Carb Boot Trouble

I just spent the past hour and a half trying to re-attach my carbs to my airbox/carb boots. This is single handedly the most simple SOUNDING most frustrating thing I have ever done. Oh my goodness.... I got them into the vac port hoses pretty easy with RickOMatics patented lever tool (Hammer handle) and that was cake. I went on to trying to put in the boots and wanted to punch something afterwards. Geez... But anyway. Lookin for suggestions?? Or did i should i put the carbs in the airbox boots before the vac ports? I dunno. I had to stop cause I gotta meet my gf for dinner. So, take it easy! drop a hint or two if you dont mind!
-SLKid

 

There has to be an easier way, but what I do is have the airbox boots pushed back in the box just a bit, put the carbs into the intake boots and get them locked down. Then I pull the seat and airfilter and use a combination of reaching into the airbox and pulling from the outside to work the boots out of the airbox and onto the carbs.

It takes just a little bit, but I've had a fair amount of practice now and it doesn't take too long.

 

I struggled with mine...UNTIL I spent the $34 on a new set of boots!
WOW did that make a huge difference.
Nice flexible rubber made a world of difference.

Trouble is, I don't think you can get them for the airhead anymore. They are getting pretty rare for the X too.

If anyone has them, Chacal will.

 

Wrap the boots in a damp towel and put them in the microwave for a few (10?) seconds, or use a hair drier to warm them up. Makes them softer and easier to put in.

 

The airbox boots for the 550 models: in stock.
The airbox boots for the 650 (except Turbo) models: in stock.
The surge tank boots for the 650 Turbo models: no help!
The airbox boots for the 700-X models: in stock.
The airbox boots for the 700 non-X models: coming soon (mid-April).
The airbox boots for all XJ750 models: coming soon (mid-April).
The airbox boots for the 900RK models: in stock.
The airbox boots for the 1100 models: no help!

 

I'm thinking a combination of Fridays method, which is what I had been doing with no success cause the boots are so tough, with the hair dryer method will be pretty sufficient! Thank goodness my roomates are girls or gettin a hair dryer would look wierd at Wally World! Lol. I guess I'll give it a try tomrrow after work. I was so stoked about actually gettin her started today too!
Thanks Chacal for the update. I'll probably end up gettin new ones from you eventually. Gotta order shims and a shimming tool from ya first
Thanks a lot guys for the advice! I'll be posting a vid of Maxines ressurection if and when she runs again!
-SLKid

 

Also, for those of us with short hair, you might as well get a real "heat gun" rather than a hair dryer, as hair dryers don't always put out enough heat to REALLY get things cookin' warm like you need on a bike! I have a really nice heat-gun that costs about the same a a decent wally-world hair-dryer.......

P.S> lots of concentrated spot-heat (like a heat gun can provide) is a useful way of extracting frozen bolts, too....

 

When you have young supple boots it's incredibly easy.

 

Hit the inner ends of the boot with an aerosol silicone spray. Will help a lot, and won't do the rubber notable harm.

 

Agree about the boots. I have new ones on mine. The ones that were on there were as hard as a rock, so I never even tried.

 

Rnice thats a good idea too! I dont have any aerosal spray but i do have some silicone grease I can put on em. Just a smear wouldnt hurt would it? Just a little on the inside of the boot and/or a little on the metal on the carbs?

 

Ok, so I'm about to try a few things to get these boots on. I'm going to brong out a hair dryer, cause I dont have a heat gun and my neighbor isnt home to ask. Ima tryin pushin it on after that. If that doesnt work I'm bringing out a pot of boiling water and some rags and dipping the rags in it and wrapping it around the boots. Sound good? And if that doesnt work I'm going to smear some Silicone grease on the OUTSIDE of the carb to get her to slip on along with the hairdyer method. Cross your fingers!

 

Hair Dryer worked like a charm. yay. New problem... yay....