DK Customs External Breather Can Review

[FuzzyWuzHe]

I've had a couple pm's asking me how often I "drain the can" and how much do I get out.

So, I thought I'd show everyone ...

Since I did my 4k or 5k per Harley's schedule yesterday, I thought since I've added "draining the can" to that service, I'd get some pics of the "stuff" in the can.

So ... I was at 4,212 miles on this oil when I did this. I had not checked the can since I installed it (right around the same time ... just a few miles before I did the service).

When I drained the oil, it looked pretty dark ... I'm changing my requirements back to 4k and may drop it even further depending on how it looks after this trip to Kerrville. I figure the trip will be at least 3k with side trips, so I'll do this again when I get back mainly to see how the oil looks after 3k miles vs. 4k.

Okay ... so I purchased the newer machined can from DK ... I love the look of the thing and it is a tad shorter so fitting it under the air cleaner is no problem.





I tried running the little can to under the bike to "hide" it and either I let it hang too low and ran it over when going over a bump, or, I would get the hose too close to a hot engine part and melt it. Since I'm about function and not so much about looks, I just opted for convenience and let it hang under the air cleaner. That location makes it easy to get to when you do the air cleaner and if your old, fat and got mechanical knees, makes it easy to get to without getting on the floor. Once to drain the oil was plenty ... .

Okay ... so the only knock I have on this can is by making it a little shorter (which is a big plus for me ... the can may not be shorter, but, the overall height of the unit is I think ... my old one went with the 14 limited), it is virtually impossible to get on wrench on the little flats that hold the top so you can unscrew the can to drain it while it is still attached to the hose. In reality, it's not really a knock, since you need to clean the foam washers on the top part anyway, so it is just easier to remove it via the hose clamp. Probably neater too since the oil stays in the can and is away from the bike/trike (well, unless you choose to empty it over the bike ... LOL).

Okay, so cleaning this thing is pretty easy. I took it all apart ... soaked the foam rings is dawn and warm water ... rinsed them well and pressed them between two pieces of paper towel until they were dry.

Here's the inside of the can with the two foam pieces still in the bottom. As you can see there is lots of room for oil even after over 4k miles. It should be noted that every bike/trike could show different amounts of gunk in the can after this type of mileage. I recommend checking it after like 2k until you are comfy that your bike/trike is not a gunk maker ... LOL.



Next is a photo of the gunk and two foam rings in a plastic tub from sour cream that I save for just this reason (yea, I'm annal and save stuff to do the service stuff. I have 3 funnels, one for each hole. They are marked and kept in separate zip lock bags).



Finally, a photo of the gunk drained from the can and the two foam rings. Notice it looks like a smiley face ... means my Harley is happy ... LOL





Summary: This can is very easy to clean and empty, does a really good job of catching the gunk. I was a little worried about putting it directly over the chrome timing cover (yea ... I know ... there's no timing stuff in there anymore ... but ... I don't know what to call it now ... ). It also looks good and if I was so inclined ... I could polish it and coat it with the McKee's 37 wheel sealer ... keep it shinny. I think there is plenty of volume to catch any amount of gunk that any bike/trike could spew ... but, don't hold me to that. Like all things, this can needs to be serviced to do it's job, don't install it and forget it and then complain that it overfilled and got oil all over your engine ... LOL.

Whether you go with the catch can, filter vent, or some other form of catching the gunk, this is a good thing for your Harley. If you look close in the gunk, you can see bits of something, I'm guessing combustion products that normally would of been sent back into the intake ... hmmm ... not good.

[FuzzyWuzHe]

Okay ... so while I'm on a roll, thought I'd cover how I clean the air cleaner.

Here is the stage one air cleaner "mount" ... before the addition of the external breather, imagine all that gunk going back into the engine.



Here is what it looked like when I did the service yesterday.



Here is the air cleaner as removed from the bike ... forgot to get one with the light behind it ... did this at like 6 am ... LOL



Here is how I clean it ... I use an ice cream tub .. the air cleaner fits nice and the dirt falls to the bottom, not back into the filter. I rotate it often and let it soak in dawn and water for about 5-10 minutes.



Here's how dirty the water got ... there was grit in the bottom of the tub when I drained it.



Here is the air cleaner held up to the porch light after shaking the excess water off it.



So how do you know the air cleaner is dry before reinstalling it? You cook it in the oven for 10 minutes at 150* ... LOL ... mom don't like it when I do this, but, it's my house so .. .tough ... (she's actually okay with it now as I never leave it dirtier than I got it). I put it on a pyrex glass candle holder to keep the rubber parts from touching hot metal. Works well. Try it if your wife will let you ... ... when it's nicer out I just let it cook in the sun for an hour or so ... 60* this morning, so, I just cooked it. The aluminum tray under the candle holder is the one I use when I cook anything ... LOL ... just incase.



Here are the "tubs" I use ... CC for Catch Can, AC for air cleaner ... yea, yea ... I'm annal





If this little bit of info helps just one rider to do his own service ... I'm a happy man ...

[Fearless]

Thanks Fuzz interesting to say the least. Very nice install on the can neatly done great Pictures as well. ride safe Fred

[Avalanche]

Thank you Fuzzy, one less question to ask about DK Products.

[Jack Klarich]

Good review and pictures