really cheap sorta fix for airbox boot problem

[Boriqua]

Grumble grumble .. getting the airbox boots to stay on the carbs was frustrating as hell. I took the carbs off and mounted the airbox side first and tried all manner of things but would come back from a little test trip and they were sliding off.

The problem wasnt the boots and the boots are very pliable and soft. First thing was I swapped out the little spring clamps, which were shot, and bought hose clamps from home depot. The wrap around style with teeth. This helped immensely but the real culprit wasnt the boots but the box. Its a pretty soft plastic and its an old bike and the center of the box had an inside bow to it. I read that some people take a heat gun to it and kind of force it out but that would mean removing the carbs again so forget that. I found if I removed the filter box I could get into the box with a small section of closet pole and push the boots snugly on to the carbs. That was the answer but then the box still wants to come back. Soooooo.... I figured I would brace the box. I put a little piece of cork in between the frame and air box. Boots havent slipped off once. They are nice and locked on. During the summer I will make a new box out of fiberglass but for now this is doing a great job.
cork sm.jpg

[Guest]

I'm all for cheap fixes. Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.

[Boriqua]

small benefit to getting older .. I actually had a cork! Back the last time I had a GS .. it was '78 and boonesfarm and boonesfarm had a screw on cap .. and that wouldnt work! "

But the ladies loved it! LOL

[Guest]

You know Wikipedia define Robert Shaw wine as "extreme value" ............kinda goes with our GS bikes, nicely done.

[BigD_83]

That's a good, if temporary fix. Those clamps will eventually chew the heck out of your carb boots like a dog through rawhide.

[ukjules]

I like the idea of pushing gthe boots on via the inside of the airbox !
BUT
What is a closet pole ?
and you this pole with no airbox modification to push them on ?

[Boriqua]

A closet pole is the wooden pole in your closet from which you hang your cloths. In Brooklyn I have seen it used to good effect as a head bopper and general melee weapon but that was another place and time.

Any piece of wood would do or even a piece of pvc with a rag wrapped around the top. I tried a 2x3 but it doesnt fit in the hole. The problem is the airbox plastic is kind of wimpy and the front that supports the boots has a definite bow in. But its not very hard plastic so by removing the airfilter housing I was able to push in on the face of the airbox with one hand using the piece of closet pole and tighten the clamps on the two inside boots that go to carb 2 and 3. After that clamping 1 and 4 was a breeze. Just be careful what material you choose because there are rubber velocity stack kind of things on the inside and you can bugger them up if you use something sharp which is why I said if I used pvc I would tape a rag over the head.

[ukjules]

I get it now , lost in translation.
I so have the same problem with my airbox. I fear taking my carbs off purely as i have to put them on again.
My rd250 has the perfect design. A rubber hose in between the airbox and carb inlet.
Heat with hair dryer and put it in.

I so wish the gs design was better as this part of a strip down is so so hard

[Guest]

Why don't you do the bracing inside the airbox, since you were able to get a closet pole in there, cut a suitably sized rod and when you lever it out with your pole insert the rod and keep it bowed out.

[bobgroger]

You know Wikipedia define Robert Shaw wine as "extreme value" ............kinda goes with our GS bikes, nicely done.

Charles Shaw....Two buck Chuck.