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GS850L Air Filter Gasket Decay

  • Thread starter Thread starter Anonymous
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Anonymous

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:?: I recently purchased a 1980 GS850L and proceeded to perform some peace of mind chores (e.g. oil change, air filter, etc). I discovered that the foam gasket/seal on the air box top/lid that seals to the air filter's metal carrier was completely deteriortated and crumbling apart. Anybody else observe this?

My question: Is there any reason I can't use a good quality foam rubber weatherstripping to replace this gasket? Or, should buy a new air box lid from Suzuki that comes with the foam gasket attached. The foam gasket is not available as a separate item, of course.
 
I have a GS850L and I can't place which gasket you're talking about. Exactly where is it????


Terry
 
Good weather stripping should do the job.

You can actually run the bike without that airbox lid cover, but chances are it will run leaner and you will need to rejet. But it will allow the air box to breathe better.

I tried running mine without the airbox lid cover and it ran lean in the top end, lost power and hesitated going up hills. So I put it back on and it ran 100% better.

So by sealing that lid with good weather stripping would be a good idea.

Jeff
 
I think you're talking not about the airbox covers but the actual gasket inside the box between the filter and the top of the box right? If so, I had the same problem and bought a 50' roll of weather stripping for about $6CAD and it worked great. Probably much cheaper than ordering it new!
 
A GS850 will barely run, if at all, with the airbox cover gone. They're very touchy about getting too much air.

You MUST have a good seal between the airbox and the airbox covers and you MUST have a good seal between the inside of the airbox and the air filter carrier.

These are simple foam weatherstrip-type seals, and you can easily replace the old deteriorated foam with stick-on weatherstripping.

Personally, I use weatherstripping cement (gorilla snot yellow gunk) because I don't trust the adhesive tape to stick for long in the hot, oily, gasoline-vapor environment inside the airbox.
 
ha!

I've also recently purchased an '80 850 L, and i have noticed the same problem. ..the gasket behind the chrome cover on the one side is all ratty and wont stick to the cover.....

never figured it would be that big of a problem, so i just cleaned it up, and put it back on as best i could....
 
The weatherstripping is a good idea.

I used polyurethane foam underpadding for carpet. It not only served duty for the seal, but made up an entire filter cartridge two yeas ago. I used that when the Suzuki dealer told me the original filter was back-ordered and might not show up for the summer. I still have it on the GS1100G.

If you go the filter route be certain the foam you choose will not break down when oiled.
 
Air Filter problem solved for now...

Air Filter problem solved for now...

Thank you all for your input. I ended up using a "premium" quality weather strip 3/4" x 5/16" ($2.98 for 10 feet). I first soaked a piece in gasoline for several hours to be certain this wasn't an entirely bad idea.

Just to clarify the condition of the original foam gasket - it was compelety destroyed - came off in pieces when I pulled out the air filter. I had to do something about it. The air filter, however, looks like new.
 
Re: GS850L Air Filter Gasket Decay

I used an old mouse pad cut to size and contact cement under my chrome end air box covers. Bill
 
Mouse Pad!!!!

Mouse Pad!!!!

Mouse Pad!....... I think I'll go cut one up now. I have some weather strip in mine but I had to use four pieces. + it comes un-stuck and I have to replace it atleast once a year.

The Mouse pad, and rubber cement should do the trick. THANKS!
 
I also had the same problem on my 82 GS1100GL. I went the expensive route though and bought the new element and frame with gasket from suzuki. The bike was not running right and it turned out the airleak from the rotted gasket on the metal basket was the culprit. It was crumbly and rotted just like you guys were talking about. I wonder if any of that junk got sucked into my carbs? :?: :roll: I would have never thought that a small airleak like that would cause so much performance problems. So please take a leak like that seriously.

good day :wink:
 
My gasket went the same route. I fixed it with the weatherstripping and yellow snot. However, when I did a carb rebuild, I did find bits of the deteriorated foam inside the bowl. NOT a good thing.
 
Overhauled my airbox this weekend. The weatherstripping works a treat on the end covers.

Also found a couple of other problems. The snorkel had started to part from the bottom of the airbox - fixed with black silicon sealant. The 'hooks' supporting the left end of the element had spread slightly so one side of the filter wasn't sealing against the airbox properly.

Question: are the two sets of small holes (each is partly covered with a metal tab on the inside) on the bottom of the airbox supposed to be clear to admit air?
 
Yes, those holes are supposed to be clear.

At least they are on my GS850G, and it runs perfectly.
 
A couple of weeks ago I was riding along at about 55 mph and the bike is almost dieing ,I give it a ton of throttle and she clears up and away she goes. :D Well anyway this past week I do some preventive maint. and no more foam on the bottom of the cage. Me thinks I sucked the foam up. I think it got vaporized. Ran kinda funny too :oops: . Well a new filter installed and lesson learned. :-k
Rob
 
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