Hey Guys,
After years of riding twinkies I've got my first evo, an 84 fxst. There really doesn't seem to be any oil leaks apart from the area around what I think is an aftermarket crank case breather filter? I can't tell yet if it's the breather misting and spraying oil around or the transmission cover is a bit leaky

Do I really need this filter?









Thanks,

MAtt.

 

No but IMO you should route the breather hose out beside the rear wheel to keep any oil from dropping in front of the rear wheel.

 

Plenty of people will tell you don't need it...I will not run without one...if there is a hole, some kind of insect/critter will crawl in it.

If you have mist coming out the breather, something is tired in your motor...top-end or breather bore.

 

I don't think will is the right word there.
Since I haven't had a problem running an open breather hose in the last 7 years, might would be more accurate IMO.

 

When something clogs up that breather, and your motor is leaking oil from every gasket on it... you will rethink your decision. To me it is the same as running with no air filter on the carb...lots of people do it, but it will lead to problems down the line.

 

If that does happen then I probably will rethink my decision.

I grant you that the possibility exists that something might happen but I disagree that it is a forgone conclusion that it will.

Everytime I go for a ride I might wreck but that is far from actually wrecking.

 

I have no filter on the breather hose on my `89 Softail, it has run that way for almost 28 years, same for the transmission vent hose (funny, you don`t hear any of the filter proponents suggest running a filter on that...).

I also never run a filter on the battery vent hose.

 

Hey Thanks for the responses guys. I will first try to determine if it is actually the breather filter or the gasket on the tranny cover.

Thanks Matt.

 

Oh it's misting oil !!! Doubt it's tranny,I've said this many times before,probably running oil level at full when it would better off half quart low,more room to breathe. That filter looks too short and low not to be a problem. Mine runs to the air box (where everyone else hates it) ,and it stays spotless...

 

This is quite possible. I don't have a great history on this bike. Previous owner has had it for 20 years and tells me the engine is bone stock as far as he knows. It's got about 60k miles on it.