Crankcase breather removal.

[Mr Gazza]

Thank you DD and Rob for your useful info.

I do have a replacement, which is the reason for the removal.

The new one is alloy and does have a hex inside the tube.

The original has the external flats. So I guess that makes it an all plastic one.

Carl very sensibly did not give it the big heave ho, as his experience told him that it might bust, and there was no particular pressing need to get it off at the time.

Just need to find a suitable box spanner, or possibly an oil filter gripper and hope for the best...Good to know about the "shelf". If it does bust at least I can push some plasticene or somat down the 'ole to stop bits going in when I chop the rest out.

Why on earth would anyone bond it in? It can't turn with a pipe clipped to it.

Anyone know of a proper tool? (for the breather....)

[Dukedesmo]

Originally Posted by Mr Gazza

Why on earth would anyone bond it in? It can't turn with a pipe clipped to it.

To stop it leaking? I use threebond on the threads, although that won't bond it but I wouldn't be surprised to see some kind of Loctite.

The flats on the plastic breather will likely deform with a spanner so an oil filter removal band maybe the neatest option.

I would suggest your man didn't want to force it for fear of damaging the flats rather than it actually breaking off inside as they are quite thick/sturdy but if you're not worried about the cosmetics then using a pipe wrench/big grips should shift it. There just there isn't much room around it, especially on the air cooled engines (much more room on a fin-less water cooled).

Here are a couple of pics that might help'

View from above showing the 'shelf';



Inside view (top right);



Although you may not want to go quite this far!!