I'm installing a S & S E carb on my FXRS lowglide. The instructions show a diagram of a crankcase breather hose to be connected to the carburator backplate. That is clear to me. What is not clear is where the other end of tube is connected to the crankcase. My Harley manual doesn't show it. Anybody know its location on the crankcase?

 

Was the hose going to your last carb/air cleaner? If not, don't worry about it, it's probably already pointing down like the rest of us. It's to the center of the bike near the oil pump, down low.

 

I bought the bike used and previous owner put an after market air cleaner on it with no hose. Looking further back on the bike I see an exposed vertical nipple sticking out on top of the transmission. Could that be it? What purpose does it serve to vent that into the carb. Is it a performance issue or possibly just a pollution control device?

 

Transmission vent is different. Look underneath the oil pump. There's gotta be a pic of it here somewhere. It is the crankcase vent, just like on a car, except cars usually have a PCV valve in the line. You will be hard pressed to find a "bottom breather" Evo like ours with one that still goes to the air cleaner.

And you really need the factory shop manual. It should be your next purchase.

 

Thanks, I'll keep looking.

I do have the Harley Factory service manual named "FLT/FXR Models 1340cc V2 5-Speed !984". They married all the various models into one factory manual. It does not show the breather that I can see. Maybe they make a better manual, but at the time, this was it.

In terms of proper S & S Carb E installation is this connection vital to proper performance?

 

If you have a bottom breather then I wouldn't connect it to the S&S breather.
It is not essential to the carb.

Just make sure you oil your air filter (assuming it is a K&N).

 

Thanks for your reply. The breather tube is on the bottom of the S & S carb plate if that is what you mean. Otherwise, I'm afraid I don't understand your comment "bottom breather." The filter-I'll have to check it to see what brand it is-it came in the S & S kit. The instructions don't indicate a need to oil it.

 

"Bottom breather" refers to our engines, not the air filter. "Top breathers" have the crank case vent at the heads and came out in the 90's. 93-up? Dunno, don't have one. Our breather is on the crank case. Look at the diagram in the shop manual labeled "EVO Oiling System" in the Engine section. The breather is shown in one of the drawings.

Best thing you can do is to leave it off your air filter. It should connect to the atmosphere side of the filter, so no harm to just leave the hole there. If it connects on the motor side of the filter, then plug the hole.

 

Also, let me point out that whatever jets came with that carb are almost certainly wrong. Even if the box specifically said it is for your exact bike. Just my own personal experience on 2 of them. So, get ready for it and don't get frustrated.

 

Excellent advice. Thanks to all of you.