Carb boots

I know this subject has been hashed and rehashed...I'm a proud new owner of an old 1981 XJ650. I am looking for carb boots and I have tried all of the links from this website and every other related site on google, to find new or used replacement boots. The only boots I can find are from Yamaha dealers for over $250. Does anyone know if there is a cheaper option available? I'm doing a bunch of work on my bike and don't want to spend it all on carb boots.
I love this site by the way.

 

Welcome.

Have you tried XJ4Ever? link to page in ad at top left. Chacal has everything for these at great prices.

If you're looking for carb to air box boots rubber plumbing couplings have been mentioned on here but I've never tried them.

 

Cylinder Head to Carbs = "Manifolds"

Carbs to Air Box = "Boots"

From the price you mentioned, I'm guessing you need "Manifolds".

Did you check Ebay?

 

Manifolds all cracked up?
Same here I heard somewhere that you can glaze the cracks shut with some sort of silicone sealant. I might look into that and let you know. $250 is pricy for rubber.

 

I do mean the manifolds or carb joints or intake boots or any of the other names they go by. I checked Chacal's ordering catalog and he has a set of 4 for 229.95 not including any gaskets or other parts...but he also has a set of 2 left intake boots for 60.95 and right boots for 62.95. Does anyone know why they are cheaper to buy separate? Unless I'm missing something, this is a no-brainer...anyway, thanks for the welcome and the tip on Chacal's extensive catalog. I am very impressed.

 

I tried sealing them already and my bike is running fine but my mechanic is saying that it isn't good enough. I don't want to do more damage to the carbs. I looked on ebay and they only have the manifolds for the xj550. Should I wait and hope the price will go down, repair the manifolds or cough up the cash?

 

If you seal them them, put some rubber over the top - by cutting a "Hoop" from a cycle inner tube - you can make a really neat repair and I believe it lasts for up to 3 years. Use high temp RTV sealant.

 

Awesome, that is great/cheap news. Any recommendation for a sealant?

 

Does anyone have a good how-to for this? I think it might be something I would like to try

 

Look in my gallery - there is a picture of covered boots on the carbs. My bikes PO had smeared sealant all over them but they weren't actually that bad. I cleaned the old Sh1t off and put a thin film on the boots with a 1 inch hoop cut from a mountain bike inner tube over the top.

 

those look pretty good! So the sealant is good enough to keep the inner tube on the boots? Did you use RTV or some other kind of sealer?

 

I have done a MAJOR Restoration of a Manifold using:

Masking Tape
Duct Tape
5-Minute Epoxy - Black
Liquid Electrical Tape
220 Grit Sand Paper
Plumbers Sand Paper
Black Nail Polish.

Tape the inside of the crack so the Epoxy won't run-out.
Mix and drip, spread and toothpick "Trowel" Epoxy in the Split.
Hold the Manifold in your hand during the sealing phase and continually reposition the Manifold while the Epoxy is still fluid.

Let Cure.
Sand. Tape Sand Paper to a Paint Stir Stick & a Drum Stick.
Shape.
Fill all the cracks and craters.

Sand and shape.
Coat.

Open the Liquid Electrical Tape
Unscrew the Cap and withdraw slowly. Cut-off the Dabber and discard.
Cover Jar.
Using cheap, disposable "Artist" Paint Brushes.
Pour three drops of Liquid Electrical Tape on a piece of Cereal Box.
Work fast.
Paint the Manifold with the 3-drop load.
Once the Product begins to "Pull" ... STOP.
Discard. Reload. Continue.
Get the whole Manifold covered. Apply second coat after 1st dries.

And it don't take long for that stuff to dry.

Sand.
380 or the Plumbers Strip.
Smooth that baby out, Jack!

Black Nail Polish.
Same deal as the Liquid Tape.
Ditch the Bottle Top Brush / 5 Drop Pour / Cover until it starts to dry.

Get it so that if you put your on a Coffee Table next to a Brand New one ... somebody would come-in and look at them and pick yours.