CV & VM O-ring Sources

[93Bandit]

Since cycle-o-rings is no longer up I'm looking for other sources for these O-rings. The O-ring Store ( https://www.theoringstore.com/store/ ) and McMaster Carr have most of the O-rings needed except for the 3.8mm x 1.25mm (VM Carb - part B in Roberts image).

I found a couple websites selling that size, but one requires a membership to order (unsure what that entails). The other website is asking $9.81 each for that size. So that'd be $39.24 for just those 4 o-rings, plus the cost of the rest of the orings.

Is anyone aware of somewhere else we could get this o-ring more affordably? If I have to pay nearly $10 each for that one size of o-ring I will, but I'd rather not...
EDIT: OR, can we use a slightly different size? The O-ring Store has 3.5mm x 1.20mm orings. They're slightly smaller in cross section and ID, but I suspect the slightly smaller ID might not be too much of an issues since the orings stretch? But I'm concerned about the cross section being too small. The closest size larger I fear would be too large. What do you guys think?

Also, can anyone tell me what size o-ring is needed for the intakes on a 1977 GS750 and a 1983 GS850? Roberts post lists five sizes (28, 30, 32, 38, 40mm), but I'm not sure which ones I need for my application? I've searched the forum but most threads just told people to go to cycle orings to find out what they needed so that's not much help anymore since the site is down.

 

[Nessism]

What is the application for those O-rings (VM Carb - part B)? I buy O-rings in bulk and can check fitment.

Edit: seems to be the pilot fuel screw. I'll let you know tomorrow.

 

[93Bandit]

What is the application for those O-rings (VM Carb - part B)? I buy O-rings in bulk and can check fitment.

Edit: seems to be the pilot fuel screw. I'll let you know tomorrow.

Thank you, good Sir!

 

[chuck hahn]

There was chirping about someone possibly taking over cycleorings...... whatever became of this???

 

[93Bandit]

There was chirping about someone possibly taking over cycleorings...... whatever became of this???

I contacted him as soon as I found out what was going on, requesting information about taking over. Never heard back, but I understand he's preoccupied and may have been contacted by others for the same reason.

 

[sacruickshank]

What is the application for those O-rings (VM Carb - part B)? I buy O-rings in bulk and can check fitment.

FYI buying in bulk may see some delays these days. Grainger quoted Feb for delivery of some I need and the O-ring store mentions similar supply chain delays.

 

[zed1015]

Plenty on ebay here in the UK.
I've used these VM kits which include new fuel mix screws too.
Check out his other items for CV's etc.
Suzuki GS 550 750 850 1000 series Carburetor o ring kit Mikuni VM repair kit | eBay
Postage to US should be around $14 for large letter if he charges at cost..

 

[93Bandit]

Plenty on ebay here in the UK.
I've used these VM kits which include new fuel mix screws too.
Check out his other items for CV's etc.
Suzuki GS 550 750 850 1000 series Carburetor o ring kit Mikuni VM repair kit | eBay
Postage to US should be around $14 for large letter if he charges at cost..

Oh wow... I must not be very good at searching. Thank you Sir.

I searched for that kit in the US ebay and found these kits sold in the USA:
VM https://www.ebay.com/itm/293416953239?hash=item4451036597:g:0r4AAOSwlPFeGEEp
CV https://www.ebay.com/itm/352927690992?hash=item522c2130f0:g:PaoAAOSwhQpeGECc

Has anyone purchased from this seller in the US?

 

[sacruickshank]

Oh wow... I must not be very good at searching. Thank you Sir.

I searched for that kit in the US ebay and found these kits sold in the USA:
VM https://www.ebay.com/itm/293416953239?hash=item4451036597:g:0r4AAOSwlPFeGEEp
CV https://www.ebay.com/itm/352927690992?hash=item522c2130f0:g:PaoAAOSwhQpeGECc

Has anyone purchased from this seller in the US?

I just did. $25 for the carb & intake orings. Will report back once they arrive.

 

[93Bandit]

I just did. $25 for the carb & intake orings. Will report back once they arrive.

I messaged the seller asking for material and hardness. I will report back with what he says. If he doesn't reply, I may end up ordering them myself as well...

 

[sacruickshank]

Some of his descriptions were incomplete. For example, the intake orings are listed for the GS550, but not the GS650 even though partzilla shows the same part number used for both models.

I didn't get into material or hardness, just take my chances.

 

[Nessism]

That retro motorcycle store seems like the obvious choice now that Robert is finished. If the O-rings fit that is.

FYI, when fitting O-rings we want a little stretch when installing on the part. About .3-.5mm for something like a pilot screw, and moving up to maybe .6-1mm on a fuel Tee. Similarlly, after the O-ring is installed, if you measure the OD of the installed O-ring and the ID of the hole, you want a similar amount of compression. Nitrile (Buna N) is the proper material. It swells a little when gas hits it and affects a tight seal.

 

[93Bandit]

I went ahead and ordered a VM kit and CV kit. Will let you guys know what I think of them. I'll try to take some of those measurements, Nessism, if I can remember to do it. I hope to get both sets of carbs rebuilt after the holidays.

 

[Grimly]

Nitrile (Buna N) is the proper material. It swells a little when gas hits it and affects a tight seal.

Hah. First time I came across that particular property was the large flat o-ring of a fuel sender on a car tank. It got wet with petrol, swelled like a pig and I thought it was knackered. Next day it was back to normal size, so I fitted it very carefully.

 

[Nessism]

Hah. First time I came across that particular property was the large flat o-ring of a fuel sender on a car tank. It got wet with petrol, swelled like a pig and I thought it was knackered. Next day it was back to normal size, so I fitted it very carefully.

I experienced the same problem, but put the O-ring in a warm oven to drive out the gas and shrink it back to size.

 

[Guest]

Oh wow... I must not be very good at searching. Thank you Sir.

I searched for that kit in the US ebay and found these kits sold in the USA:
VM https://www.ebay.com/itm/293416953239?hash=item4451036597:g:0r4AAOSwlPFeGEEp
CV https://www.ebay.com/itm/352927690992?hash=item522c2130f0:g:PaoAAOSwhQpeGECc

Has anyone purchased from this seller in the US?

I’ve purchased those when money was tight and they’re fine. I preferred buying from Mr. Barr because he did the original legwork in sourcing them. The only downside with this seller is he puts all the orings in one baggie so the orings aren’t in individual, labeled bags like Mr. Barr’s kit was. Manually sorting them is not a huge deal but some of the orings are close in size so it can get a little confusing.

 

[Nessism]

Pilot fuel screw. Groove OD = 3.86mm. Carb passage OD = 5.90mm

A 1.5mm thick x 3.5mm ID O-ring fits well. There is .36mm stretch to install the O-ring, and the installed O-ring OD is 6.4mm which is about perfect. Use silicone grease on the O-ring and threads during install.

 

[Guest]

I am just beginning my search for replacement o-rings for my ‘82 450. If you have a reliable source, please let me know! I need to refresh those 40 year old rubber rings after riding it from 9k on the odometer to 17k in the past year and a half.

as an aside, it is such a shame that 450 parts are kinda hard to find - I love this bike and really want to keep it alive, but if I can’t take the carbs apart without fear of destroying nearly irreplaceable o-rings then the moment it decides to get clogged up or they dry out the bike is done (unless I swap on different carbs?). Anyway, until then I might just go pay an extra dollar a gallon for ethanol free gas I just found in town to hopefully prevent any water -based corrosion in the fuel system.

 

[Nessism]

I am just beginning my search for replacement o-rings for my ‘82 450. If you have a reliable source, please let me know! I need to refresh those 40 year old rubber rings after riding it from 9k on the odometer to 17k in the past year and a half.

as an aside, it is such a shame that 450 parts are kinda hard to find - I love this bike and really want to keep it alive, but if I can’t take the carbs apart without fear of destroying nearly irreplaceable o-rings then the moment it decides to get clogged up or they dry out the bike is done (unless I swap on different carbs?). Anyway, until then I might just go pay an extra dollar a gallon for ethanol free gas I just found in town to hopefully prevent any water -based corrosion in the fuel system.

There are O-rings that will work. Get some calipers and measure like demonstrated.

 

[93Bandit]

Pilot fuel screw. Groove OD = 3.86mm. Carb passage OD = 5.90mm

A 1.5mm thick x 3.5mm ID O-ring fits well. There is .36mm stretch to install the O-ring, and the installed O-ring OD is 6.4mm which is about perfect. Use silicone grease on the O-ring and threads during install.

Good to know, I appreciate the information. I find it interesting a 1.5mm x 3.5mm is a sufficient replacement for the 1.25mm x 3.8mm o-ring. I would think it'd be too thick, however the CS decreases as the oring is stretched so it probably evens out. This being the case, if it's a more readily available size I will likely end up ordering a lifetime supply of orings for myself.