Ray, The ball valve assembly could not be easier to deal with, you just push it into the breather pipe. I found the flapper valve to be a little tricky, but it is not impossible to deal with Guzziology has a section on it. Rob Ray Hale wrote:
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:
Greg, I know what the breather box and flapper valve is but don't know about the ball valve, except that it's been stated on this list that it's "later model". So, is there a possibility of simply replacing the breather box with the ball valve, rather than all the disabling and rerouting and such? Understand I'm bringing this in with no knowledge of
one of these pieces at all and my suggestion may be incredibly naive, or
stupid even. But I can take it, and had to ask.
And, while we're at it...would an NOS breather box likely have these problems? Was it a problem from the get-go? I recall problems with this
on my G5. Looks to be the exact same breather, as I remember. Mine never
puked but certainly the tube was real wet all the time. Ray pax sine tedio 73 Eldo "19"