM breather, the air should be oil free... Mike | ||
| Vortec57 |
With that said. My bike with 20K on it runs great, minimal oil usage and I doubt it needs torn down for work. I can empty the can at the beginning of a ride, and then empty it again in the middle of a ride if I want to. For me it cost 6 bucks in brass fittings and a 6 pack of corona for my welder. I fell it was money well spent. | ||
| Union_man |
I went with an OPEN breather re-route. Nearly free MOD!!! Less than 6ft of hose and two brass Y's...done! No can to empty, no gunk in the intake! MXer's have run open breathers forever with no problems. An added bonus...My bike marks it's territory! A small drop or ten is left behind...F*CK the EPA! | ||
| Al_lighton |
Several years ago, Aaron Wilson wrote an article for Battle2Win magazine, comparing different breather configurations on his S1. The man knows his way around a dyno, and knows when it's lying. His tests showed a few HP gain by routing the breathers out of the intake on his S1. I did some similar testing a few years back, and published it here. See http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/171 43/164053.html . Those tests also showed the benefit of getting the breathers out of the intake. The breathers vent crankcase blowby gasses back into the intake. Blowby is hot, Oxygen depleted, oil mist contaminated gas that when routed back into the intake, displaces what would otherwise be cold, oxygen rich air. I've heard that an engine with healthy ring seal has 2-5% blowby, but I've not been able to substantiate that. The gains we see would seem to correlate that, however. The healthier your ring seal is, the less benefit you get from routing the gasses out. It isn't always the case that you'll get these kind of gains on all engine types. A Buell XL or XB engine is a common crankpin design, with both pistons going up and down at the same time (slightly out of phase), so it is NOT a constant volume crankcase. There is substantial pumping out of the breather lines on the piston downstroke because of this. On an IL4 or parallel twin engine, one piston is going up while another is going down. The crankcase volume is constant, and there isn't any pumping OUT of the crankcase. In such engines, having positive draw on the crankcase can help evacuate the crankcase blowby gasses, and having less crankcase pressure can enhance ring seal. So the gains on that type of engine is likely less than on our engines. One of these days, I'm going to put a balloon on that crank vent and run the engine and film how fast that balloon fills. I think it would surprise folks how much is coming out of there. Al | ||
| Froggy |
Al, I would love to see that video when it happens.  | ||
| Delta_one |
+1 on the video | ||
| Ironheadsporty |
I am all for the reroute, i get at least a tablespoon out of mine each time i ride. I am running the stock muffler and MAP with the open airbox purchased from Al at American Sport Bike. | ||
| Firstbatch |
a pic of spooge drained into a water bottle from the drummer catch can after about 1500 miles on the Uly.....glad it did not go inside  | ||
| Aptbldr |
For your viewing pleasure, an S1 blows-up a balloon with its breather outlet: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fvpnnMhg_SM | ||
| Firstbatch |
That video made for a good morning laugh  | ||
| Jcbikes |
Hey I got an idea. How about using this method to fill a tire that you just plugged out on the road. No need top carry and air pump anymore!!! | ||
| 72sbc |
i was skeptical also, but i did the breather mod and it helped with the 1st gear bog termendously! that alone made it worth it, my rideabilty is better |
