Author Topic: how much is too much blowby? (video included) (Read 4427 times)

andy8190 · « **on:** May 11, 2009, 05:40:17 PM »

Just wondering how much blowby in the breather tube is too much. Not sure if the video helps but though i would include it
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cant really see it all in the video but it was a lot more earlier. 1974 cb550

Gordon · « **Reply #1 on:** May 11, 2009, 05:51:28 PM »

I don't see anything coming out.

There shouldn't really be anything but fumes coming out of there, though, and shouldn't be much of that either.

andy8190 · « **Reply #2 on:** May 11, 2009, 05:52:58 PM »

i will take a better quality video of it from my laptop later on tomorrow. just wanted to get opinions on this video first

heffay · « **Reply #3 on:** May 11, 2009, 05:54:20 PM »

i can see it... that's not horrible and mine does that a good deal after a high speed run then coming to a stop, but if you feel so inclined... tear it apart. you know you want to.

andy8190 · « **Reply #4 on:** May 11, 2009, 05:57:48 PM »

thats just it, i am praying i dont have to replace the rings, that is beyond my scope right now and i just want to be able to ride it to work and back this summer, bout 20 miles one way
but pretty sure they are bad, i plan on checking the plugs tomorrow to see what they look like after the ride today

heffay · « **Reply #5 on:** May 11, 2009, 05:59:33 PM »

does the motor sound and run like a healthy motor?
if so... I wouldn't worry much, right now at least.

andy8190 · « **Reply #6 on:** May 11, 2009, 06:01:40 PM »

not sure, i updated the "do i sell this or get it fixed" thread with a long video of it running. It seems to ride ok though.

heffay · « **Reply #7 on:** May 11, 2009, 06:02:24 PM »

so its got some problems is what you're saying.

andy8190 · « **Reply #8 on:** May 11, 2009, 06:03:47 PM »

i was having issues with it yes, seemed to get most of those out though.
When replacing rings can you do that without boring the cylinders or do you have to some?

heffay · « **Reply #9 on:** May 11, 2009, 06:08:12 PM »

'most' of the time boring is not needed... you could get by w/out honing the cylinders but that's a cheap and easy job so I would recommend doing it or getting it done.

andy8190 · « **Reply #10 on:** May 11, 2009, 06:20:41 PM »

yeah i knew honing is a pretty essential process. So got any recommendations on what to do with the hose since it smokes, route it towards the ground with another hose on it, or put a filter of some sorts on the end? I dont really want to go through all the trouble of hooking up the original breather setup because i dont have all the needed parts and dont want to purchase them all

heffay · « **Reply #11 on:** May 11, 2009, 06:32:32 PM »

you're answering your own questions.

andy8190 · « **Reply #12 on:** May 11, 2009, 06:35:33 PM »

how do the little breather filters you put on the end work? they eliminate the smoke or what?

Gordon · « **Reply #13 on:** May 11, 2009, 06:44:07 PM »

Quote from: andy8190 on May 11, 2009, 06:35:33 PM

how do the little breather filters you put on the end work? they eliminate the smoke or what?

I think the main purpose for putting a breather filter on is to keep things from getting into your engine, but if you have oil coming out of the breather it will clog up any filter pretty quickly.

andy8190 · « **Reply #14 on:** May 11, 2009, 06:49:48 PM »

ok. So if I do have bad rings what i will have to do is just keep replacing plugs when they go bad until i get the rings fixed correct?

andy8190 · « **Reply #15 on:** May 12, 2009, 11:32:55 AM »

anyone got an answer to this one today?

MCRider · « **Reply #16 on:** May 12, 2009, 11:45:33 AM »

Quote from: andy8190 on May 11, 2009, 06:49:48 PM

ok. So if I do have bad rings what i will have to do is just keep replacing plugs when they go bad until i get the rings fixed correct?

yeah, pretty much. I've had some luck cleaning plugs, spray with contact cleaner, stiff brush and put em back in.

For your breather tube, a proper fix is the engine work. But short of that, we used to have to run breather tubes into a "catch can" when we raced. That could be anything, like a small OJ can, or V8, taped or tiewrapped to a frame rail. Rather do that and leave it open to do its job, than put a filter or semi plug on it. Then empty the catch can once in a while.

Besides you can tell everyone you're getting prepped for a track day.

andy8190 · « **Reply #17 on:** May 12, 2009, 11:48:33 AM »

ok sounds good

brianzenk · « **Reply #18 on:** May 12, 2009, 11:59:19 AM »

I have a CB550 1976. Be sure to get new filter material inside the air box, a small retangular foam shape. There are two tubes out of the air box. One is on the back side of the air box toward the engine, that is an overflow if gas spills out of the carb, Hondas design to keep gas from filling the engine. The other one is located under the air filter. I keep both of them plugged and afer a ride I dump out the moisture. When I first got the bike the tube was completely plugged and had to be replaced. There is usually a stream of vapor blowing out of it but that is normal. I keep it plugged because from origianl diagrams it was plugged. I probably should keep the overflow tube thats closest to the engine unplugged but I found that it sucks in to much air while I was balancing the carbs and it runs better plugged.

andy8190 · « **Reply #19 on:** May 12, 2009, 12:22:23 PM »

thats if you are running the original blow by system correct? i am not because i dont have all the parts needed so the blowby just goes into the air

brianzenk · « **Reply #20 on:** May 12, 2009, 12:32:43 PM »

yes it was the original air system. The tube was rotten when I pulled it out of there I found that there was a fitting in there. I did not see it originally but managed to install a new tube on the fitting. I really need a frind with tiny hands to work in those areas of the bike that are impossible to get to. replacing that tube was one of those projects. The only draw back I see leaving it open to the air is the oil in the vapor making a big mess on whatever it lands on.

MCRider · « **Reply #21 on:** May 12, 2009, 12:33:55 PM »

I saw the mist at the beginning of your vid. Too much, to answer your question. If t'were mine, I'd throw some Marvel Mystery Oil or SeaFoam in it per the label. Gas and oil. Couldn't hurt.

And the catch can.

andy8190 · « **Reply #22 on:** May 12, 2009, 12:39:03 PM »

so should i put seafoam in it at all times or just a few times? Anyone know where to get tubing to use as the breather hose so i can get a longer one to route farther down towards the swingarm?

MCRider · « **Reply #23 on:** May 12, 2009, 12:48:41 PM »

Quote from: andy8190 on May 12, 2009, 12:39:03 PM

so should i put seafoam in it at all times or just a few times? Anyone know where to get tubing to use as the breather hose so i can get a longer one to route farther down towards the swingarm?

Additives are like vitamins. Put it in a few times, if it helps, keep at it. If it doesn't, stop. Who knows?

For tubing that's not fuel line, just get whatever Lowes or ACE has got that'll fit. IMO

andy8190 · « **Reply #24 on:** May 12, 2009, 12:56:32 PM »

i will check lowes, i am sad to say but we dont have an ACE and i love that store. How does seafoam help, by burning the oil?

MCRider · « **Reply #25 on:** May 12, 2009, 01:05:12 PM »

Quote from: andy8190 on May 12, 2009, 12:56:32 PM

i will check lowes, i am sad to say but we dont have an ACE and i love that store. How does seafoam help, by burning the oil?

Seafoam like so much of that stuff is a feel good "I did something" additive. If they put a different label on it, we could drink it and live longer. Probably have more regular BMs too.

It's supposed to tighten up loose things, loosen up tight things and make the exhaust smell better.

I use it all the time and love it. I swear, my garden tractor was smoking so much my wife noticed and she doesn't care a whit for those things. Two doses of Seafoam and its good as new. As far as exhaust emissions, anyway. I swear.

andy8190 · « **Reply #26 on:** May 12, 2009, 01:07:58 PM »

hahaha thats awesome.... we call that the placebo effect in my field... give a kid a sugar pill and tell them its aspirin and they will swear the pain goes away in like 30 mins

heffay · « **Reply #27 on:** May 12, 2009, 01:09:15 PM »

so your line of work is dosing little kids?

MCRider · « **Reply #28 on:** May 12, 2009, 01:13:17 PM »

Quote from: andy8190 on May 12, 2009, 01:07:58 PM

hahaha thats awesome.... we call that the placebo effect in my field... give a kid a sugar pill and tell them its aspirin and they will swear the pain goes away in like 30 mins

And if the child no longer complains of pain... it worked.

But...SeaFoam works...I SWEAR!

andy8190 · « **Reply #29 on:** May 12, 2009, 01:22:34 PM »

haha no, i got my undergraduate degree in athletic training and worked at a highschool for a while. Never did it but i did want to try just buying sugar pills and giving them to kids when they complain and see how well they worked.

MCRider, how often and how much seafoam do you use?

MCRider · « **Reply #30 on:** May 12, 2009, 01:26:26 PM »

Quote from: andy8190 on May 12, 2009, 01:22:34 PM

haha no, i got my undergraduate degree in athletic training and worked at a highschool for a while. Never did it but i did want to try just buying sugar pills and giving them to kids when they complain and see how well they worked.

MCRider, how often and how much seafoam do you use?

Just follow the label instructions. Its like exercizing, I do it whenever I remember to.

Or when I'm feeling guilty i haven't done any maintenence lately.

andy8190 · « **Reply #31 on:** May 12, 2009, 01:31:53 PM »

haha ok. I guess i need to buy it in bulk then haha

LoopsAndLogic · « **Reply #32 on:** May 12, 2009, 05:31:07 PM »

This is my setup. It might work for you. Its on my 400F.

I was tired of all the moisture mucking up my air intake filter.

Cheers
LL

edbikerii · « **Reply #33 on:** May 12, 2009, 06:01:48 PM »

There's nothing wrong with that amount of blow-by from your engine. They all do about that much mist in the blowby. If you are unsure of whether you need to do rings, then run a compression test, first dry, then wet.

The filter on the end of the breather tube is just to keep dirt in the air from getting into the oil. Crankcase goes from pressure to vacuum whenever a piston goes down or up in one of the cylinder bores. When it goes vacuum, it sucks in air, which if left unfiltered, will introduce airborne contaminants into the oil.

I did see the mist in your video, and I feel that it is perfectly normal. Even brand-new engines produce some. Sometimes brand-new engines actually produce MORE blow-by until the rings and bores are broken in. That's why they all have PCV systems, breather filters in the airbox, or catch cans straight from the factory.

Some systems are more sophisticated than others. The 77 CB550K airbox accomodates some oil separation which allows the oil to drain back into the crankcase after it separates from the blowby. My 1986 GoldWing has a simple plastic oil separator/catch can which you must remove and drain whenever you change the oil. Pretty much all cars use PCV, which sucks the blow-by back into the intake air and burns it, some after allowing the oil to condense out.

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Author Topic: how much is too much blowby? (video included) (Read 4427 times)