crankcase breather revisited

[bagodoosh]

'03 620 - crankcase breather is making a mess spewing oil.
i've spent the weekend researching this, mostly on this site.
i'd like to keep the overall stock setup. i am not interested in K&N filters or any such kit. i don't race. i'm interested in the valve not leaking, even if it means replacing it with an aftermarket.

here's what i've found so far:

• older ducatis used alloy breather + crush washer (066049920); those leaked
  
• newer ducatis use plastic breather + rubber o-ring; those leak as well (what i have)
  
• some people fix the leak with goop (may require repeat applications)
  
• after market solutions: Aluminum breathers to be used with crush washer
  
• reed valve types: stainless=good?, plastic=unknown, Al=bad
  
• PSR (powerstands): $65; branded chinese knockoff; unknown reed valve type
  
• SSR (slingshot racing): $75; possible chinese knockoff; stainless reed valve
  
• ergal (966022AAA): $115
  
• ducabike (VSO01E): $80; unknown reed valve type (carbon blade?)
  
• nichols: $125; G-10 thermoplastic reed valve
  
• STM stile: $95; unknown reed valve type
  
• nichols includes spanner wrench, but it is useless on air cooled bikes because the fins are in the way
  
• torque rating is 30 ftlb
  
• use punch and hammer to tighten?
  

so, there's info dump. feel free to make any corrections.

what's the consensus now? which are preferred (leak reliability wise), billet or plastic?
is the oem plastic easier to torque down than the billet with the engine in the frame?

[koko64]

Im running my old stocker. Threebond on the alloy washer and super hand tight seems to be working on my old 900. You could try a small filter strap wrench.

[bagodoosh]

threebond = 1184?

[koko64]

I used 1184 iirc. I got 1215 too and various Permatex goops in the shed, but pretty sure I used 1184. Maybe a new alloy gasket too. Worth a try before spending on a flash new one. The Nichols and STM versions look good. I have fitted two STM "Style" breathers to Monsters and they are holding up. Gasket condition and sealant application probably mean as much as the breather.

[Heath]

When my OEM plastic one leaked on the S2R800 it was from the middle not the bottom. I replaced it with a Nichols unit and it never leaked the whole time I had it installed. That was from 2007 - 2014 when I sold the bike. Sometime in there  (maybe 2011) I took it off to inspect it. No real reason just curious how the internals were holding up. Everything looked fine so it put it back together.
I'll buy another for my S4RT whenever I get around to it.

[bagodoosh]

i think mine is leaking from the middle as well.
i find the design odd. the bottom mates with the case with an o-ring, but the two halves are just screwed together - with the same 30 ftlb torque.

i don't think i've ever read anything bad about nichols products. their breather valve is a bit on the expensive side compared with the chinese (PSR, SSR) or even the italian ducabike. but they are upfront about the reed valve material. SSR includes a picture of the inside, but no description. the rest are a mystery. point being if i could get away with spending half the money, i would. 

[silas]

My blingy red Ducabike breather works great still w/ about 6k on it now. I used Permabond under it, on ea. side of its alum washer.

[jduke]

If I were going to replace mine, it would be with a Nichols. I haven't heard anything but good reports about it.
Not cheap, but not a place I would want leaks to be coming from.
http://nicholssportbikes.com/products/NBREATHER.html