Subject: RE: Drip, drip, drip.....
Author: Greg Bender
Date: Apr 30, 2005, 1:47 PM
Post ID: 1718791933
Okay, armed with the knowledge of those who have gone before me, and a
little warriness on my part, I set out to disable the flapper valve and
replace it with the ball valve. Here's my tale...
Removed the breather and had a look up the pipes...the largest diameter
pipe is the one that contains the flapper valve. I checked it with a
screwdrive and it seemed to work fine. I blew in it and it also seemed
to work just fine. But, says me, I've got this nifty new ball valve just
begging to be installed. So, out comes a hammer and screwdriver and I
easily disable the old spring loaded flapper valve.
As I look inside, I can see the spring that held the flapper valve
closed. I tip the breather upside down and the spring falls into my
hand. Easy.
Now for the flapper itself...it is very similar to a fender washer and
is larger in diameter than any of the pipes. There was nothing holding
it in place and is now freely rattling about the breather as I shake it.
Hmmmm...do I really need to get it out of there?
I lie down on my back on the garage floor with the breather in one hand
and a flashlight in another hand. I start rattling and shaking the
breather and, low and behold, I can get the flapper to block pipes.
I'm really not concerned about the large inlet pipe, as incoming air
pressure will simply move the flapper out of the way. Furthermore, the
inlet pipe sticks up above the base of the breather - so I doubt it
would ever get popped on top of there.
But, the smallest pipe - the oil return line - is flush with the bottom
of the breather. I can easily rattle the breather around and get the
small pipe completely blocked. This would be disasterous on the road as
all of the oil pumped into the breather would be expelled to the
pavement...in a hurry. This may not be likely, but it certainly could
happen.
I try - in vane - to remove the flapper. I just can't get a good grip on
it with any of my needle nose pliers. Plus, it's pretty thick metal
(like a washer) and would be very difficult to bend and then pull out.
At this point I'm pretty much convinced that I've just trashed my
breather. So, I do want any curious loop-o-phile would do. I cut the
breather open with a hacksaw and take a look inside. :>
I'll have photos on my website sometime next week. In the meantime, I'll
be riding the Quota and getting my dialing fingers ready to call Gordon
and Rick first thing Monday morning.
Since I'm in the market for a new breather, can anyone tell me why I'd
want to spend $120 on the Agostini Competition breather kit over the $45
stock replacement?
Regards,
Greg Bender
1971 Ambassador
2000 Quota
http://www.thisoldtractor.com/gtbender
Florida MGNOC website
http://www.thisoldtractor.com/fl_mgnoc
Minnesota MGNOC website
http://www.thisoldtractor.com/mn_mgnoc