[ST] On oil-leaking British bikes

[Paul English <tallpaul@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

So I think I've been bitten by what I'll label from the archives as the 
"crankcase breather valve" problem. 

I took my first trip on my 2000 ST involving several hours of freeway 
travel. At a gas stop, my girlfriend noticed an oil spot under the bike, 
and closer inspection showed that there was oil all over the swingarm and 
centerstand, and about a 1-2 inch strip on the left-hand side of the rear 
tier. Not knowing what it was, I wiped the oil off the tire as best I 
could, checked the oil level in the engine, and headed carefully home, 
checking it regularly. It seemed to be leaking less on the way home either 
because there was less oil in the engine or because I was riding less 
agressively. I filled up the oil before I left and now it is at the bottom 
line on the sight glass. Overall I don't think this adds up to much oil 
loss, but when I pulled it into the garage, it was still leaking a little. 

It is clear that the oil is coming from the airbox breather tube, which 
combined with an archive search leads me to believe that this is all due 
to the crummy plastic crankcase breather valve which I should now replace 
with an $80 machined part. Ow.

So now on to my questions - 

The airbox breather tube end  was just dangling in midair above the 
swingarm pivot, a little to the left of center. Is this the correct 
location? Others in the archives have asked and not been answered (on-list 
anyway) as to whether this tube should go through a hole which seems made 
for it more to the right. 

Does anyone have the part number for the machined crankcase breather 
valve? My local Triumph dealer has a poor reputation and I think I'd 
rather mail order the part. Plus with RotLE I guess I get some discounts 
at some mail order shops. :-)

In the archives it was mentiond that there is supposed to be some sort of 
drip "bung" installed in the end of this hose - mine doesn't have it. Does 
anyone else with a  2000 have it?

In the process of examining this problem I discovered an unconnected 
electrical "interface." It looks to have 3 or 4 conductors housed in a 
plastic connector and is just below the frame above and to the front of 
the right footpeg inside the engine area. I poked around and can't find a 
second mating connector dangling loose. Does anyone know what this is?

Paul
installed my Sky-King frame sliders right before the trip. Nice fit/finish 
and easy installation make me a happy customer. Also - damn! How much 
easier and nicer it is to remove/install the side panels on the ST than my 
old VFR. On the VFR every time I go to remove them I feel like I'm going 
to break them. 
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