Hitchcocks Forum

Recently I asked about the purpose of the three breathers on a Electra X. It was advised that the breather pipe attached to the timing case is not required and should be sealed. I also followed the advice to fit a 1/2" clear pipe to the main breather exiting the 'oiltank'. The third from the chaincase is lead to the rear chain. All well and good but reading some info about breather kits I noted that 'Mr Bunn' uses the timing case breather as an air supply to the engine providing in his kit a valve and small filter. All comments will be appreciated.

Graham Enfield built thousands and thousands of motors without the timing side breather, it was all part of a bodge to get them past emissions

Thanks Norm. I have tapped the timing case spiggot and screwed in plug. I am following your advice on an earlier post of using 1/2" clear tube with a duck bill on the end, up and over battery to exit at the back of the sidecar chassis. Will see how this works out. Thanks again, Graham

You will need a good tight clip on the tube joint. When I tried that method the heat softened the pipe and leaked oil over the engine. The rest was pumped out of the end, whatever the valve and length of tube or height for that matter. Gave up on that method and made a version of the Bunn. Works a treat.

Thanks Frank. I have tapped a M6 internal thread into the spigot and screwed in a bolt smeared with Red stuff, I hope this works. I discovered that this 'breather' was the cause of spraying most of Lancashire with oil.

Grahan, as with anything Enfield what works on one may not work on another, one problem on the Electra may come from the position of the breather outlet in relation to the breather hole in the top of the crank housing allowing more carry over mist to get caught in the tank breather. I wonder if an extension on the fitting screwed into the top of the tank might help by stopping the oil being flung against the top of the tank and pushed over to the breather. Just another thought

Hi Norm, that is an interesting idea. I will investigate your idea. I have just got back from a short ride to the allotment so any vapour in the breather pipe is condensation, will need a longer ride to see what happens when all warmed up. Thanks again Norm. Graham