Big Sucker Modification by BillFXR

Last summer I purchased a pristine 98 Ultra Classic from a former forum member who replied to my want ad.   I had the original Screamin Eagle breather on the FXR and was aware of what I thought were design flaws. It did increase the bikes ability to breath but who ever thought that the blow by would be pulled vertical into the carb missed the mark. That is when I found the Arlen Ness Big Sucker.   I liked the "design" of the Big Sucker as it should allow the blow by to be pulled into the intake (now I'm dealing with FI). Well, the difference in theory and reality proved that in "theory" it would work, in "reality" it didn't. So I still had some blow by. One one recent trip (2500 mi) with some pretty good higher than average riding I was still experiencing the "drips". I'd tried the Tampon in the filter, the Tampax in the breather cover but the problem was still there when doing any "blasting" down the slab.   After considerable "engineering refreshment" sessions I set out to solve the problem. Those using the Big Sucker know it has two "ports" (9 o'clock and 3 o'clock) to bring the blow by into the intake. Being that the oil is heavy, it just runs down the backing plate, saturating the bottom of the filter until it drips. I measured the diameter of the "ports", the are just about dead on .250 inches. Off to the hobby shop for some model aircraft tubing with a .250 O.D. couldn't find any. We are blessed with a real "hardware store" in our little town so that was the next stop. Found some copper refrigeration tubing with a perfect .250 O.D..   As the pictures show the before and after, the tubing was bent (fairly radical bend, but now kinks). I beveled the inside of the tubing on the top where it goes into the backing plate to avoid any puddling of oil, scuffed the OD of the tubing with coarse sand paper, cleaned everything with Prep Solvent and used a very small amount of High Temp RTV around the outside of the tubes as they go into the backing plate to seal the tubing and prevent any leaks. The tubes stop approx. .375 in. from the butterfly of the FI and were again internally beveled.   So far I have about 1600 mi on the set up, the butterflies are still clean, I've checked the plugs several time and they don't seem to be showing any difference.   This was a very simple modification (after the months of "engineering" that seems to have produced the results I was looking for!   Good Luck,   Bill

Stock plate with Air Filter removed.

Stock plate with new hose modification.