Cracked carb boots - clarification

Ok all,

My boots are cracked... through and through (seen em leak gas)... I've seen people recommend a few things to repair (not forever, but for a while) them... its down to two contenders.. which is better?? pros/cons??

Liquid Electrical Tape or Black RTV Sealant??

 

this is the one i like, tire patch glue with a piece of bicycle inner tube over them

 

New boots!

 

LOL, if I can get this pig running and in shape, I will spring for new boots... invested too much money with you already , for a non-running bike!! ;-)

 

I would go with the RTV sealent as it will be more resiliant against the gas than electrical tape glue.

 

ok - that was my main concern, thanks!

 

Boots or Manifolds?

I use 5-Minute Epoxy on Manifolds.
You can get it in Black.
Comes in a dual, side by side, syringes for easy mixing.

 

Rick, exactly how "hard" (or not) are the manifolds to begin with? I would think the 5-minute might be less "flexible" than the rubber manifolds, and eventually work loose. I used black ADHESIVE RTV, the kind you use in certain gasketless automotive applications. It's quite a bit "stiffer" than just traditional silicone rubber RTV, seemed to me to be the best match flexibility-wise for the manifolds. But then again, although cracked horribly, none of mine were leaking (passed the propane test.)

 

Sorry - I meant manifolds ;-)

 

The epoxy is sort-of a last resort.
Used ti keep a Manifold neck from falling apart until its replaced.

On the cracks that look like a combination of age and weathering; I use the Liquid Electrical Tape.
I also us the L-E-Tape to reinforce Diaphragms that are getting spotty.

I made a form out of a small funnel that I can set the Diaphragm Piston into and spread-out the Rubber Diaphragm ... hold it down with some Masking Tape and brush-on some of the Liquid Electrical Tape.

I cut the neck of the funned all-around so that the Piston slips in the outside of the funnel and the Rubber Diaphragm spreads-out onto the outside shape of the funnel.

 

Any chance on a pic of this? This sounds fantastic but i'm having trouble picturing it for some reason.

 

for the manifold rubber, just paint it on?? try to get it 'in' the cracks?? should i try to take them off, or do it with them on the bike still (don't want to break any screws)..

How should I clean them before I use this stuff??

 

I put Isoprophyl alcohol in a small, trigger-spray bottle and just spray them good ... wiping-off the Manifolds with a clean cloth.

If you have to scrub the cracks. A bottle brush works pretty good.

 

I've had real success with Plasti-dip for both applications. Mind you the last time I used PR-1422 Class B (PRC Aerospace) aircraft fuel tank sealant on the boots, just gone time expired and provided by my employer. Wonderful stuff but probably a little expensive to buy at around $70.00 a tube).

 

LOL, ya at $6 a bottle, the liquid electrical tap is a tad bit cheaper ;-) plus I don't have to remove them and worry about breaking the screws ;-)