You'll have to measure the crank journal as it may be a re-con one fitted with a standard seal.

does the tag on the engine say "Exchange standard"?

Glad I looked at the breather. I took it apart with an angle grinder around the band. The 2 halves were a little stuborn to separate. The actual valve plate was a complete arse to get out. Turns out it was rusted in. How the f@#k can it have rusted with all that oil. The rubber flap was in 3 pieces and not attached.

I'll edit and add an image, when I work out how

Another question if I may

Would this fault actually cause the front oil seal to allow oil past in sufficient quantity that it would literally run off of the sump

Yep as casing is now pressurised instead of sucking it back in. With mine it was oil everywhere and afterwards no oil. I was having oil coming out from behind the points (no seal there only spiral on camshaft). With a Visa engine I had - same fault - the oil was coming out of the dip stick (shorter and mounted into the engine in different place on Visa engine)

I know they are not cheap but I bought a Filler assembly from ECAS which has a steel reed valve in it and everytime you fill with oil you inspect the reed valve and last for ever (buy new reed valve if there is a problem). With the standard one you can not see what is going on.... They said to last 5 years but do they????? Do not buy second hand ones - look shiney on outside but inside could be ..........???????

Thanks Chris

So .... if I solve the pressure issue, do I still have to replace the seal ....

I would if the engine is out it seems false economy to put it back in without.

Sean

Good point. That would make sense. Bertie would not have know that and would have fitted a standard one. Of course, it could just have been a standard one damaged when fitted. I've done that before.

Hey ho ... onward and upward

yes a faulty breather can have the oil spewing from most orrifices worse if the rings are gone. have you any way of checking the compression?

id hold off doing the rear oil seal till you know the state of everything else as its an engine out flywheel off job.

EDIT - over advanced timing ads to the case pressure as well as heating the oil and hardening the seals.

Thanks Sean

However, the engine is out, the flywheel is off. The engine is current occupying part of my kitchen floor (yes I am single ... well separated any way.... can't think why ).

I believe when Bertie rebuilt the engine he put in new seals. It looks like a new seal and looks like it is in straight. So hoping it is the pressure and not a damaged or incorrect seal.

I think I will repair the breather and see how I feel about it.

Regarding the bores ... they are unknown. Though I believe Bertie did mention them in a thread somewhere.

Thanks again

The engine is allready out,so he might as well do it,dont you think?
Now,what else should be done while the engine is out?
STRIP AND REBUILD yes,yes,yes,then its all done.

Who would rebuild an engine and not fit a new breather