06 Crankcase Ventilation

[ReX]

A few of you have mentioned that the crankcase ventilation has been improved on the 06 Apex.

What have they done?

This is probably my biggest concern with my 05 as the crankcase ventilation appears to have plugged solid on a few long cruising trips and has caused the PTO seal to go and the valve cover gasket to leak into the spark plug wells - not to mention the sled has gone through oil when it freezes up (only when it freezes up - zero consumption on warmer days/shorter rides).

What's the scoop?

I'm also looking for solutions to the problem during our 3500 kms 7-day trip up North that starts at the end of next week. It would really suck to have problems in the middle of nowhere because of this.

Have a look at my other post if you have suggestions. Didn't Dukester have a fix last year or something?

http://www.rx1.info/viewtopic.php?t=11107

 

[POWERHAULIC]

The crankcase is completely recast, it appears to have a much more intricate oil separator built into the case with much more volume also.

 

[ReX]

The crankcase is completely recast, it appears to have a much more intricate oil separator built into the case with much more volume also.

Is there anything that forces the ventilation to work - like a PCV system or something. If there was enough warm air flowing through the suction side it would reduce the chances of freezing.

Or do they have anything to keep it heated above the freezing point?

I'm not having trouble with blowing oil through mine (very little blowby from the motor), just the slow accumulation of moisture that freezes along the tube walls when it's very cold.

I was thinking of adding a small slit to the tube near the motor. Close enough that it shouldn't freeze and small enough so it only really vents when everything else is frozen up. One problem is I don't know where the oil vapour will go...

Another option I was considering was to install some low power foil heaters around the ventilation system between the motor and the air box.

It seems silly to me that Yamaha hadn't fixed this issue by 05 or at least offered an extreme cold weather package that could be added on.

 

[ReX]

Actually I just thought of a cleaner, less intrusive idea.

Why not simply insulate the ventilation tubes between the motor and air box.

Once inside the air box, the slits in the pipe can allow the pressure to escape (Yamaha has added 3 slits, two right where the pipe enters the box - as a further update to try to not blow another PTO seal).

 

[Nordik]

Almost rx-1, as you can see on the topic I posted on the rs section, the Vector driven by my son blew a valve cover gasket. It was on a mild winter day (-3 c). Only thing, he followed me on a long distance at high speed and in my snow dust.

 

[ReX]

Almost rx-1, as you can see on the topic I posted on the rs section, the Vector driven by my son blew a valve cover gasket. It was on a mild winter day (-3 c). Only thing, he followed me on a long distance at high speed and in my snow dust.

I noticed your post, but figured it must be a fluke.

I've been riding with Flipper on both occaisons where my crankcase ventilation froze up and he hasn't had any trouble with his Vector.