"We discussed the filter mods and the issue with the crankcase breather hose. He suggested, and I saw the results, to just run the hose to the secondary intake hose that's installed if you use the monster power kit from Highlifter. This keeps it A: out of the way and B: plumbs it to a spot where no mositure can enter, plus it provides a handy location for the breather. Makes me wonder why Honda didn't do it this way in the first place with the stock intake pipe."

I'm confused about the above, Joe. How did you fasten the crankcase breather hose to the air intake hose in such a way to ensure that no moisture would enter? If the air intake hose takes in water, what prevents that water from entering the crankcase breather hose? And can you still attach a crankcase breather filter to the end of the crankcase breather hose, or will it now be breathing in whatever dust and dirt comes through that air hose? If I understand you correctly, you had to cut a new hole in your air intake hose, provide a new connector to join the two hoses, then seal off an already useable hole in the airbox, and now you can't use a crankcase breather filter on the end of the crankcase breather hose.

With the previous suggestion, you use an already existing hole and connector, you can still use a crankcase breather filter on the end of the hose, and it remains above the water until the airbox is almost entirely full, in which case the engine won't run anyway.

Gordon Banks
Huntsville, AL
1999 450ES

[This message has been edited by GLBanks (edited 01-03-2000).]

 

I have a 98 450s that has the highlifter power kit, lift kit and 26" Vampires. This bike has been through the grind the first year that I owned it and now my 16 year old son is putting it through the grind and it has never had any repairs other than regular
maintenance. I strayed and bought a 600 Grizzly 5 months ago and tommorrow I'll be going back to the Dealer to trade it in on another 450 Foreman.

Honda best on earth!!

 

Whats wrong with the Grizz?

 

Gordon wrote:
((I'm confused about the above, Joe. How did you fasten the crankcase breather hose to the air intake hose in such a way to ensure that no moisture would enter? If the air intake hose takes in water, what prevents that water from entering the crankcase breather hose? And can you still attach a crankcase breather filter to the end of the crankcase breather hose, or will it now be breathing in whatever dust and dirt comes through that air hose?))

Gordon,

If I am not mistaken the crankcase breather hose is a positive style, not negative style,. That being the case, it should not matter where it's installed, as long as it's above any point of expected water ingestion. I haven't performed the mod yet. Come to think of it, I didn't look to see if there was an inline filter on the hose. As far as installation is concerned, just use a couple of plastic hose splicers, couple of clamps, drill a hole a couple of sizes smaller than the plastic splice and fit it to the hose.

I'll check with the guy as soon as I get the chance and report back when I can.


Joe

 

Back to the top fellas

------------------
Ride the "WILD COUNTRY" , South Gillies, Ontario, Canada. Y2K Honda 450ES The "BIGGER BIG RED"



[This message has been edited by atvbbs (edited 01-07-2000).]

 

"Gordon, If I am not mistaken, the crankcase breather hose is a positive style, not negative style,. That being the case, it should not matter where it's installed, as long as it's above any point of expected water ingestion. I haven't performed the mod yet. Come to think of it, I didn't look to see if there was an inline filter on the hose. As far as installation is concerned, just use a couple of plastic hose splicers, couple of clamps, drill a hole a couple of sizes smaller than the plastic splice, and fit it to the hose."

I'm not sure what you mean by "positive" and "negative" here. On my 300, 400, and 450, it's just a simple crankcase breather hose that expels air when the air inside the crankcase and transmission heats up and expands, and every time the piston descends. Air is also drawn in through this hose when the air inside the crankcase cools and contracts, and every time the piston rises. The stock airbox has a built-in crankcase breather filter just under the stock air filter, right at the bottom of the air box. This crankcase breather filter (a small piece of yellow foam in a black plastic box) has to be removed or relocated in order to install the larger K&N air filter. But regardless of the air filter used, I recommend relocating the crankcase breather filter to a higher location in the airbox, to help prevent water from entering the engine through the crankcase breather tube.

Gordon Banks
Huntsville, AL

[This message has been edited by GLBanks (edited 01-06-2000).]

 

"But regardless of the air filter used, I recommend relocating the crankcase breather filter to a higher location in the airbox, to help prevent water from entering the engine through the crankcase breather tube."


Gordon, I stopped by the local cycle shop again today (addiction you know) and spoke with the service manager and one of the techs there to see if we could determine on our own if it was a positive(pushing air OUT) or negative(vacuum) type crankcase ventilator. We reasoned...and this seems to make sense given the location in the airbox, it's a positive type. The filter, to me at least and the techs sort of agreed, is there to prevent the air filter from clogging with oil.

I see exactly what you mean about a push/pull relationship though. That does make sense too. But it also makes no sense to me to place a hose with a direct line to the crankcase in such an unprotected area. Honda had the foresight to place the intake snorkel high up near the tank, why would they place something just as critical so LOW in the air box.


In any event, it will be corrected, one way or another


Joe

 

"I see exactly what you mean about a push/pull relationship though. That does make sense too. But it also makes no sense to me to place a hose with a direct line to the crankcase in such an unprotected area. Honda had the foresight to place the intake snorkel high up near the tank, why would they place something just as critical so LOW in the air box."

Frankly, I question that wisdom too. But if you think that's bad, consider the fact that some machines require removing the gas tank just to get at the spark plug!

I'm certain that the crankcase breather hose is a two-way breather, both because of simple logic, and because while the engine is running, you can feel the positive and negative pressure pulses with your finger. Furthermore, engines utilizing one-way breather hoses will have TWO such hoses, one for intake and one for exhaust. One way or another, you have to allow for both.

By the way, I tried using an elastic bulb on the end of the breather hose to make it a totally sealed crankcase system, but the expanding and contracting bulb kept breaking, and it was too noisy anyway (up until it broke).

Gordon Banks
Huntsville, AL
2000 Honda XR400R
1999 Honda 450ES 4x4
1997 Honda 300 4x4
1947 Body

[This message has been edited by GLBanks (edited 01-07-2000).]

 

Guys, the obvious solution to the crankcase breather problem is (drum-roll, please): Twin cylinders with a 180-degree crank!

Yes! Constant crankcase volume! Like the fabulous Honda Hawks and Super Hawks of yesteryear!

Tree Farmer

 

The ever eloquent Tree Farmer so neatly opined I nearly sought professional, medical assitance:

((Guys, the obvious solution to the crankcase breather problem is (drum-roll, please): Twin cylinders with a 180-degree crank!Yes! Constant crankcase volume! Like the fabulous Honda Hawks and Super Hawks of yesteryear!))


Ok Tree...what chance is there I can stuff a horizontally opposed 2 cylinder engine in my Foreman? Actually...it would become a Foreman S Boxer....interesting, very interesting.


Joe