Alfredo the Murray

I love that stretched stance, it looks really mean!

MightyRaze wrote:

Quite the write up.  Nothing an idler can't fix on the belt shifter rub.

Yup! Might stop by TSC tomorrow and snag one.

Brianator wrote:

I love that stretched stance, it looks really mean!

Thanks! Might not look that way once the new tires are on but hopefully it looks even meaner then!

Update coming soon! For now however, an answer to this question would be very helpful!

I'm not an expert or have too much knowledge on catch cans.  I thought catch cans catch more than just oil like fuel and potentially water vapors as well as contaminants from the pcv.  Not to mention on trying to return that oil, the case back pressure could cause oil going the wrong way.  So, for more oil capacity... Best I could think of is a bigger filter if the engine has one.

I would say no, not really. I suppose it's possible but seems more trouble than it's worth for what you'd benefit by doing it. If you're worried about your oil level getting low when out on rides do what I did and install a bicycle water bottle holder under the hood and carry some oil in a Gatorade bottle! Zip ties help hold the bottle in place really well. I can add pics if you'd like to see it.

I personally would add a drain petcock in the bottom, a vent, stuff the bottle with coarse (stainless) steel wool,and call it a day.

It’s just me but I think the best thing to do is new rings. You can get cheap Chinese rings for some Briggs motors on eBay. Mine came from “lil red barn.” Seem to work ok.

To be completely blunt, I’m not really worried about having more oil capacity. This engine doesn’t have a filter anyway so I couldn’t go that route. I just thought, if I have the can returning oil back to the engine and releasing the pressure, then I don’t see what harm would come from adding extra oil in the can if I designed it correctly. As far as a catch can being used for more than separating oil and air, I haven’t heard of it doing much else.

The problem of back pressure is a possibility but also questionable. I have the fuel pump pulse line routed to run off crankcase pressure, and when the motor was on Ole Blue, the pump was disconnected which should have converted the pulse tube to a temporary crank vent. I don’t know how much it helped but as you all saw, it was still blowing massive amounts of oil from the pcv. I also don’t know how big the holes are that lead to the pcv through the block, but obviously, pressure takes the path of least resistance, and if it’s not releasing much pressure through the pulse tube, then I doubt it would do much with a return line from the can. That’s my train of thought at least. Please feel free to agree or refute it. That helps me to think of more possible problems or benefits and ways to overcome or adapt them lol.

Putting new rings in the motor would definitely be best, but really it needs bored and a oversized piston installed. It’s pretty bad. And I don’t want to do any of that until I completely rebuild the engine. So new rings are out of the question. It’s a good running motor… reliable too, it just needs the extra crankcase pressure released.

I saw your Gatorade bottle mod  @Brianator when you did it… I like the idea but really like I said before I’m not worried about having a bigger capacity or running low on oil. I just saw this can and my brain wheels started turning and thought “if I can and it doesn’t harm anything, why not.” If I did it the way I mentioned in the video, it doesn’t seem very complicated or too difficult to me. Run a line from pcv to top of can, run a vent from top of can into dash, and run a return line from the side of the can to the dipstick. Then fill the can with oil and when the level reaches the outlet for the return line, it flows back to the crankcase (if back pressure is low), and once it’s at that level, every time the pcv dumps oil in, it should push oil back out, no? Could maybe be a problem on turns tho…

Also, what would be the benefit of stuffing the can with steel wool if I went with what you’re saying?

Like I said, PLEASE question or refute anything I said. I want to think of as many things as possible that could go wrong with this before I do it lol. I plan on going through with whatever is decided on by the weekend.

The steel wool catches the oil vapor so it doesn't get sucked back into the engine, in your case it would let it settle to the bottom of the can and trickle back into the sump.

It also helps to transfer the heat inside the can to the outside so it can dissipate.

Okay good to know. I’ll search for some today.

Now that I've been out of school for a week, I have finally had time to get to work on this thing! I fabricated an exhaust pipe for it. Took me a few hours to design and fab it. Please don't mind the bugger welds on the corners lol.



Another couple hours for fine tuning and fitment. Finally got it to fit right.




I'm happy with how it turned out. Very low profile but also looks sick. At first glance the mint green may not be the jam but it grows on you lol. I've grown to like it. I feel like it fits the build well. I haven't started it yet as I'm working on the catch can and am going to start on the intake soon, but hopefully it sounds mean! I don't have any exhaust hangers on it and it rests tightly up against the body in the hole I made for it. Hoping that acts as enough hanger to take up the vibrations. If not, well then I guess I'll just throw some hangers on it. I also still have to see how much heat transfer I'm going to get through the floors... If it's too much, I'll have to put some heat shields under there.


As far as the catch can goes, obviously that's been the topic of discussion currently in this thread, so nothing new there. I'm planning on trying out the method I mentioned beginning tomorrow if nothing changes. I guess we'll just have to call this an experiment lol.


I don't have a good idea yet for the intake, so that's still in development. All suggestions for the intake will be considered.

Anyway, there's the update! More to come!

Spent the day working on Alfredo! Decided to go ahead with the catch can and see how it works out. Got it all put together, just needs to be installed now. I also got all the lines cut to size, hose clamps on, and ready to be installed! Once I got all the holes drilled in the can, I found a good way to get the shavings out... lol.



Then I got all the fittings installed.





It's all sitting out to let the JB Weld cure now.

I also took care of the belt rubbing on the shifter. Put an idler in there and it should be good to go!




That's what we got going for it today!

Put the can together and ran it today!




I am getting back pressure through the return line unfortunately. Here's a vidja:



I have to think about it a little more but I don't think it will be a huge problem once I add more oil.

Other than that, I also have a massive exhaust leak due to the extremely bent and warped muffler. I'm gonna have to find or make some really squishy but durable gaskets for it. I also need to put hangers on it. And I'm looking for a starter cover and headlights. I may go with stock headlights with upgraded bulbs and then add a light bar because space is tight and I want to keep the lights behind the lenses. May build a lightweight brush guard for it and mount the light bar to that.

Anyway, I gave the paint another oil bath and rubbed it in and let it soak. Looks a whole lot better in my opinion. Also took a lot of dirt out of the paint.



Anyway, that's where we stand now.

Back when I oppy swapped a rear engine rider, i took like 20 layers of tinfoil and stuck them together with spray adhesive and cut gaskets out of it. That engine mowed plenty of lawn and never seemed to have an issue with them. It wound up as a pretty good thick gasket.

Ooo that’s a good idea. I’ll give that a try!

I like bad jokes... bit of my achilles heel.

*Pretends to have not randomly jacked the thread*

BIG UPDATE: There's absolutely nothing new with Alfredo. He hasn't even been started. Looking to get back to tinkering on Alfredo here in a couple weeks and a thought just came to my mind and I had to share to get you all's opinion...

The reason I haven't really touched Alfredo in the past 5 months is due to the back pressure going into the catch can. I know that was discussed as a possible issue but when it actually happened I wasn't sure how to deal with it and haven't really given it any thought. But, I just thought, how might a check valve help? What do you guys think? Worth a shot? It's only $10.

Maybe? but ultimately probably blown head gasket or rings as you mentioned once.

For $10 sure it's worth a shot but keep in mind the pressure has to go somewhere, that's why crankcases are vented to begin with. The risk is seepage from gaskets, possible blown gaskets and oil will be pushed up past the rings into the cylinder instead of flowing back down. If enough pressure builds up in the crankcase the engine will actually start to lose power too!

MightyRaze wrote:

Maybe? but ultimately probably blown head gasket or rings as you mentioned once.

Yeah it's blow-by. Got some piston slap for sure and bad rings. But like I said this is just temporary. Trying to make the best of it as is for the time being.

Brianator wrote:

For $10 sure it's worth a shot but keep in mind the pressure has to go somewhere, that's why crankcases are vented to begin with. The risk is seepage from gaskets, possible blown gaskets and oil will be pushed up past the rings into the cylinder instead of flowing back down. If enough pressure builds up in the crankcase the engine will actually start to lose power too!

Yes I know. That's why I vented the catch can. Leaves the oil in the can but still lets the pressure out (or it should in theory). But yeah for $10 might as well. And if it doesn't work then I'll have them for the future.