I've got the backing plate and external breather ready to go!! I ended up only using one hose end clamp on the catch can line, the run is so short that if I used two they would be clamp to clamp, and I wanted some fuel line to be visible.

The last thing I had to do was plug the original vent holes in the backing plate. I considered tapping the holes and using screws, but after reading about the possibility of one coming loose and get sucked into the throttle body, I decided to go with J-B Weld (1st pic)....

I should have it swapped out soon!!... More before and after pics when I do!

 

Great work there Rochah!
What brand air cleaner is that? Looks quality And what will you use to plug the mounting ports with after you assemble it to the engine?

 

Thanks!! The air cleaner is an Arlen Ness, and it comes with stand-offs that the filter element attaches to, which also double as the bolts that secure it to the throttle body.

Here's a couple pics. You can see the black set screws that thread into both the stand-offs, and the throttle body....and also the threaded holes in the hex ends of the stand-offs, which are needed for the filter element screws.

 

I plan on installing the new air cleaner/external breather tomorrow, so I took a few "Before" pics today of my current Big Sucker a/c, with it's unmodified, plain aluminum backing plate....I think the chrome plate will look much better!

"Afters" coming soon!!

 

If you ever sell this bike. You will most likely end up missing iy. Rockers are so rare around here. I might see one, two at the max, per year

 

So, here's a few pics with the new air cleaner and external breather... and I'm very happy with the results!!
I REALLY like the way the breather assembly and catch can turned out looking when installed on the bike,
...and the fact that the hot, oily air will no longer be venting directly into the throttle body!!

 

So you are going to have to clean this breather every once in a while then? I think it was a neat solution to let the oil in to the intake and get it burned up in the running of the engine instead of leaking everywhere?

Mind you in the HD heavy breather these openings are blocked off... so there must not come a lot of oil out of it anyway....

 

You’d be amazed how much oil. Vapors of h2o and hot air actually comes out from those two crank vents once redirected to where you can actually observe it. And over time, it adds up to quite a bit.
What’s most important to note above all is this tho... Your intake relies on a stream of cool air that is then mixed with clean fuel for proper ratio. Allowing that said hot oi. Hot air. Hot water vapor mixing in there is robbing your intake to make maximum use of what it needs most. Then when this dirty mixture if not allowed to vent out, it gets into the combustion chamber, it will burn up, but not burn off completely. Csusing the piston head to not maintain a clean surface needed for an exact volume, pressure and height. Yeat again another power robbing change in the design that was put forth for maximum power output.
it’s a difference you actually feel.

 

They are not blocked off on the heavy breather, they still vent to the intake the same way, they just look slightly different is all. Vents internally in that backing plate.

 

Yes, I'm not sure how often it will need it, but as long as the catch can filter element is cleaned occasionally, no oil will be leaking anywhere.

Thanks guys, all good info!!

Here's a dyno chart comparison from the DK Custom site that shows another benefit of installing an external breather.