Bevel box breathing oil

[Fred F.]

I have seen it happen every so often on a few R3s after a long cruise down the interstate.
It looks to be caused by a some drive fluids having windage off the ring gear. A touch of Lucas or Justice Brother's gear lube additive seems to stop it.

I'd be leary of putting anything in or on a British bike made by a company called "Lucas" ;-)

 

[NM ROCKET]

I've noticed this as well. Only occasionally.

 

[Blastedbones]

I'd be leary of putting anything in or on a British bike made by a company called "Lucas" ;-)

 

[JT]

I'd be leary of putting anything in or on a British bike made by a company called "Lucas" ;-)

Take thee not in vain the name of the Prince of Darkness!

 

[Willtill]

Take thee not in vain the name of the Prince of Darkness!

What's the story behind this "Lucas"? Is this a manufacturer of British electronics, or something?

 

[Fred F.]

What's the story behind this "Lucas"? Is this a manufacturer of British electronics, or something?

Lucas was (or maybe still is) an electronics company in England. My understanding is at one time, if you needed a part in England, and someone in England produced it, thats who you had to buy it from. Because of this "capive audience" situation, Lucas electronics were notoriously unreliable. This is basically what killed the British motorcycle industry. The Japanese had far superior electronics. Jaguar also got stuck with Lucas, thats where the old joke about them spending more time in the shop than on the road came from. Thats what I have read. Any of you English "blokes" want to chime in and give us the real story ?

 

[JT]

Lucas was (or maybe still is) an electronics company in England. My understanding is at one time, if you needed a part in England, and someone in England produced it, thats who you had to buy it from. Because of this "capive audience" situation, Lucas electronics were notoriously unreliable. This is basically what killed the British motorcycle industry. The Japanese had far superior electronics. Jaguar also got stuck with Lucas, thats where the old joke about them spending more time in the shop than on the road came from. Thats what I have read. Any of you English "blokes" want to chime in and give us the real story ?

That is about the size of it. The old Lucas lighting systems were universally crap and dim plus the switchgear could cause failure at any time! Hence the "Prince of Darkness" tag.

 

[zimtuff]

My recollection of the demise of British bikes was of companies that kept offering tarted up old designs.
Some of the owners I have spoken to say the last of the british bikes had much improved electrics .

 

[Idaho Red Rocket 3]

You may want to try cleaning or replacing the breather itself. If it is dirty and not breathing correctly, it could cause the built up heat to burp out some oil.

 

[RockeTom]

Hi, I own an m109, and they are notorious for this breather problem. It results on the nine from overfilling the crankcase with oil, and also some have problems with the oil at the perfect level but under very hard running for longer periods of time. There is a neat fix one of the nine guys did with his, join the nine list and look under search for,,,,oil puke. Sorry to bring another brand in here, but the problem is for real with the nine, not isolated at all.