It is interesting that you should mention this...here is my related situation...
My Ambo: When I put together my Ambassador, I had some used LA sleeved cylinders, used pistons, and new rings. I used them. My compression is - in my opinion - low at 130 PSI on each side. My heads have been done properly and - as soon as my leak down tester arrives - I'll be checking how much air is getting past my rings.
My Problem: I checked the oil last Saturday before my ride and found it was significantly low. I also noticed a lot of oil residue just behind my breather tube outlet...indicating that perhaps a lot of oil had been pushed out the belch tube. So, I decided to see what was up. I added an extension to my breather tube and ran it to a catch bottle (just a clear water bottle I zip-tied to the bike). I went out on a great 400 mile ride and kept close watch on the bottle. Not even a drop after 300 miles. Then, I started running the engine pretty hard (80 in forth with the throttle wide open against the wind for a bit and then high RPM's in third). When I next glance down at the bottle, it's 2/3 full!
So this get's me thinking about the entire breather set up and I noticed an interesting thread on the Australian Guzzi news group. Rather than repeat it hear, I'll just provide the link:
At this point, I'm going to disable the flapper valve inside my existing breather and utilize the later model ball valve. I'm also going to do a leak down test as soon as my tester arrives. If I find significant leakage, I think I'll just go the Nikisil route and see how far that get's me. One thing is for sure, I at least ought to be able to run 80 MPH in third gear to pass someone without worrying about dropping a half a quart of oil on the pavement.
Lannis wrote:
Well, the '75 Eldo is running fine, regular shots of WD40 up the clutch drain slot are keeping the drag and grabbing under control, to the point
that I'll probably ride it to the National as is without changing the clutch, I've been buried in my BSA rebuild taking all my shop time lately.
I've got a question. The bike is fairly oil-tight, no leaks around gaskets or from seams. However, when I stop after a 20-mile or more ride, a few drips of oil, enough to make a spot the size of an old silver dollar, drip from the crankcase breather tube. Now the breather vents from the cases, up into an oil separator right behind the generator, and then down under the bike. It's not much, matter of fact I changed the oil tonight (1500 miles) and it hadn't lost half-a-pint since the last change, hardly enough to notice on the dipstick.
But I park in the same spot at work every day, and these spots start to add up. Plus they make a mess in my shop after a few weeks.
Is there a Loopframe version of "Depends" that I can use for this thing?
Should the breather line be run upwards with a filter on the end or something? I would think that the oil separator would do the trick but apparently enough vapor condenses to make a difference. Do we just put up with it or has someone got a clever solution.....???