Airbox to carb connectors **UPDATE**

Having a real problem getting these to fit properly, they seem just a little to small to fit on the carb securely and once you do get them on they are to short to fitt into the airbox as they should. Never really thought about it but does rubber shrink with age and heat because this is what seems to have happened.

 

Re: Airbox to carb connectors

When I take the carbs off the engine, I found that just pushing the boots back into the airbox works the best to get them out of the way. The first time I removed them completely and spent the better part of the day to get them back into place (never again)
The do go back on hard and it takes alot of patience and persistance to get them over the ends of the carbs and fitted into the airbox properly.
*If you use a little silicone spray inside the ends of the boots, they slide right onto the carbs, no problem. Also, all four boots are not the same. There are two boots that ae angled slightly that are for the two outside carbs so they line up with the holes in the airbox. I know they can be a bastard to get back on. I've had mine off to many times to remember and I never look forward to doing it. PD

 

Re: Airbox to carb connectors

Actually getting them where they are suppose to go is no problem, just soak them in hotwater for a while and they become nice and pliable, its just once they are in there they are deffo to small. Going by the parts manual they are all the same, i am thinking of just buying new so i will know if mine have shrunk or not they are only £3.50 each so not a big layout, and they wont be hard as iron.

 

Re: Airbox to carb connectors

Ya, maybe it's best to go with nes ones if yours are that hard. Mine are not all the same however, two of them are angled to fit between the 1st and 4th carbs and the airbox, because they appear to be off center. Maybe yours are all the same? I guess it depends on the model.

 

Re: Airbox to carb connectors

Mine always seemed too short too. Then I realized that the carburetors tend to sag downward pulling those boots away from the airbox.

I've gone to not tightening the carb holders until the airbox boots are on. I get the boot oriented properly - then put it on the carburetor. Then I push the top of the boot up over the lip of the airbox. Squeeze the sides into the hole. Then a firm press from underneath snaps it in place. I'm getting quite good at it.

Having said that, I've a set of donor carbs that the boots feel really hard on. I suspect that would be an entirely different story.

 

Re: Airbox to carb connectors

The boots have a little locating rubber "tab" or tit that fits inebtween the two molded plastic nubs on the airbox that shows you the proper alignment of the airbox boot to the airbox (and thus to the carbs).

Except for the XJ1100, all four positions use the same boots.

You're installing alot of carbs!

 

Just got my new airbox rubbers and they fit just as they should. Out of intrest i measured new against old and the old ones have shrunk quite a lot,

Average 6mm in length and 3mm in diameter

So i now have the airbox fitted as it should be and they have to be the cheapest things i`ve bought for the bike todate.

 

Did you recently purchase a set of boots? It sounds like you have a set of Maxim X boots or 550 boots.

 

Did you happen to notice that the airbox moves forward about 3/4"? There is a bolt that holds it in place on top and it can be slid forward or back by lossening it. That's what really helps to get the boots on and off. Infact, you can remove the bolt completely and move the box even further back.

 

Yes i did notice the airbox moved and even when moved all the way forward they were just to short. The old boots have definately shrunk with age and are so hard you can hardly bend them. Once the new rubbers were fitted(real easy) the mixture screw needed to go in around 1 turn, might need more but cant realy tell until i get it out for a run.