Mystery Carb Boot?

[Mr.Vroom]

Hi everyone,
I was getting prepared to put new head gasket on my 1980 Gs250T. I was taking my carbs off, and while I was doing that I heard a rattling noise coming from the airbox. I shined a light into the box and found this boot. I was able to fish it out with a pair of pliers, and while examining it I see it says Gs450 on the said along with the part number 13881-44100 and a "R" for what I'm assuming right. I looked in the other side of the box to see another one in it. Is this part necessary? If it is where can I get a replacement because it's hard and deformed. I tried lookin the part number up on eBay but it came up with no results? Would a similar boot from a different bike work for it, what bike could I get it from. And if it was also used for the 450 why cant I find any replacements for sale?
carb boot #1.jpg

[steve murdoch]

According to the GS250T parts schematic the numbers are the same.

https://www.ronayers.com/oemparts/a/suz/50d3ee50f8700230d8b4b52a/air-cleaner

Try your local Suzuki dealer if have one or a place like Bike Bandit.

https://www.bikebandit.com/

[Grimly]

Those intake boots play a vital part in forming the gas flow into the carb mouth. The bike will usually run without them, but not as well as it should.

[sacruickshank]

sometimes they become critter food

[Mr.Vroom]

I have checked every place I could think of. it seems that the part was discontinued. But while looking on eBay I found some that are for the CB550 at a good price. Is it possible that they will fit on the 250? I think that they should be the same size. Sorry for taking so long to follow up, I've been busy with the engine and other projects. Thanks.

[chuck hahn]

you can also try cruzinimages

[tom203]

These guys claim to still have them……left and right…$17 each

https://alpha-sports.com/suzuki_parts.htm?q=suzuki-bike-parts

[Mr.Vroom]

Thanks, they had some other parts I needed. I sent them an email seeing if they have what they claim.

[jonnywdwd]

Those boots were so shrunken and hard on my 250 that they would no longer fit over the carb bodies and rattled around loosely in the airbox ports.
Got myself 4oz of Methyl Salicylate (wintergreen oil) and did the 3 parts isopropyl alcohol to 1 part MS soak for about 5 days and they looked and felt like new. It was amazing. I am sold on that method for rejuvenating rubber parts. I use it now for a lot of old non-cracked rubber parts which need softening/refreshing, especially the ones which are hard to find or take ages to order/receive, or are ludicrously expensive. I just keep the same mix in a jar and reuse it over and over. Turns black but just seems to keep on working.

[bwringer]

These things shrink and harden with time and heat, and more than once someone who ordered new ones has been convinced the incorrect boots were sent because they're so much larger and softer.

If you can't find new ones, the methyl salicyclate trick is worth a try if the old ones are not cracked.