XJ Carb re-install suggestion

I have been reading a lot of this site as I refurbish parts of my 1985 xj700n, and it has been very helpful. Earlier today I was trying to reinstall my carbs after rebuilding them, as I was seeing gas in my crankcase, and the bike was steadily becoming unrideable.

I tried the various suggested strategies for putting the carbs back on, but was not having luck. I came up with an option I personally have not seen before, and thought I would share.

I took the #1 and #4 intake boots off the block and installed them on their respective carbs. Then I snaked the revised carb assembly in place, and pushed the remaining #2 and #3 carbs onto their intake boots. It was easy to reinstall the hex keyed bolt for the bottom of the outside intake boots, but the top bolts were impossible to reach with a hex key, so I found two 10 millimeter wrench head bolts to replace them. It was tedious to tighten them with a wrench, but you can come from the top and get enough of a turn on them to get the job done. It is much easier to push 2 of the carbs into the boots, especially if you prime the the boots contact surface with silicone.

If you are struggling with getting all four of the carbs to pop into their boots, you might find this approach useful and not as stressful as trying to get all the boots to pop into place without destroying something.

 

I literally just did mine 10 minutes ago, started on the right boot, then pried off the starter carefully, they went in in 3-4 minutes of minor struggling... Good idea tho

 

lube the boots and throat of carb then roll them in from 4 to 1.

 

Worked great, thanks xj550... Lol!

 

also -hit the boots with a hair dryer or heat gun immediately before pushing them in
stu

 

I used 2 motorcycle rachet tie downs with a rachechet either side of the cylinder hook to the frame in front pulling the cards in