A quick NYC/Comstock Reed Breather Valve Question...

Bonzo

Bonzo

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Do you guys remove, clean & replace your reed valve breather as part of your regular oil change maintenance, or never disturb it?

A quick NYC/Comstock Reed Breather Valve Question...
 
The cleaning is needed if the reed valve is further away from the engine and the cold oil emulsifies and stops the reed valve from reeding ;) . When mounted closer to the engine where the pressure is highest and the oil still hot the reed valve stays reeding. That it clears out wet sumped oil will help keep it clean too.
 
kommando said:
The cleaning is needed if the reed valve is further away from the engine and the cold oil emulsifies and stops the reed valve from reeding ;) . When mounted closer to the engine where the pressure is highest and the oil still hot the reed valve stays reeding. That it clears out wet sumped oil will help keep it clean too.
Click to expand...
If I'm not mistaken, the one in the photo is installed in the large sump plug that is on the bottom of some Commando engines. Can't get much closer to the engine than that.

On the other hand, how would you empty the sump when doing an oil change if you don't remove that valve?
 
NickZ said:
If I'm not mistaken, the one in the photo is installed in the large sump plug that is on the bottom of some Commando engines. Can't get much closer to the engine than that.

On the other hand, how would you empty the sump when doing an oil change if you don't remove that valve?
Click to expand...
Using the drain plug that is further forward on the bottom of the engine.
 
NickZ said:
On the other hand, how would you empty the sump when doing an oil change if you don't remove that valve?
Click to expand...
On my 650 twin of another popular make, I start the engine before fitting the new filter in the return line and let the pump scavenge the dirty oil out.
 
NickZ said:
I have the Comstock/NYC Norton breather on my 1971 Roadster. I see no other drain plug as you describe.
Click to expand...
Probably better if we both qualified the question/answer. 850's have the drain plug. 750's do not - forgot that. So you do need to remove it.
 
For me, it was a bit of a fiddley install. I may use Triton Thrasher's method described above.
 
I have the same valve and have always taken it apart with an oil change.Sounds like a worthless endeavor. I also drain the crankcase.Am I missing something?
Thanks, Mike
 
I wanted confirmation that not disturbing it was ok.

Apart from the faff of undoing the hose and unscrewing the breather, I guess long term it saves wear on the crankcase threads.
 
I have one on my 1962 650ss. Yes, it is a bit of a faff to remove, but it is a wonderful piece of kit that I would not want to be without. I remove and clean it every time I change the oil. I like the warm fuzzy feeling I get when I do not find large chunks of metal in the qauze filter!
 
Last edited:
Any time I drained the sump on my '71 750 that had the crude screen filter that was the only oil filtration along with the oil tank screen, I always checked and cleaned them. Adding the spin on filter later didn't change my inspection.
I don't see any harm in inspecting this unit either. Good to know that there's nothing new and fair warning if there is something new.
 

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