Breather box

joemama · Post by **joemama** » Sun Jan 08, 2006 3:41 am

On my 1914, I have kept the breather stock, routing from the stock oil filler to the air filter, and also it vents through the road tube. This has been satisfactory when putting around town, and I like the look. However, when driven hard (climbing dunes), there seems to be enough pressure build up that some misting is occuring, drips out of the road tube, gets over the skid plate, etc., mixes with sand/dust, makes a mess, and I am tired of cleaning it all up. What kind of breather set ups are others using? are you venting the valve covers, and if so, what size hose are you using for that? What benefits have you seen? Thanks in advance.

allen pierce · Post by **allen pierce** » Sun Jan 08, 2006 7:42 am

Here's my set up on my 1914.

Valve covers are vented to oil filler, with a small air filter on top. 1/2" clear reinforced plastic hose from Lowe's.

newmanx59 · Post by **newmanx59** » Sun Jan 08, 2006 1:20 pm

I have the same breather setup as Allen but I have a hose from the bottom of the breather box to the fuel pump block off to drain the oil from the breather back to the engine. I also packed the breather with copper mesh it seperates the oil from the air vapor and allows it to run back into the engine.

Don't hook a hose to the top of the aircleaner like the photo shows. This was an experiment that failed. That little hose managed to syphon 2 1/2 quarts of oil out of the crankcase and into my running engine via the carburetor as I was driving down the hiway at 60mph. It only to about 20 seconds. There was raw oil running out the muffler. The huge cloud of smoke was pretty cool. I was amazed it didn't foul any plugs.

joemama · Post by **joemama** » Sun Jan 08, 2006 9:26 pm

Thanks, guys. I like your vent/filler combo. I know a while back there was a post about where its available from, but if you dont mind posting it again? Does it come as a complete kit, with fittings for the valve covers, or did you just use barbed fittings from the hardware store?

allen pierce · Post by **allen pierce** » Sun Jan 08, 2006 11:00 pm

If I remember correctly, NewManx59 (Jerry) was a little surprised that I got mine at Kustom1, as it's a CB Performance product and I guess in the past it was only sold by CB (old Claude's Buggies), but there it was, just hanging on the wall behind the counter. Cost $59. I thought mine was an aftermarket unit, but after looking over my receipts, it's genuine CB. If you get one, check the breather cover for sealing, as Jerry said he had to mill his breather body flat for the "O" ring in the cover to seal properly. The little air filter can be usually purchased at the same time, I think it was about $5-8. Fittings for the valve covers were included. Some barb fittings were also included, as well as plugs (that breather box has a lot of holes, more than you need), I also used some barb fittings to make it "just the way I wanted it". If you use the holes on the bottom of the breather box, when you add oil, it tends to have some go down that hose, so I just the plugged the bottom ones up. Oh, one thing I didn't mention, is to vent the valve covers at the front, NOT the back, as the theory states... you're under hard acceleration, more than your under hard deceleration, thus any oil in the valve cover area will not be sucked up into the vent tube most of the time. Just what I was told. So, drill the hole in the front end of valve cover towards the top, highest flat spot, before it curves along the top. Use your favorite choice of sealant to keep leak free. I still haven't found any of that copper mesh, Jerry mentioned. I'll keep looking.

newmanx59 · Post by **newmanx59** » Sun Jan 08, 2006 11:09 pm

I bought the copper mesh at a Walgreens Drug store. It is actually copper scouring pad. I think it cost about $2.00.

allen pierce · Post by **allen pierce** » Mon Jan 09, 2006 2:47 am

OK, that might help. I've been hitting every hardware store and speciality shop in a 300 mile area (just kidding on the size). Thanks.

Siggymanx33 · Post by **Siggymanx33** » Fri Jan 13, 2006 10:08 pm

Jerry, I ordered the CB Breather/oil fill that you have pictured and I have a question. If I didn't tap the bottom like you did would there just be oil sitting in the bottom of the canister? I looks as if you don't have the unit tapped, oil is just going to sit in that mini sump? Any problem with that?

allen pierce · Post by **allen pierce** » Fri Jan 13, 2006 11:02 pm

I don't have mine the same way as Jerry does. Sure, a little oil, about 1/8" deep (maybe a 1/4" at the most), will accumulate in that lower section of the breather box. It's probably about a fluid ounce or so. If more than that gets there, like when filling oil, it just runs over the ring fastner into the case. That little amount of oil is not a big deal, in my opinion, but maybe others have different ideas. Here's a pic of the copper scrubbers I found at Walgreens. ($1.99 for two) Jerry, thanks for pointing me to that speciality parts store (Walgreens). Guess we now know how much house cleaning I do, huh?

newmanx59 · Post by **newmanx59** » Sat Jan 14, 2006 5:12 am

I agree with Allen, there is no absolute need to tap the bottom for a drain. I look at it as another way to vent the case and if oil wants to drain back thru it, it can.

Allen, I'm glad your copper scrubber search has finally come to a positive conclusion.

Mvovr · Post by **Mvovr** » Sat Jan 14, 2006 5:15 pm

Jerry are you basically just venting at the filler? You have no tubes from the valve covers...is that corect? I would love to plug my valve cover holes and switch to that system. Those dang tubes I have leak leak leak!!!!!!

newmanx59 · Post by **newmanx59** » Sat Jan 14, 2006 6:37 pm

You are correct, I don't have my valve covers vented, yet. Since I removed the hose from the breather to the air cleaner I am seeing a need for more venting and I will have the valve covers vented before Spring. I plan to run a Bugpack style breather in the back of the fan shroud for the valve cover vents then I will likely tie it into the top of the CB breather. I typically weld the hose nipples into the valve covers to make sure they don't leak. The bolt in nipples that come with the breathers are junk, they are not long enough either.

Gene-C · Post by **Gene-C** » Sat Jan 14, 2006 10:12 pm

On my sandrail with a 1915 with dual 40 Webers I run a breather box on the back of the fan shroud with a hose going to each rocker caver, then I have a hose from the oil filler to a fitting in the top of one of the carb air filters, centered over the velocity stack.......have never had a problem with pulling oil up to the carb......basiclly this is the way a stock VW breather system works....... :2cents: The air ENTERS thru the breather, goes THRU the engine, then OUT to the air filter, thru the carb & burned off...... :driving:

Mvovr · Post by **Mvovr** » Sun Jan 15, 2006 4:07 pm

Cool thanks for the info guys. Looks like my next project at hand.

Siggymanx33 · Post by **Siggymanx33** » Sun Jan 15, 2006 5:04 pm

What would be the best way to effectivley tie in the valve cover beathing with the CB breather?