Catch as catch can

[ToxicMark]

For my yz250f supermoto conversion setting up the catch cans was one of the trickiest parts. Tricky for me may mean tricky for someone else, so I thought I would write up my setup and failures.

I'm running 3 catch cans - 1 coolant overflow bottle daisy chained to 1 coolant/fuel combo catch can and 1 crank case breather hose catch can.

The coolant overflow bottle is by Motion Pro (from Motorcycle Superstore)

The coolant/fuel catch can is made by UFO (from Motostrano)

The crankcase breather hose catch can was made to order by Steven from Motohose.com

 

[ToxicMark]

The coolant overflow bottle -

The yz250f doesn't have a coolant overflow system so I thought I would add one. Stock, the coolant overflow hose coming out from the radiator leads straight under the bike to dump on the ground. I attached the Motion Pro coolant overflow bottle behind the left rear panel zip tied to the bike's subframe and ran a new longer radiator hose to it.

 

[ToxicMark]

Coolant overflow cont. -

Initially I used a coolant catch can from Motohose.com

But there was a kink in the hose and when the bike overheated I blew a hole in it

Lesson, make sure you cut the necessary reliefs in any body work to ensure you don't pinch the hose when you button up the bike.

 

[ToxicMark]

Coolant/Fuel combo catch can: Coolant path cont.

From the Motion Pro coolant overflow bottle I ran a hose to the front of the bike to the UFO catch can.

The UFO can is nice. It's split with an internal wall, one side for coolant and one side for fuel. It even has two bleed holes plugged by hex head screws, one for each fluid.

The plastic it's made of is sturdy and transparent so you can see fluid levels, too.

 

[Hybridchemistry]

Pretty slick, but I've never figured out why people run their coolant catch cans so far back. I can only guess that it's because there's no room up front. I ended up zipping mine onto the top of my USD fork on the DRZ, just a temporarily measure, but so far so good.

 

[ToxicMark]

Coolant/fuel combo catch can: Mounting -

To mount the UFO can I bought a light plastic skid plate for the yz made by Acerbis and drilled holes in it to match the tabs on the catch can and then I just zip tied the can to the skid plate. Simple and very secure.

I'll get to the carb fuel overflow catch can and crankcase breather hose catch can later. Stay tuned.

 

[ToxicMark]

Carb fuel overflow catch can -

The fuel and final coolant overflow go to the same place, the UFO can mounted on the skid plate. The UFO can comes with the can, hoses, connectors and a set of instructions. Although the instructions are in Italian they come with detailed pictures to tell you which hose from the carb should be connected to what. Take your time here and don't link a fuel overflow hose to a breather hose.

Instructions in Italian.

Hoses coming out of the yz's carb, manifolded together to lines running to the fuel side of the UFO can.

 

[ToxicMark]

My understanding to test to see if you have wired it correctly is to ride the bike. If lines are crossed you will eventually get vapor lock and the engine will cut out. The symptom will be - bike runs fine then the engine cuts out and I can't restart it, but after a while it will run fine again until it cuts out again, followed by more time then it starts again...repeat. If this happens check your lines.

 

[ToxicMark]

Lastly,

Crankcase breather hose catch can -

I read lots of different ways to handle the crankcase breather hose from do nothing with it to feed it into the air box with a filter on the end of it to give it it's own catch can. Obviously, I went with the last option.

Motohose.com was my source. They told me they were re-designing their crankcase breather hose catch can to meet new racing regulations. I told them I'm not racing, but wanted a catch can and this is what they sent me...

I run radiator braces and mounted it to the right brace behind the radiator. I cut the hose coming out of the crank case to length and fed the end into the can's inlet (which is just out of sight behind the can). The can is translucent like the UFO can and has a bleed hose for draining. In the pic the bleed hose is resting against the header heat shield for display. You don't want to keep it like that or it will melt. For use I zip tie it back and out of the way.

It seems to work nicely. The filter coming off of the can I wish was mounted out the top instead of the side, but it does okay.

 

[ToxicMark]

Motohose.com sells a fuel catch can, too. I actually bought one. It looks like this...

...and it would mount to the left side of the bike. But I liked the UFO design and the UFO can came with the supermoto conversion kit I bought from Motostrano, so that's the one I used.

 

[ToxicMark]

Pic of my bike before all of the catch cans were installed...

Whoops, no. That's my friend's brand new Stingray...bastard. Here's my Frankenstein...

Thanks for tuning in.

-TM

 

[xgambit]

thats a sweet looking bike :thumbup

 

[th3_d0c]

Mark, are you going to be racing with SupermotoUSA with that?
If so, I would recommend moving the catch bottle you have above your rear tire. When you land a jump you will (or just about) bottom out your rear tire and you are probably going to crush that bottle and get whatever is in it, all over your tire.

If not, and you don't plan on hitting any jumps, never mind and it looks like a great setup.

 

[ToxicMark]

Don't know how to jump a bike yet. But maybe someday. I'll detach the shock and actuate the swing arm to see if the tire touches. The bottle really isn't that big. Thanks for the head's up.

 

[Judaslefourbe]

If so, I would recommend moving the catch bottle you have above your rear tire.

Was going to recommend the same thing.

 

[th3_d0c]

Don't know how to jump a bike yet. But maybe someday. I'll detach the shock and actuate the swing arm to see if the tire touches. The bottle really isn't that big. Thanks for the head's up.

Sounds like you need to sign up for a race then!! Come and join the beginners race, they are a ton of fun and everyone in the pits will help you out. I'll be back this season after July if you want to meet up.

Was going to recommend the same thing.

Thanks for the backup Frenchie ;D (how's racing been?)

 

[Judaslefourbe]

Thanks for the backup Frenchie ;D (how's racing been?)

Aside from the fact I keep blowing up engines, good