GSX1400 Owners .org

Technically Speaking => General Technical discussion => Topic started by: Speedy1959 on Thursday, 15 March 2018, 05:38 PM

Title: Breather drain
Post by: Speedy1959 on Thursday, 15 March 2018, 05:38 PM
Hi All,

I noticed when replacing the swing arm that there is a thick breather pipe that has a bung in the end of it.
When I removed the bung, about a table spoon of dirty water came out (Yes I am sure it was water and not petrol or oil)..

What I would like to know is, why have a bung in a breather pipe?
Whats to stop me leaving the pipe open so it can breath naturally when it needs to?

Your thoughts please...
Title: Re: Breather drain
Post by: shanered6 on Thursday, 15 March 2018, 06:03 PM
It sounds like the drain plug for the air box the idea is you let any moister build up out after washing or wet weather and then replace the plug as you dont want to suck anything back in .
Title: Re: Breather drain
Post by: gsxbarmy on Thursday, 15 March 2018, 06:05 PM
As shanered6 says - it's so you can drain any condensation etc out of the air box, but stop any water etc being sucked up when riding the bike in wet weather (as when running the pipe needs to be sealed so the only air coming in is via the air filter itself.
Title: Re: Breather drain
Post by: KiwiCol on Thursday, 15 March 2018, 06:21 PM
How do you get water inside the airbox without it having come through the filter?   Must check mine as I've never done it. Mind you, possibly not as much rain here as you northern folk get.  :whistling:
Title: Re: Breather drain
Post by: seth on Thursday, 15 March 2018, 06:32 PM
The engine breather also vents to the airbox so any condensation from the motor also goes to the airbox .
As said I wouldn't leave it open just check and drain it once a year or whenever you remember.
:cheers:
Title: Re: Breather drain
Post by: KiwiCol on Thursday, 15 March 2018, 06:34 PM
I'll try & remember next time it (they) get a wee service.  :hat: :cheers:
Title: Re: Breather drain
Post by: Speedy1959 on Thursday, 15 March 2018, 06:53 PM
Once again.
Thank you all for your knowledge,  intellect and overall superiority of all things GSX..
Now that I have made you all nauseous. ...

Lol
Title: Re: Breather drain
Post by: grog on Thursday, 15 March 2018, 06:56 PM
mine gets a bit of water in it. just drain every so often. not something that concerns me.
Title: Re: Breather drain
Post by: Speedy1959 on Thursday, 15 March 2018, 06:58 PM
Thank you Mr Grog....
Will leave it alone and drain every blue moon as advised.

S.
Title: Re: Breather drain
Post by: KiwiCol on Thursday, 15 March 2018, 07:01 PM
If it's got in through the filter Speedy, might be ok to use in a wee Gin?
Title: Re: Breather drain
Post by: gsxbarmy on Thursday, 15 March 2018, 10:35 PM
Quote from: KiwiCol on Thursday, 15 March  2018, 06:21 PM
How do you get water inside the airbox without it having come through the filter?   Must check mine as I've never done it. Mind you, possibly not as much rain here as you northern folk get.  :whistling:

Condensation from changing temperatures, esp if bike left outside, plus venting from the engine breather as Seth says.
Title: Re: Breather drain
Post by: lloydjames on Thursday, 15 March 2018, 11:03 PM
I imagine the bung is to stop any oil or undesirable oil/water mix ending up on your rear tire in the event of something catastrophic going wrong. As has been mentioned, the engine breather can vent here. If you overfill your oil then this is where i imagine the excess will go.
Title: Re: Breather drain
Post by: Basil Brush on Friday, 16 March 2018, 12:17 AM
I'll go against the grain here - I took my bung off.

I have vivid memories in the early 80's. Honda CBX550. Coming across this same styled bung. Inquisitive as you are. Pipe was rammed full to the top after about three months of ownership... :doh:

Title: Re: Breather drain
Post by: Hooli on Friday, 06 April 2018, 05:55 AM
The bung leads to the airbox after the air filter. If you leave the bung out you might as well throw the air filter away too as you're allowing unfiltered air into the engine.
Title: Re: Breather drain
Post by: gsxbarmy on Friday, 06 April 2018, 08:07 AM
Quote from: Hooli on Friday, 06 April  2018, 05:55 AM
The bung leads to the airbox after the air filter. If you leave the bung out you might as well through the air filter away too as you're allowing unfiltered air into the engine.

Well pointed out and spot on Andy, totally agree
Title: Re: Breather drain
Post by: froudy on Sunday, 08 April 2018, 08:08 PM
I ride mine in all weathers and check the drain every couple of weeks. I usually get about a tablespoonful of condensate out each time.
Title: Re: Breather drain
Post by: matula on Wednesday, 11 April 2018, 04:05 PM
Most bikes if all have that air cleaner chambers breather hose. In most bikes that breather is just an open hose under the bike. For example Honda CBR 600 F, 1100 XX and Triumph Speed Triple and Bonneville. That plug/bung in GSX 1400 is just a fine detail to reach a maximum long life of the engine.

I like my bike so much that I want to maximise it's age and I'll keep the plug there.   :drool:

As I wrote, most bikes do not have any plugs in breathers. So: Take it or leave it!

The air cleaner chamber condenses water pretty well. Every time when I open that plug, I'll get a spoonful of water.
Title: Re: Breather drain
Post by: Mick_J on Wednesday, 11 April 2018, 08:13 PM
Popped my plug out the other day and only got one drip out of it, that 10 years worth.
Title: Re: Breather drain
Post by: Blubber on Wednesday, 11 April 2018, 09:13 PM
Quote from: mjgt on Wednesday, 11 April  2018, 08:13 PM
Popped my plug out the other day and only got one drip out of it, that 10 years worth.

guess that was after a vasectomy   :twisted:
Title: Re: Breather drain
Post by: Mick_J on Wednesday, 11 April 2018, 09:15 PM
Haven't had one of them that I know of, don't have kids so who knows  :lol:
Title: Re: Breather drain
Post by: grog on Tuesday, 17 April 2018, 08:13 PM
today i undid that bung. maybe 4 yrs since last time, not really sure. a teaspoon of engine oil came out. how the hell does engine oil get to air filter box. never ever uses any, no blue smoke. perfect motor. just cant understand how oil can be there.
Title: Re: Breather drain
Post by: Speedy1959 on Tuesday, 17 April 2018, 08:32 PM
Its just an oily residue in the gases thats built up over time.
seriously no concern for such a small amount over a long period of time...
Title: Re: Breather drain
Post by: Hooli on Tuesday, 17 April 2018, 08:58 PM
Like Speedy said, it's crankcase vapours which have oil mist in them. The oil misst cools in the airbox & drains down. It's normal.