Drain hoses

[mhershon]

I have a first-gen V7. Just now I looked at the two drain hoses ending just under the engine cases. Both are open to the atmosphere. Should one of them be plugged? Thanks!

[malik]

That pair passing through the swingarm next to the boot? At least one of mine is plugged, not sure about the other, probably, but I'll check when I get to the bike which is up to the Shed. The parts manual - airbox page - shows 2 plugs that I can see, but says there's supposed to be 3. Again, I'll check. I've never seen anything come out of those tubes.

[mhershon]

Nor have I, Malik. No spots on garage floor. I guess I thought that one of them drains the airbox and maybe should be plugged... Thanks for checking!

[malik]

I know one of them, at least, drains from the airbox. Forget for the moment what the other attaches to. Don't have to file it when you can just look at it. Again, I'll check & let you know. Unlike the 1TB, I've never seen any oil in the V7C's airbox. The terminal carbed Nevada, however, had oil and water in its airbox when I disassembled it, but that Nevada's breathing system is the same as the Lario's - a whole different animal, and it did seem to have been serially abused besides. A rod jumping off the crank and destroying the crankcase leaves all sorts of ruin in its wake. No telling what was the chicken, and what the egg.

[malik]

Up at the Shed, checked the V7C, and found, whatever originally was there (probably both had plugs & wire clips on the end, they are both open to the air. Moreover, the (once) clear vinyl one appears to have its end torn off - I'm sure it's now shorter than it used to be. This one comes from the airbox breather, low down on the RHS. When I checked just now, I also found it swinging free at the airbox end - the wire clip was still securing the broken off 1/2 inch left behind. The other black rubber one attaches to the airbox, a little higher up and facing the front of the bike - it's clip is still secure and so far, not broken. Going to be taking this one apart soon - new clutch needed, so I'll be refreshing theses hoses as well. It's an utter disgrace that these hoses are not still pristine, it's been only 9 1/2 years & 218,000km. No time at all. It's not as if they've had a ha d life, they've only been just sitting there.

[mhershon]

Thanks, Malik!

Both of mine are unplugged. One has a sort of fabric jacket around it. I'm glad my question led to your finding a minor, easily remedied, problem or two. Two hundred-eighteen thousand kays...They've served valiantly!

[malik]

The breather hose with the fabric jacket on both the V7C & the 1Tb is the breather return hose at the both of the sump on the LHS. On the 1TB, at least, it joins to a white plastic T-junction behind the starter motor. I'll have to double check the V7C. I'll let you know.