TOPIC:

Hello.
When I was removing my 550's airbox the other day, the old petrified breather hose pulled out from the bottom. I got it back in after soaking the end in carb cleaner for a little while to soften it up, but it came out again as I was reinstalling the airbox. I think I'm just gonna install a breather filter or route a long clear tube out the back instead of trying to get the hose back in the hole with the airbox on the bike.

My question is, should I plug the breather hole on the bottom of the airbox?

Thanks.

Yes, cap it off. Air from the crankcase into the airbox does not get filtered.

OK, will do. Thanks for the info.

So with pods on, this breather just gets a hose with no filtration? I noticed some nasty white film coming from my breather...wtf?

Condensation. Roy

Agreed. And it's good that it's coming out the breather - it means you're starting to burn it off.

That breather is always an exit, so no worries about filtering. Just let it spew.

In cold weather, steam puffs out of the hose, but in real cold weather, it can get to be a white frothy mix of goo.

Remember, that's the stuff that used to go back into the carbs and engine. I prefer for it to spit out.

This whole post is disturbing.

Well oil change this weekend, plus fork seals and mc rebuild.
Im planning on using red rtv gasket seal to fix the valve cover gasket...any thoughts? Or should I order a gasket kit?

I just clean, scrape, vacuum, polish with 600 grit, clean, wipe, repeat, repeat, for hours, the valve cover mating surfaces. Then I use a new gasket, or make one from gasket material if I need it right away. Then I put a super thin coat of anti-seize on the bottom surface of the gasket. Then I can re-use the same gasket, and it comes off like new every time after (no more cleaning etc.) I re-used one at least 4 times over the last 13 years, and it's still holding oil tight, but probably due for a new one on the next lash adjustment.

Sometimes you may have to use a tiny, tiny bit of sealer on the cam end plugs. The 550's have a bolt through the end plugs so sealing is not a big problem there on the 550's. The early big-fours seemed to have a problem there.

I don't like the idea of using RTV around the whole valve cover. I always find big shards of it in the head when people use it.

Some have stated that the copper spray works well for making the gaskets reusable also.

Thanks guys, very helpful. Im going to just order a gasket and dust seals from Z1 ent. and not chance it. Id like to rock this old girl for a long time.
Last question..for now... Blue smoke on decleration? Head gasket? how much of a pita is it to replace on these? Going to search this on my own too!

No RTV. Just get a new gasket and install dry.