Subject: RE: Drip, drip, drip.....
Author: Ray Hale
Date: Apr 30, 2005, 10:23 AM
Post ID: 1718791306
Greg,
great explanation. Thanks. Are you saying the ball valve upgrade is done
by swapping with the flapper inside the breather box rather than
removing the box and installing a separate ball valve assembly? Sounds
complicated, if so. Keep in mind I've never seen the ball valve.
Ray
pax sine tedio
73 Eldo "19"
Greg Bender wrote:
Hi Ray, Not a stupid question at all...I'm trying to figure this out, too :> The purpose of the breather is to allow excess pressure from the engine to escape. This excess pressure comes primarly from blow-by past the rings. So, the air is pushed up into the breather and carries with it a lot of oil in a mist. The purpose of the one-way valve, I think, is to open when there is sufficient pressure AND to not allow oil back in the way it came (although I don't see why that would be important). This applies to either the flapper valve or the ball valve. The breather box should not be removed as it also serves as an air-oil separator. Essentially, the air/oil mist get's pushed up into the breather and then the oil settles out and is able to return to the crankcase. If the oil from the mist is not reclaimed, the engine would run itself dry. All this being said, there are 3 pipes on the loop breathers. One pipe (which contains the valve) is where all the air/oil mist comes from. One pipe allows the oil to drain back to the crank case. And one pipe allows the air to be expelled to the atmosphere. My problem, if I understand it correctly, is that I'm getting substantial blow-by at my rings (my opinion now...to be confirmed when I get my leak-down tester). The breather is able to keep up under most circumstances, but becomes overwhelmed and can't keep up when I work the engine really hard. At this point, the crankcase is so pressurized that it may even be pushing oil up the oil return line (this is my suspision). I don't see any reason why a ball-valve can't be substituted for the spring loaded flapper valve as long as it is installed correctly...as it has been a mainstay for Guzzi for many years and a common upgrade. Ray Hale wrote:
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