Oil Breather , All Ducatis

This three piece assembly is CNC machined from 6061-T6 aluminum bar, clear anodized, and seals positively with an O-ring.  The reed valve is made from G-10 thermoplastic.  This is the only product of its kind which is supplied with a spanner wrench and requires only minutes to install.

This breather fits all Ducatis from 1991 to present.

If you are curious like most people who buy something like this breather, you will probably want to take it apart and look inside.  In fact, you need to disassemble it in order to install it, so follow the instructions below and take it apart.  It is very important that you take note of the order in which the parts are assembled as improper assembly may result in engine damage.

Disassemble you new breather by unscrewing the top from the bottom.  Inside, you will notice there are two pieces, the flexible reed plate an the aluminium spacer plate.  Do not separate these two pieces.  If you are now going to install the breather, leave it disassembled.

In order to install the breather on some Ducatis, it is beneficial to remove part of the fairing.  Once you have done this, you can loosen the hose clamp and remove the breather tube from the top of the stock unit.  Next you must unscrew the stock breather from the crankcase.  There are several methods to do this.  The most basic approach is to use a small punch, 3/16 inch diameter (4 to 5 millimeter), and a small hammer to turn the breather.  Place the punch tip into one of the holes around the circumference of the base and hit the punch.  Be careful not to damage the aluminium crush washer beneath the breather as you must reuse it.  Once you have turned the breather a 1/4 to 1/2 turn you will probably be able to unscrew it by hand.

Next step is to clean the aluminium crush washer and the sealing surface of the crankcase.  Remove all sealer material and foreign matter from both.  Be careful not to push foreign matter int the hole in the crankcase.  Make sure the sealing surface is free from oil residue.

Apply a thin film of gasket sealer (for example; Permate non-harding) to the sealing surface of the crankcase and breather and the threads of the breather (threads that go into the crankcase).

Place the aluminium crush washer on the sealing surface of the crankcase and thread the breather base into the engine.

Once you have tightened the breather base as tight as possible by hand, use the spanner wrench to seat it firmly to the crankcase.  The spanner wrench will allow you to tighten the breather adequately by hand.  Do not use a hammer or other tools on the spanner wrench to tighten the breather base.  This is totally unnecessary.  The sealant and the crush washer will provide the necessary oil proof seal.  Wipe off any excess sealant.

Place the reed plate and aluminium spacer plate assembly into the breather base -- the aluminium spacer plate first.  The reed plate MUST be on the top, roll pin side visible.  THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT.  IF YOU PUT THIS ASSEMBLY IN IMPROPERLY, ENGINE DAMAGE MAY OCCUR.

Rotate the assembly so that the roll pin is toward the front of the motorcycle.  Make sure the reed plate is centered.  Place a thin film of grease or engine oil on the o-ring and install the top on the breather, tightening by hand only.  Once properly tightened, the o-ring will not be visible and there will be no visible gap between the top and base of the breather.  Wipe off any excess oil or grease when you check for a visible gap.

Install the breather hose, clamp the spout and tighten the hose clamp securely.

Thank you for purchasing our breather.

-- Jon Nichols