How to get the air box to Carburetors boots back on?

How to get the air box to Carburetors boots back on?

Here is the problem I am having. A few weeks ago I took my Carburetors off the bike and gave them a good cleaning and put new float bowl gaskets in. Now I can’t get the air box to Carburetors boots back on. When I took the carbs off I wanted to make sure that all the boots where in workable shape. So when I took the boots off from the engine block side off, to make sure there where no cracks, one of the bolts snapped right in two. So I took the bike to my shop and they drilled it out plus two more rusted in bolts for $62. Oh yeah before I took my bike in to the store I put on some new engine guards which made taking off the carbs very easy because the engine could be pushed a little bit forward with the bolts holding the engine in place out. So do you guys think maybe the engine is now to far back? Thus making it difficult to get the boots back in. Or maybe just my lack of skill. Any help would be highly appreciated.

 

No lack of skill fella , they can be a pest , fist off in the pic its the wrong way around , that ridge/channel goes in the airbox hole.

screwdivers and force and squash....

wanna try it old the older more stiffer rubber arrrrrg

 

Having just recently replaced all of the rubber carb holders myself, I can probably help you out a bit here.
I also had trouble figuring out how to get something that was 2 plus inches long in to a less than 1 inch space.
I looked outside the box and came up with this solution. It worked really well.

Fist thing is to remove the fuel tank. It only takes a few seconds and will make your job 1000% easier.
Instead of trying to squeeze the rear boots in between the carbs and the air box, I removed the air box filter cover and the air filter, and installed them from inside the air box.
To make it even easier, I used a small amount of very gentle dishwashing liquid detergent (on the outside of the boot only) to help slide them in to position.
Start with the 2 inside boots first, and then move to the outside ones. Don’t forget to install the clamps as you go.
If you work the boots from the outside with one hand, and twist and turn them from inside the air box with the other hand, you can install all 4 boots in less than 5 min.

I hope that makes the job easier for you.

Peter Richards

 

well, if the pieces are relatively soft, it won't be too bad. but as some have said, you won't have any fun if they are old and hard. I just replaced mine on a basket case of a maxim x. they were brand new so they went pretty easily. I just stuffed them in there with a screw driver into the air box first and situated them from there onto the carbs. they can be fun!

 

I just went through this and managed it with both the airbox and the carbs in place. I just started with the middle pair manipulated the carb side into place first. On the airbox side, there is a little key like thing that fits a specfic spot. I made sure that was more or less aligned while i was getting them attached to the carb side. After that I pushed and pulled with my fingers to get the sloted ring for each one inserted into the airbox.

 

CTSommers, In the pic you have posted you have the boots backwards. The side with the groove towards the carbs is supposed to be the groove that the air box hole fits into.

With that said they are still little buggers to get in .
Good luck

 

It worked!! pushed the boots right through the air box. Then twisted the boots a little for a nice fit and clamped them down. Working my way from the two inside boots to the two outside boots. You guys are princes among men. Made my day!!

 

I can see I'm late to the party on this one. I too installed mine through the air box but I lubed up with silicone grease instead of soap. Glad to hear of your success CT!!

 

things i found helped..

1.) mine where somewhat dirty, crankcase fumes created a stick film so i had just washed them in warm soapy water. This softened them up a bit

2.) i didnt go thru the airbox, but I dd "taco" them, then push them into the airbox, pulling them back out onto the carb. a bit of screw driver persuasion popped them back on

3.) I unbolted the airbox to gain a very small amount of extra space

4.) grr I can see why someone would want to remove the airbox and try pods