trouble reinstalling carbs

[Guest]

i accidentally deleted the thread after i posted it a bit ago.

so here we go:

spent much of yesterday fiddling around with my bike. went to reattach the carbs - set bottom of carb openings on the bottom lip of the boots and then tiltled them up while pushing in to seat them properly, but i couldn't get those buggers in there! i made sure there was nothing in the way, i wasn't catching on anything. i was almost pushing the bike off the center stand. after getting frustrated i gave it a rest and worked on electrical stuff. plan to reattempt tonight. should i move the bike so that the front wheel is against my garage wall - giving me a more solid thing to push against?

i don't think any type of lubrication is necessary, right?

the intake boots are pliable and without any noticable cracks, so i didn't replace them. the airbox was poorly sealed and i did replace those carb-to-airbox boots/hoses and weatherstipped the box. i wanted to see if that would make the bike run smoother (i suspected an air leak from carbs to airbox and in the airbox itself)

i had shop towels plugging up the intake boots over the winter, while i worked on the carbs and other projects. i've read a little bit of armor all will help slide them back on. don't want to do anything before checking with the forum first.

[GSXR7ED]

No wonder my reply went away....

[JTGS850GL]

I always use a ratcheted hold down strap to aid in installing the carbs. I wrap the strap around the carb inlets and all the way around the engine and back to the carbs. I then tighten the strap till it begins to pull the carbs into the intake boots. Sometimes it tries to pull the carbs up or down but then all it takes is a little direction and they pop right in.

[GateKeeper]

WD40, silicone spray, a bit of grease, all will aid in the installation of the carbs onto the rubber boots......

.

[JTGS850GL]

Yep, forgot to mention that too. A little grease on the inside of the boots and the outsides of the carbs will help a bunch.

[growler]

Great. Thanks everyone. I'll try at least one of these options.

[salty_monk]

Vaseline or silicon spray but if it's not 100 degrees plus in your garage you might also try applying some dry heat....

I couldn't get the carbs into the boots on my 750 without borrowing the Mrs hairdryer...! It makes the biggest difference of all.

Oh and a plank of wood on the back side of the carbs to lever against sometimes helps.

[steve murdoch]

A strap around the center stand and through the front wheel will help prevent it from rolling forward.
Like Salty mentions, the heat from a hair dryer will make the rubber boots more pliable.

[JTGS850GL]

Still think the tie down strap works best. No chance of knocking the bike over while man handling the carbs into place. Let mechanical advantage work to your benefit. Why work so hard when you can make a simple device do it for you?

[Wingsconsin]

cant remember exactly

There is a cable that runs down between the carbs 1 and 2 I think ..
If it isn't where it needs to be the carbs will resist ...
I wish I could recall it properly ...

[tkent02]

Still think the tie down strap works best. No chance of knocking the bike over while man handling the carbs into place. Let mechanical advantage work to your benefit. Why work so hard when you can make a simple device do it for you?

+1, very easy this way. Silicone spray in conjunction with the ratcheting tie down and you barely need to crank the ratchet. Easy as pie even on petrified old boots.

[matt1100]

Don't know if you have had the boots off the head or not, but there are left sides and right sides. They look very similar but have a little different angle on my 1100. Having them crossed up will cause a problem when re installing the carbs, not saying this is the case, but I have made this mistake.

I just put mine on side stand, drop it in first gear, straddle the bike, and push. Very thin coat of marine grease doesn't hurt either.

[growler]

Thank you all. I am confident I can get them on now. Then the resealed airbox and fire her up!

I just have to find the garage time this week. :/

[gs550rebuildguy]

GS 550 anyway

To get my carbs off and back on
I removed the battery and the box it goes in
then the airbox can be moved around a lot better

[JTGS850GL]

Carbs are easy to get on and off on an 850 or 1000. Much easier then many other models. Carb removal and reinstallation on an 850 is 15 minutes tops but I'm slow.