Our job is to search out things that will improve the looks of your bike and add an increased level of performance or function. When we find one of these little gems that no one else has seen, we are pretty happy. Such is the case with the new head breather kit available from GP Designs.
George Pacheco, of GP Designs, developed a great way to clean up dangling breathers on otherwise custom bikes. By installing breather chambers mounted on either side of the carb, the new system vents through the backbone of the frame and eliminates all the lines needed to keep the breathers from puking oil all over the engine.
We cruised over to our neighborhood chopper shop, V-Twin City, in Santa Ana, California, to get some help with the installation. Tag along as we watched Koon, one of VTC's master technicians, guide us through the process.
The GP Designs breather kit...
The GP Designs breather kit comes with everything you need to clean up your bike.
Koon started out by disconnecting...
Koon started out by disconnecting the battery, removing the dashboard, draining the gas tank, and then removing it.
The air cleaner cover and...
The air cleaner cover and backing plate came off next, then the old head breathers and leak-down lines were removed.
The new system is in the upper...
The new system is in the upper left-hand corner of the image, while the old is in the bottom half. The new GP Designs breather kit is far more compact than the old, and it is almost completely hidden by the air cleaner cover. Plus, there are no ugly lines to run down to the bottom of the frame.
To drill the frame, a center...
To drill the frame, a center punch was first used to better position the drill bit.
With a 0.332-inch drill bit,...
With a 0.332-inch drill bit, a hole was made in the frame.
Don't forget the tap lube...
Don't forget the tap lube when creating the threads on the frame, it helps the tap make more precise cuts into the metal of the backbone.
The hole was tapped with a...
The hole was tapped with a 1/8-inch pipe tap.
Next, the brass nipple fitting...
Next, the brass nipple fitting was screwed in until it was nice and snug. It's a good idea to put a little thread sealant on the threads of the brass fitting.
The GP Designs breather should...
The GP Designs breather should fit perfectly with the original breather/backing plate bolts.
The distance between the breather...
The distance between the breather and the frame was measured, and the included hose was cut to the appropriate length. The carburetor backing plate was then re-installed, as was the air cleaner, the gas tank, and the battery.
Once everything was back together,...
Once everything was back together, you could barely see the new breather system -- and that's the point.