PARTZILLA - Carb Boots and Clamps Issues

[Gregory]

I have a 1986 GS1150 engine. Has anyone had issues with new carb boots and new clamps not sealing off vacuum leaks on the head side? I spent over $120 on new boots and clamps at Partzilla.

My bike warms up and starts to fast idle, even when adjusted all the way out. When you lightly push in and up on the right side carb, the idle slows down. When you do the same on the left side the idle speeds up.

I bought new boots and clamps. I bought these in February and immediately took a road trip... and it started showing a vacuum leak. We have removed the carbs and worked on the internals several times trying to figure out the vacuum leak issue. We have tried various different configurations of the boots.. We have used a straight edge.... yet it still has a vacuum leak.

Yesterday we sprayed starter fluid around the fittings and on two of the boots it stumbles. We have tried the new clamps fully tight as well as not all the way tight.

Shouldn't new boots and clamps seal up completely?

I notified PARTZILLA yesterday and suggested that instead of replacing all the parts, they could possibly remedy the situation by sending me some normal style clamps that fit, but they responded with:

Partzilla Customer Service

Hi, thank you for reaching out to us. Unfortunately we don't have those in the right size, however you can try getting those from a Napa or even trying a V-clamp. Thank you.

I would like to hear whether anyone has experience with this issue and whether it is bad boots, bad clamps or both?

[Big T]

I'm confused - did you get the stock clamps?

[Gregory]

I'm confused - did you get the stock clamps?

Oh yes. I originally bought the stock boots and stock clamps from them. They were responding to my request for better clamps than what they sold me.... since they are leaking.

Partzilla just informed me that Suzuki only warranty for 90 days even though I rode it less than 600 miles and it took me all this time to figure out what the issue was.

[Griffin]

Your problem is with Suzuki, not Partzilla. Evidently Suzuki has superceded the original part with something else, and it isn't quite right. Partzilla can't keep track of every part from every manufacturer that gets superceded with something else, and test every part to make sure it works. That is the OEM manufacturer's responsibility.

A distributor can't warranty what they didn't manufacture, they can only collect a manufacturer's warranty and pass it along to you. They would quickly go out of business if they warrantied OEM parts without compensation from the manufacturer.

[Gregory]

Your problem is with Suzuki, not Partzilla. Evidently Suzuki has superseded the original part with something else, and it isn't quite right. Partzilla can't keep track of every part from every manufacturer that gets superseded with something else, and test every part to make sure it works. That is the OEM manufacturer's responsibility.

A distributor can't warranty what they didn't manufacture, they can only collect a manufacturer's warranty and pass it along to you. They would quickly go out of business if they warrantied OEM parts without compensation from the manufacturer.

You are right, ALTHOUGH if they are having more complaints like this it would indicate that either they are shipping the wrong parts, or Suzuki is manufacturing the parts to the wrong specifications. Either way, I would be interested to hear if anyone else is having this issue.

In this case it appears that the boots and possibly the clamps are made a little too large for the head inlets. I have inspected all of the inlets and there are no gouges and the channels for the rubber ridge look good. It appears that as you tighten down the clamps, the boots crimp and create an air channel. When the clamps are not on as tight, it leaks in other places.

I ordered some Teflon heat proof tape to wrap the inlet in to make it larger diameter so I can possibly get a better fit. If that doesn't work I will have to use heat proof RTV or something similar. In either case, this sucks and should not be normal course of business for ordering and installing new boots and clamps.

I encourage anyone who has ordered boots and clamps for their 1150 recently and is using PODS, to double check the fit with starter fluid. Easier than that, just push in or up slightly on either side and see if the idle changes.