strangeling wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:04:So does the crankcase breather filter have to go up high above the engine and out the front of the tank or does it not really matter where it is located ????
Bear with me and don't think I'm being smart.
Think about what the breather does. It vents the crankcase.
The piston goes up and down and that causes an internal pressure change in an otherwise closed system filled with oil and metal. The piston moves up and there is a decrease in pressure, it goes down and there is an increase...when running, it happens really fast too.
As well, as the engine heats up the oil gets hot and some becomes a mist from all the spinning and banging going on.
Now if the engine were sealed, you have pressure changes and heated oil...what happens? (oil leaks)
As well, you have an engine the gets hot and cold from time to time. You get some water condensation in there too. When the water heats up...where's it gonna go? (oil leaks)
That's where the breather comes in...
Now, I'm sure that you've noticed or read that the air box drain hose has some pretty nasty gunk when you open it up. That is stuff that collects in the airbox because of the stock hose from the crankcase vent. The EPA and Al Gore want all of that nasty crap to go back in your engine and smoke out the tailpipe, but sometimes it just collects anyway.
(gee that was fun)
Anyway, I positioned mine high like you see because (and I got lucky too), it allows the crankcase to vent the pressure changes, gives off any hot vapors, and if there is any liquid stuff, it flows back down hill through the hose into the engine for another day. My filter stays pretty clean and keeps the bugs out too.
I recommend a high place but I have seen them hanging down behind the engine dripping