Carb Intake Boot Abuse

[twr1776]

I was helping a fellow member out Saturday with some wrenching and this is what we found. I realize if you are on a tight budget and cannot spring for the new intake boots and airbox to carb boots (which you should IMHO) at least get the intake o-rings and replace them. Why someone bothered to take everything apart to this point and did not replace the o-rings is beyond me. Do NOT use caulk, permatex, bubblegum, or whatever was used here as a cheap fix, it will not seal properly. New unflattened o-rings are only about $ 2 each and should be replaced on ALL new GS purchases unless you know they have been done recently. Here is a link to Cliffs website, mandatory reading for all new GS owners.

http://members.dslextreme.com/users/bikecliff/images/GSR_Greeting.html

[SKD]

i realize some people are in a hurry too, my valve cover gasket looked like that...lol...this is why it takes so long to build and get these bikes running, im still waiting for parts on mine and it sucks, but you gotta do it right.

[Dave8338]

Patience in the rebuild department, is a must. If parts are needed, order them and install them when they show up. Better yet, buy a bike project in the fall and build it over winter, and don't get your undies in a bunch because it's 75 and sunny out...

[Nessism]

The classic "high idle", or "the revs won't come down" complaint are more times than not traced to these O-rings leaking. I think it's common for newbies to attempt the silicon fix but that doesn't last but a short time, thus the need to replace the O-rings with fresh. I'd say this is the number one GS problem, with number two being R/R grounding problems causing charging system problems. We need a sticky.

[Billy Ricks]

The classic "high idle", or "the revs won't come down" complaint are more times than not traced to these O-rings leaking. I think it's common for newbies to attempt the silicon fix but that doesn't last but a short time, thus the need to replace the O-rings with fresh. I'd say this is the number one GS problem, with number two being R/R grounding problems causing charging system problems. We need a sticky.

Or a special area for the most common problems. You'd still have people asking questions about the same old topics though. They want a specific answer for their bike thinking that the old pat answers don't apply. That and some are too lazy to search and read.

[tkent02]

Thick paper gaskets work for a little while. I have used them as a temporary fix until the O rings arrived a few times.
By buddy is still riding his 750 that way, still works fine as far as I know.

[twr1776]

What I do not understand is that to caulk this the PO or shop pulled the carbs and boots off to do it. Why go to all that trouble and not spend $ 8 bucks is beyond me.

BTW the patient (80 850G) has lost the roll on stumble and is running "much better now". Wish I knew why.

[Nessism]

What I do not understand is that to caulk this the PO or shop pulled the carbs and boots off to do it. Why go to all that trouble and not spend $ 8 bucks is beyond me.

BTW the patient (80 850G) has lost the roll on stumble and is running "much better now". Wish I knew why.

It's not the $8, it the wait time to get the parts. Hate to admit this but I used silicone on my very first 450 project bike...with obvious results.