airbox breather question

[Peter Buehner]

on my 80Gs850G airbox, the breather tube (I think that is what it is called) was rusty around the lip. When I was cleaning it, I realized that there was significant rust inside...in fact the tube was clogged with rust
Photo Jan 23, 6 57 47 PM.jpg
In this photo the airbox is upside down for some reason but the tube is bottom center. You can see the rust around the rim.

So I spent some time trying to clean it out. I ended up with several teaspoons full of rust flakes. I put a long brass brush on a drill in the tube. I banged on the box and tube, etc.
I cannot figure out any way to actually get into the chamber. Also I assume that the tube leads to the small slots on the inside of the box? I put hooked picks up there too and removed lots of rust from that area. I still cannot get a clear airway from the tube through the small slotted vents. Any tricks to getting this cleaned out? Is this crucial to proper running of the engine?
More pics to follow to explain. Any help is appreciated.

Peter

[Peter Buehner]

Photo Jan 23, 6 57 55 PM.jpg
These are all loading upside down for some reason. Anyway this is a portion of the rust I have been able to extract from the chamber

[Peter Buehner]

Photo Jan 23, 6 59 56 PM.jpg
A close up of the slotted vent I was referring to on the inside top of the box. In this photo, I have a plastic pick inserted to pull out rust.

[Nessism]

What about some brake cleaner followed by compressed air? You need to get that tube clear because the crankcase vent connects to that nipple.

[Peter Buehner]

Overall, the box itself is not very rusty. Is this typical that there is a disproportionate amount of rust accumulated inside that chamber? How hard to I need to work to get it out? Finally, how do I prevent further build up?

Peter

Side note. I can only put one image per post. I would like to have all of them in one but I get a red exclamation point icon and no upload when trying more than one.

[Nessism]

Most of the regulars around here have a photo storage account with photobucket, flickr, or similar. Upload the photos there and then post the [img] link into the body of your post here and the photo will show up in high resolution.

One idea is to soak the airbox in Kleenstrip Prep and Etch as available at Home Depot. That stuff is phosphoric acid and will eat off all the rust. Follow up with recoating the metal. Some Por-15 paint would be ideal since it seals over rusty metal really well. There won't be much rust left after the phosphate sauce, but that good paint is the stuff to use regardless. One thing though, por-15 paint is not UV stable so if you may have to double paint the box with something as a secondary coating.

[Peter Buehner]

You are the Encyclopedia Britannica of GSR. I appreciate your time. I just created a photo album in my google photos (which I didn't know that I had). I will see if that works when I get my next question. So it sounds like it should be a pretty open air flow through that tube and the slots as shown above? I will come up with a soak for it. Thanks again.

Most of the regulars around here have a photo storage account with photobucket, flickr, or similar. Upload the photos there and then post the [img] link into the body of your post here and the photo will show up in high resolution.

One idea is to soak the airbox in Kleenstrip Prep and Etch as available at Home Depot. That stuff is phosphoric acid and will eat off all the rust. Follow up with recoating the metal. Some Por-15 paint would be ideal since it seals over rusty metal really well. There won't be much rust left after the phosphate sauce, but that good paint is the stuff to use regardless. One thing though, por-15 paint is not UV stable so if you may have to double paint the box with something as a secondary coating.

[Burque73]

Peter, check out this guy's rebuild thread. Airbox restoration looks great!

http://www.thegsresources.com/_forum/showthread.php?237056-Zagg-s-Project-78-GS750E/page2

[Peter Buehner]

Thanks Burque73. It does look good. I don't see that he mentioned the insides of the breather chamber but I am going to do a soak with something called Evaporust. It has been amazing so far and biodegradable as a bonus.

[fastbysuzuki]

I found mine almost blocked, the chamber is very narrow, looking from ends of the airbox you can see the channel I found that a long thin kitchen knife rammed down from either side clears any rust/crud out then blow clean with an air line

[Guest]

Soak it in evaporust for a day or two. Evaporust uses a process called chelation which removes the rust from the steel but does not affect the steel. It will be a little tacky when you take it out so rinse it with water or blow it out with compressed air. I wound up an old sheet and fed it into my gas tank to clean the inside after. After dumping out the evaporust I strained it through a coffee filter and returned it to the container. It can be used several times. It is amazing stuff, no smell or fumes.