Question about pods/gearbox breather port

Alright, So pods were already installed on the Maxim I just bought and the setup for the gearbox breather or shifter/pinion gear cover breather or whatever the frig it's called struck me as odd.

There is a piece of hose going from the back of the #2 pod, to a T section, the T section has one end going to the breather port on the shifter/pinion cover, and the other end has an open hose going back and sitting on the swing arm. The hose is just...open...next to the wheel.

This strikes me as odd because it seems as though the open hose is in a prime place to catch crud coming off of the wheel and suck it int your motor so I plugged it.

Is there any logcial reason for the T section of hose between the pod and the breather port? Can I just remove it and run a single hose between them.

If there is a logcal reason for the T should it be blocked or off at the end or left open and just moved somewhere safer, the open end just seems to defeat the purpose of air filters to me, but I'm a newbie when it comes to bikes.

Click here for a quick diagram of what I'm explaining.

The end of the hose that is open is circled in red, Should I leave it open and move it, Plug it, or get rid of the T section and just run a direct hose.

In this picture if you look close you can see the T joiner in the hose and the piece running back on top of the swing arm near the wheel.

any help is appreciated.

 

Well, first of all, the reason for the "breather" port: this is actually for PCV (positive crankcase ventilation). I.e. for pulling gases out of the crankcase and reburning them, to reduce emissions.

Most people that put on pods put a little pod filter on this port. This of course disables PCV, but does filter the crankcase gases being pumped out into the air, for what that's worth.

Sounds like whoever put the pods on your bike was trying to keep PCV working, but it would have made more sense for that T to connect to two of the carbs, allowing either of them to draw from the crankcase and thus balancing the reburning of crankcase gases between two cylinders. Having the one end of the T open makes no sense that I can think of. At the least, it should be blocked.

 

The hose from the crankcase breather originally went to the air box.
As it is now you are sucking excess air only on #2, I can't imagine its running right like that.
I would buy a small pod type filter for the breather, seal off the nipple on #2 and try to get #2 plug to a good color.

 

Whoever had my bike put nipples on all four pods. You can T them all together, and attach the crank case hose to the center, or you can just T two together, and attach the crank case hose to the 3rd nipple.

As I recall, even the original PCV system only went to 2 of the carbs. It's a minor system and shouldn't change your running condition much. It's just a recirculator to help clean things up.

 

I never drove it with the open T end, The first thing I did when I got the bike is epoxy a plug into the T section, closing the loop.

I just started doubting myself when I did this and decided to post here and ask.

After reading these replies I plugged the port in the pod and ran a single hose from the pcv port back out of the way. I'll put a filter on it soon.

Thanks for the help everyone.

 

I had a theory about that vent with the pods.....with the air box you drawn the gases out by vaccum, with the pods the case pushes it out by itself. Which causes pressure build up and ultimatly causing oil seeps( i had no seeps in my seals before the pods now ive got them every where) so i have been thinking of moding the pods to draw from the pcv with hopes of slowing my leaks. Does any one else have anything to add?

 

I don't think the case can build enough pressure to cause any leaks as long as that breather isn't COMPLETELY blocked off. I'd start looking at replacing seals and/or re-torquing case bolts, etc.

 

Hmm okay ill look into that again, ive replaced the valve cover gasket twice, but im a far more experinced mechanic since my last attempt. It did seem to help on my dads xj1100 tho...