So, after much research, I decided to modify the breather on my 04 heritage, to a catch can. Got a small alum can made from fuel filter, and with much ado, two brass 3/16 elbows. And what a PITA it was for a simple job. Drilled the aluminum housing inside the valleys for the elbows, no sweat. Then, with great work, file down the elbows so they would fit into the valleys and not interfere with the AC. So, then, using the nice tygon tubing, tried to fit it together. AAARGH. And, also ran the Seafoam spray thru the engine twice to clean the oil residue. I got some gray smoke, so it did something. But, now I am not dumping oil into the throttle body, that was mighty greasy to begin with. Thanks epa for nothing.

 

Pics or it didn't happen! 😅

 

Vehicle manufacturers have been venting crankcase vapors into the intake for decades before the EPA was even established, at least since WW2.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crankc...ir%20pollution.

John

 

IMHO....

There is a difference between a "positive" crank case ventilation system and a "closed" crank case ventilation system.

Positive crank case ventilation systems, using a PCV valve, were first used on production cars in the 60's...

The EPA started requiring a "closed" crankcase ventilation system (CCV) for all engines in 2007.

So in spite of what Wikipedia says, the requirement for a CCV is the "fault" of the EPA, and just because positive & closed systems have been around for awhile, it doesn't change the fact that they are NOT good for the engine...

 

Yes, you are right.

John

 

FWIW ( not much)
Stock system, I took mine apart at 30K miles
Yes there were "combustion byproducts" BUT I could still read the piston part numbers
YMMV

 

I would love to have had those same results. That would be more than acceptable in my opinion....

I took my 2003 Heritage apart at 20K miles.

I had used a borescope and saw big build-up. I did a full can SeaFoam treatment into the intake. Quite a bit of smoke so I figured it did its job. The follow-up borescope looked to be improved, but still heavy deposits.

About 2 weeks after the SeaFoam, here is what I found:









My experience made me a believer in rerouting the breathers on all my bikes...

 

That's pretty incredible. When I rebuilt the engine in my '94 Electra Glide at 100,000 miles, the piston tops looked worse than that, but not by a lot.