Any benefits outside of the obvious if I choose to swap out the OEM plastic breather gear for steel? Any issues with the plastic ones?

 

At some point the plastic 38 cent to make china pos will almost destroy the engine block

 

Lot's of issues with the plastic ones, replace it. They chew up the bore hole worse than any steel one I've ever seen.

 

The gear on the plastic breather on my 83 snapped right off. Lose it.

 

The plastic is soft and tends to hold on to metal particles and score the breather bore as the breather rotates. And as said above, they will warp out of round which also damages the breather bore.

If the breather bore is still in good condition, replace the breather with a steel one. S&S makes a reed valve breather for EVO engines, but it is not shown as compatible with Shovelhead engines.

Depending on the year Shovel, I'd also check the inner can bearing and replace with the full compliment bearing while in the can chest.

Paul

 

Does this answer your question?

 

It looks like something damaged the breather opening. How does the bore look? Based on the breather gear, I suspect it may be damaged as well.

Paul

 

Yes it was scored, but the shop cleaned it up and used an oversized metal breather. Runs great now.

 

Teeth stripped off plastic breather gear…

 

go with the steel one they're much better.
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