Breather route

[barney 66]

Morning all, would anybody have any pictures of how they have run there breather pipes please, both rocker and crankcase and maybe catch can, ( not sure I really need that or not )
Here’s the reason I ask, after standing somewhere between 25-30 years I have put my Dads 1976 Strada back on the road after a good service, new tyres, Tappets adjusted 2 oil changes when hot after a few miles, 2 carb kits & balanced, timing belt, brakes checked and cleaned some wiring tidying and indicators fitted.
I have noticed after a 50 mile run and a 60 mile run it’s producing some mayo out of the breathers, not blocking them but front one leaves a bit on frame downtube and rear is poking out between swingarm and making a mess and some from crankcase as well, now the bike runs well starts first kick hot or cold, compression before 60 mile run yesterday when cold and awkwardly kicking while on centre stand on bike ramp (awkward) was about 145 on both cylinders, winter time I will pull heads and barrels but want to get a few more runs with my mate on his 1969 Honda CL350 so even if it’s short term would like to re route breathers to make it cleaner hopefully will get better, will do another oil change soon as well,

Thanks for looking
barney

[Steve Brown]

From your description the breathers are probably in the right place for a 76 model. Both rocker breathers go as you describe down towards the floor and the main crankcase breather ends under the left hand side panel. There should be at least 1 breather labyrinth in the main large tube, some bikes had 2 but mine came new with just the one, also a 76 model. The rocker covers have a small alloy labyrinth pushed into them and held secure by a small spring. It's worth pushing them out from above and washing them. They aren't very tight. It might take a while and a few engine oil flushes to cure the mayonnaise but it will return if you do a lot of small trips especially in wet weather! When you are confident the engine is healthy a good long run at high rpm will clear the stuff out (aka the famous Italian tune-up!), oh yes and some cheaper oils I've found seem more likely to emulsify.
If yours has a breather catch tank it's an owner addition.

[barney 66]

Thanks for the reply, no mine doesn’t have a catch tank so I won’t bother with that then.
The Oil I have been using is Morris Classic 20w 50 if you know of a better oil I’m willing to give it a try, I did clean the valves out in the rocker boxes & to be honest it was quite clean in there.
As for the high rpm run It gets that every time it goes out it seems to like it like that and sounds great, I reckon it’s one of the most fun to ride bikes Ive had, I am now trying to keep the runs at a min 10 mile+

Thanks again for taking the time to reply

[BumbleBee]

The crankcase breather labyrinth would be in the vertical part of the breather pipe in other words the part nearer to the crankcase.

[barney 66]

The crankcase breather labyrinth would be in the vertical part of the breather pipe in other words the part nearer to the crankcase.

Thanks, yes it is where you said

[barney 66]

Anybody know where is the best place to buy both sizes of clear breather pipe please ?
I am going to reroute to the rear of the bike just so it keeps the underneath of the engine cleaner

Thanks barney

[norbert]

Any garden or aquarium Shop that have the correct diámetro (18 mm?). Mine is from Gardena

[barney 66]

Any garden or aquarium Shop that have the correct diámetro (18 mm?). Mine is from Gardena

Great Thanks, will have a look

[norbert]

You'll need a Dremel to take out the labyrint of the old tube that probably will be hard

[barney 66]

You'll need a Dremel to take out the labyrint of the old tube that probably will be hard

Thanks again, was thinking heat gun and stanley knife, I’m actually thinking about pulling barrels off Today to take a peak at rings and bores, dipped oil Today and it’s down halfway between max & min in 140 ish mile, plugs not oily so guessing it’s thrown it out of breathers

Thanks barney

[barney 66]

IMG_1250.jpeg (416.88 KiB) Viewed 7061 times

Thought there would be a problem

[MickeyMoto]

You'll need a Dremel to take out the labyrint of the old tube that probably will be hard

Thanks again, was thinking heat gun and stanley knife, I’m actually thinking about pulling barrels off Today to take a peak at rings and bores, dipped oil Today and it’s down halfway between max & min in 140 ish mile, plugs not oily so guessing it’s thrown it out of breathers

Thanks barney

One of my Morini used to drop the oil to half way down dipstick then stabilise.

I bought a later breather box and run the outlets through a funnel to the chain. Not elegant, but practical.

The later bikes had spigots on the air filter box and the breather box outlet ran into the carbs for burning. Probably met some Californian emission rule.

[barney 66]

Thanks for the reply, I think I will run them to the rear of the bike eventually when I get new pipe, for now I will leave them where they are to keep an eye on it when I get it back together with new rings in it

Thanks barney

[Daddy Dom]

Slight diversion - the original sump plugs say use Castrol GTX on the bottom.

[Steve Brown]

Slight diversion - the original sump plugs say use Castrol GTX on the bottom.

They do, yes. It still does the job as well! 20w50 or 10w40 in the UK at least they suit our climate.