2011 at the Hammond Barn

[RHClarke]

Bob, Grant and I enjoyed two days at the Hammond Barn this weekend. Saturday was quite overcast, but the humidex went past 30 oC. Sunday was a beautiful weather day with a 25 oC high with a gentle breeze blowing the leafs around.

Saturday morning saw two (human) visitors at the barn. Bruce, Bob's neighbour and young Rob (Bruce's hired hand) stopped in to negotiate the use of Bob's 3/4 ton trailer for moving wood. Prior to leaving, Bruce indicated that he had seen Bob and I racing past his driveway last Saturday. He was impressed with the roll past. We gave young Rob the cook's tour of the barn and he left shaking his head wondering about us. We have that effect on some visitors.

While Bob headed off to help Bruce, I went back to sorting out the HUP and Grant continued work on his truck. Earlier this week I installed a nicely refurbished breather assembly. It was duly filled with oil to the recommended level and placed on the carb neck. Saturday morning I found a small puddle of nice new oil on the frame of the truck. The leak was traced back to the breather assembly. After removing the assembly and its oil, I was very surprised to find a pin hole in the lower bowl. Surprised because it did not leak when tested earlier. Welding the hole closed proved a challenge as the metal was very thin - this caused a search for other breather assemblies and I pulled out two others that caused another surprise.

All three breather assemblies fit the carb. One assembly was shorter than the other two but had the same inside filter element and cover as its taller cousin. The third, which ended up on my truck had a bent cover - sort of like a slouch hat, but with the bend heading downwards. This cover too was different. It had the filter element built into the cover as a one-piece assembly.

I am guessing that the different sizes come from different vehicles/engines - some are for trucks, others for cars with less clearence under the hood. Any air breather assembly experts out there?

Photos:
1 - our first contestant
2 - our second
3 - our final and winning contestant
4 - comparison of short and tall
5 - comparision of all