Crankcase breather revisited

[GaryTheBadger]

Its been a few months since some of us modified the hose from the engine to the air box, to prevent oil entering the airbox, and for that purpose, its working. I do get oil in the clear plastic trap as expected. HOWEVER I am also getting oil soaking the small added metal mesh air filter, to the point where its now dripping onto the hot exhaust pipe directly below. Is there a fix for this? Anyone else having this issue? Aside from the smell, I assume this is a fire hazard?

 

[wyliec]

Its been a few months since some of us modified the hose from the engine to the air box, to prevent oil entering the airbox, and for that purpose, its working. I do get oil in the clear plastic trap as expected. HOWEVER I am also getting oil soaking the small added metal mesh air filter, to the point where its now dripping onto the hot exhaust pipe directly below. Is there a fix for this? Anyone else having this issue? Aside from the smell, I assume this is a fire hazard?

We may be talking two different things here; but, I have a Kobalt (mini air filter) and I had to seal the bottom push vent to prevent oil leaking out. I have what would have been Lamonster's earlier set up. Do you happen to have a picture of your set up?

 

[GaryTheBadger]

We are talking about the same thing, the Kobalt catch can and the small external air filter, as Lamont instructed us. The setup does prevent oil from entering the air box, the new issue is that some oil is getting past the Kobalt device, soaking the small air filter, dripping onto the hot exhaust pipe. I need to fix this before SpyderGene's big event in Missouri next month.

 

[Rando]

Contact krb1945 he sells a hose and filter that works well!

 

[GaryTheBadger]

Thanks Rando, I just wrote to Ken via that thread.

 

[boborgera]

I put a piece of foam in the crank case vent hose last year. No oil in the air box and no dripping I have 8 thousand + miles on this system.
11 thousand +total on the bike. Sometimes simple works. It's very similar to the first closed PVC valves used on car air cleaners.

 

[Neez]

I put a piece of foam in the crank case vent hose last year. No oil in the air box and no dripping I have 8 thousand + miles on this system.
11 thousand +total on the bike. Sometimes simple works. It's very similar to the first closed PVC valves used on car air cleaners.

I agree! I just changed out the foam in my hose, as I do at each service interval, and checked the airbox. Result: no deterioration of the foam, no oil in the airbox. Don't see any need for excess plumbing.

 

[Tom in NM]

no help here, but . . . . . .

. . . . . Gary, that is one FANTASTIC looking dog. Two in one. :thumbup:

Tom

 

[bjt]

I put a piece of foam in the crank case vent hose last year. No oil in the air box and no dripping I have 8 thousand + miles on this system.
11 thousand +total on the bike. Sometimes simple works. It's very similar to the first closed PVC valves used on car air cleaners.

I agree! I just changed out the foam in my hose, as I do at each service interval, and checked the airbox. Result: no deterioration of the foam, no oil in the airbox. Don't see any need for excess plumbing.

What foam are you guys using? I really want to do this but have a hard time finding foam I think will hold up to the chemicals and that won't plug up and cause other issues. I wanted to put something like a Scotchbrite pad in there but I was concerned with any displaced abrasive running through the engine. I've had no luck in finding the Scotchbrite pad material without abrasive imbedded in the material.

 

[bjt]

Its been a few months since some of us modified the hose from the engine to the air box, to prevent oil entering the airbox, and for that purpose, its working. I do get oil in the clear plastic trap as expected. HOWEVER I am also getting oil soaking the small added metal mesh air filter, to the point where its now dripping onto the hot exhaust pipe directly below. Is there a fix for this? Anyone else having this issue? Aside from the smell, I assume this is a fire hazard?

We are talking about the same thing, the Kobalt catch can and the small external air filter, as Lamont instructed us. The setup does prevent oil from entering the air box, the new issue is that some oil is getting past the Kobalt device, soaking the small air filter, dripping onto the hot exhaust pipe. I need to fix this before SpyderGene's big event in Missouri next month.

IMO, that style of catch can setup is not much different than what HDXBones did with the very long vent hose running up, over and back down towards the ground. It allows some of the oil to drain back into the crankcase, some is caught in the cup and whatever escapes is vented to atmosphere. With his, it drips on the ground. With the catch can and filter, it drips off the filter onto something else.

 

[ameobe]

What foam are you guys using? I really want to do this but have a hard time finding foam I think will hold up to the chemicals and that won't plug up and cause other issues. I wanted to put something like a Scotchbrite pad in there but I was concerned with any displaced abrasive running through the engine. I've had no luck in finding the Scotchbrite pad material without abrasive imbedded in the material.

Brian, you may want to ask Bajaron where he picked his up at. I do know you end up buying a lot more than you need.
http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=18008

 

[NancysToy]

What foam are you guys using? I really want to do this but have a hard time finding foam I think will hold up to the chemicals and that won't plug up and cause other issues. I wanted to put something like a Scotchbrite pad in there but I was concerned with any displaced abrasive running through the engine. I've had no luck in finding the Scotchbrite pad material without abrasive imbedded in the material.

Brian, PM me your address and I'll send you a chunk of Uni-Filter BF-1 air filter foam. It comes in 12" x 16" sheets, so I have more than I need. They also make some other colors and grades, for about $14 a pack. Made for motocross air filters, and holds up on the two strokes, so it should not deteriorate. That's what I used in Nancy's Spyder, but I don't have enough miles on it to fully evaluate the longevity. I don't care if I have to change it every 12,000 miles, to be honest.

 

[bjt]

Brian, PM me your address and I'll send you a chunk of Uni-Filter BF-1 air filter foam. It comes in 12" x 16" sheets, so I have more than I need. They also make some other colors and grades, for about $14 a pack. Made for motocross air filters, and holds up on the two strokes, so it should not deteriorate. That's what I used in Nancy's Spyder, but I don't have enough miles on it to fully evaluate the longevity. I don't care if I have to change it every 12,000 miles, to be honest.

Thanks, my concern is that I forget to check it and it plugs up. What do you think the consequences would be? Or is that filter sufficiently open celled that plugging up would be impossible?

 

[NancysToy]

Thanks, my concern is that I forget to check it and it plugs up. What do you think the consequences would be? Or is that filter sufficiently open celled that plugging up would be impossible?

The BF-1 is pretty fine, but I haven't experienced any plugging. I think the major cause of plugging (if you just stick it in the hose) is jamming in too much foam. It shouldn't be compressed or it loses many of its pores. One possible solution is to use BF-4 coarse foam, another is to put the foam in a cleanable, glass fuel filter canister, which will increase the cross-sectional area several times over that of the hose. Just add inspecting it to your oil change list, and you won't forget.

 

[boborgera]

Thanks, my concern is that I forget to check it and it plugs up. What do you think the consequences would be? Or is that filter sufficiently open celled that plugging up would be impossible?

:2thumbs:
I've been using a similar foam as Scotty 8 thousand + miles good as new.

 

[bjt]

... another is to put the foam in a cleanable, glass fuel filter canister, which will increase the cross-sectional area several times over that of the hose.

The Bajaron mod?

 

[NancysToy]

The Bajaron mod?

Yep.

 

[Neez]

What foam are you guys using? I really want to do this but have a hard time finding foam I think will hold up to the chemicals and that won't plug up and cause other issues. I wanted to put something like a Scotchbrite pad in there but I was concerned with any displaced abrasive running through the engine. I've had no luck in finding the Scotchbrite pad material without abrasive imbedded in the material.

Sounds like Scotty's going to fix you up with some foam, Brian. But to answer your question, I have been using a Suzuki dirt bike filter. It is a 1/2 inch thick and I cut it into 1/2 inch cubes with scissors. Cost $5 and will probably be a lifetime supply.

 

[WackyDan]

I have the kobalt and have tried numerous tweaks to keep it from venting actual oil to the breather... no luck... and Lamont found the same issue if i remember.

My problem this week is my Spyder is running crappy and is burping oil out that thing like it is free... It is literally being sucked out onto the panel through the panel vent.

 

[wyliec]

What is the I.D. and O.D. of that hose?