1275 Engine Breather

[coopertim]

Morning all

Just taken the engine breather off VFF's 1275 block and the chain link stuff inside has completely turned to rusty dust! Is this a case of buying a new breather or can it be fixed?

Cheers. Tim

[CooperTune]

Yes, you car reach up in there and pull the bent wire out with a long pair of long nose pliers. Then pull the rusted mess out. Cleaning it out will take lots of time and effort. I use brake clean and a couple of cheap baby bottle brushes. Followed by more of the same with hot soapy water and more bottle brushes. I then replace the packing with SS pot scrubbers from a kitchen supply place. Then bend coat hanger wire to retain the packing. Steve (CTR)

[coopertim]

Thanks Steve. No problem cleaning it out - it had been reduced to dust! Never thought of the kitchen cleaning stuff!

Tim

[dklawson]

I followed Steve's advice years ago with my car and the pot scrubber worked great.

[Spider]

Pot scrbbers are the go, just be 100% sure that it's not the type that has soap or abrasive dust added to them.

[Smiffy]

Normal pot scrubbers, come apart and fill your engine with little bits of iron. Stainless ones on the other hand, are just one long length.

[dklawson]

Probably not available in the U.K. but years ago Steve advised me to use "Chore Boy" brand scrubbers. They are not a fine steel wool product, they are a coarse semi-knitted stainless steel ribbon scrubber. Their material is very much like what you pick out of an old breather.

[YMJ]

when cleaning any chamber or vessel, use paraffin and gravel or small stones, shake like mad for 30 minutes to 4 days depending on the filth inside and Bob's your uncle. Remember to rinse out thoroughly with plenty of clean paraffin, petrol, clutch cleaner, etc....