MKL's '98 1200C
Hayden Krank Vent Plus Impressions
Hayden Krank Vent Plus Temporarily Installed on the Breather Tube 7/01
Companies such as Hayden Enterprises and Spyke are marketing fancy PVC valves for over $100.00, claiming that they stop the infamous oil misting out of the A/C problem (which any generic $30 breather kit can do just fine,) add horsepower, and "deepen" the sound emanating from your exhaust too! We've all seen the ads - 2-7% Horsepower increase! Deeper Sound! No more oil blowby! Fits all Harley V-Twins! It sounded too good to be true, so I just had to find out what was behind all the hype.
I ordered a Hayden "Krank Vent Plus," which arrived in a shrink-wrapped package that advertised all of the usual claims. "2-7% Horsepower Increase" stood out in bold letters. No asterisk by that claim, and no small print. Sounds great! I unwrapped the package, and studied the device: The Krank Vent is a small, nicely machined aluminum canister which snaps open for cleaning. Snap it open and you'll see (drum roll, please).... AN UMBRELLA VALVE!! Yes, a rubber umbrella valve, just like the one you already have in the rocker box assembly on your late model Harley - It's worth about 50 cents, if that.
Mounting is simple - if you have an existing breather line (which is almost mandatory unless you want oil pissing all over your right leg on every trip) you simply place the Krank Vent in line with the machined groove in the canister facing towards the exit of the line, per the instructions.
Once mounted, I started the bike and noticed absolutely no difference in sound, and absolutely no difference in power whatsoever. Admittedly, I did not put it on a dyno (I ran out of allotted time during my last visit to Black Hills Custom Parts) - but I've done enough seat of the pants tuning to say with confidence that the Krank Vent made no difference at all.
Not surprised in the least, I sent the Krank Vent Plus back for a complete refund. It's worthless on a late model bike that already has a set of umbrella valves, and I imagine all those other $100+ "cure all" products for the oil blowby problem are equally without merit.
LESSON: If you are new to the Sportster scene and are experiencing oil blowby, buy generic "breather kit" for $30 or less and your problem will likely be solved. I have had a $25 generic breather kit on my bike since the first 500 mile service, and it has always worked flawlessly. There are more exotic solutions as well -.read this for a rather elaborate (but effective) one.
UPDATE: As I was finishing this page for upload, the August 2001 issue of Motorcycle Consumer News slid across my desk, with a test of the same Hayden Krank Vent. They slapped it on a TC95 with a Mikuni HSR42 carb, Sachs heads, 10.5:1 Wiseco, TW60 cams, S/E pipes, and S/E A/C. That bike was making 97.5 RWHP @ 5,850 rpm and 96 Lb./Ft. @ 4,000 rpm prior to the installation of the Hayden Krank Vent Plus, and slightly LESS after it was installed! MCN contact Hayden to share the results, and Hayden informed MCN that the Krank Vent Plus is actually intended to prevent blown rocker box gaskets on very early Evolution engines, which were not fitted with umbrella valves as standard equipment. MCN thus concluded that "The Krank Vent is thus a waste of money when fitted to anything but an early Evo."
Too bad the product isn't advertised in terms of its specific application.
LAST UPDATED: 7-01
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