dad-ratted intake boots!!!

[snowbeard]

so I finally got new viton o-rings for my intake boots, and I know I've heard from squaredancerlynn that even a little flaking of the rubber coating on the boots will mean a leak, but I couldn't bear the thought of $100 + for new ones, so I had to try it without.

well, I got out on the highway today and warmed it all the way up and d@mned if the thing didn't get up to 3000 rpm at idle!!

so this is my sit, for anybody who hasn't heard my woes. it starts low and will idle nicely at 1000 when cold, and for awhile after if no highway speeds. after a good bout on the highway it idled at ~2500, and if I pull the choke it revs up for a couple seconds and then dies out and I have to let go. Earl and Keith have both explained how this indicates a lean condition, which would suggest a leaky intake.

so my question would be, has anyone found crossover parts that will work for this bike? I will be having to go thru eBay because I can't yet afford the new set on bike bandit. can we swap between all our models? does a honda or kawa make the same size boots?

I know I've heard that nothing will actually seal these once they're blown, but what about something really gooey that could be gently slopped on around the base of the boots, like a temperature resistanct roofing tar. it would get sucked in a little, and maybe seal the rubber back to the aluminum? is it the corrosion of the aluminum that makes them leak?

and I thought i had really gotten somewhere, now it's actually worse!

[ddz]

I was in the same boat when someone here said to use JB weld for a temporary fix. As always they were right & it worked .I later bought new ones at BB & it was THE BEST $ i spent .good luck
Vinny

[Jethro]

My boots were a little ratty, but I didn't order new ones because everyone said they are megabucks. The boots are 11.53 each on Bike Bandit, I ordered 4 of 'em about a week ago.

http://houseofmotorcycles.bikebandit.com/partsbandit/oem_schematic_view~mp_id~~mscssid~762SHS956KT49GGBPNJJCT8P8JAHDJQB~schem_dept_id~1030857~section_dept_id~1~section_dept_name~OEM+%28Stock%29+Parts~dept_type_id~2~model_dept_year~1983~model_dept_mfr~Suzuki~model_dept_id~988012~model_dept_name~GS1100ED.asp

Also got a new set of all the clamps since I was spending a good $60 less than I expected! Yippie!

[Jethro]

Of course now I see you have the bolt on type of intake boots. Uggg.

[first timer]

you can try these home brew ideas but the only real way to fix the problem is to buy 4 new intake boots from bb, don't get them on ebay cause they can be as bad as the ones you already have. all i can say is save up your pennies and get some new boots when you can. i don't think there are any cross referacnece parts you can use from other bike and if there was they would probly cost just as much.

[snowbeard]

you got lucky, buddy! mine are $25 apiece, plus shipping at bb...


so JB weld worked, eh? I was thinking it might be a bit much for it on temperature side, do they make one good for not expanding and shrinking?

anyone ever tried taking them off, breaking the rubber away from the metal plate, cleaning the plate of corrosion and remounting the rubbers to the plate either with glue or physical clamps? maybe some type of liquid gasket stuff?

[snowbeard]

ryan, I know you're right, but I want to keep riding until I justify the new ones, but also don't want to burn up my valves or anything.

so if my pipes aren't even blueing, can I assume that I'm not running so lean that I'll burn it up?

funny, cause it smells so strongly of gas when it's running, I would think it's running rich? :?

[first timer]

try here they may have them for cheaper, BB is kinda pricey.

http://www.crotchrocket.com/fiche_select.asp

(thanks earl)

if they are crack and leaking how much more justifying do you need.

you can test for leaks by taking a propane torch, take off the nozel hook a rubber hose up to it and so you can basiclly move the end of the hose over the boots spraying the area's around the boots with propane gas. if you have any leaks then the idle will pick up as the propane is drawen into the motor. this will help yo ufind which boots are leaking. are your carbs clean and snyced?

-ryan

[bwringer]

Most places are a lot cheaper than BikeBandit. If you search the forum, there are a few more places with online microfiches and far better prices.

Patching up old intake boots is futile, especially when you consider the risks of major damage to your engine from running lean and overheating your valves. Happened to me, back when I was young and foolish!

Even if you could somehow persuade the old rubber to bond to the aluminum again, it's still old, hardened, shrunken, and cracked. It's going to be nearly impossible to get the carbs on and off, and they're probably still not going to seal correctly.

Intake boots that need replacing are a fact of life with these old machines. If yours have not yet been replaced, replace them now and stop wasting effort, time, money, and the very real risks of running lean. Unless they have also been recently replaced, intake boots from eBay are also very likely worthless.


P.S. The boots for my bike (recently replaced, thank you) are $25 at BikeBandit, and only $15 at CrotchRocket. They're about the cheapest around!

[snowbeard]

wow, sweet!! they are ten bucks less each!!! I guess I'll just have to make the plunge and start spending my motorcycle money on needed parts instead of silly things that I haven't even gotten put on yet (case guards, highway bars, chrome fender, etc! :roll: )

thanks a ton!!!

[Anonymous]

boots

When you had the boots off did they look bad on the inside? if not then there not leaking ,mine look a little flakey on the outside and seal just fine, did you us a oem seal ring or an after market? use oem. if your bike is idleing fine when cold without the choke you got another problem, cause it should have to have some choke applied when cold to keep running, and that maybe some of your problem, when it warms up and the engine will normally pick up RPMs, I think you need to start from scatch on your carb sync and mixture settings, and check other sources for air leaks, and a lean condition, If they did look bad on the inside you can clean them with some carb kleener and a rag and put some black RTV on them and that may help if the boots are indeed bad? Have sprayed around the boots with a small amount of carb cleaner to check for leaks, and man you have to be very careful doing it, and Dont do it with the bike fully warmed up cause the fire risk goes way up, Hang with it

[snowbeard]

they didn't look too bad on the inside, they are only really flaking around the screw holes and the edges of the metal plates. I did try to spray starter fluid around them, and only got the slightest response so far.

I ordered the new boots from crotchrockets just now, I guess I'll try it and see if it helps... worst case I guess I could resell them?


what else can leak on the intake to cause such a reaction??

[snowbeard]

ok, so I put that order on hold just now, as I really felt like the boots I've got should have been alright and gee-s-is' comments made me wonder...

so, can anyone point me in the direction of what else might leak to cause the problems I've seen. I'm really at a loss, I'd be really bummed if I spent this money and it did absolutely nothing for my problem...


if my jets were just clogged, could that make the lean condition that my choke revvs up? maybe a better idea of what happens in the carbs when I pull the choke, it cuts down on the air coming thru, does it open a different fuel circuit?

thanks!!!

[debby]

My 550 did the same thing when I first got it. I took the carbs apart, gave them a good cleaning, and replaced all the orings. My intake boots looked good so I just replaced their orings and reused the boots. Then I did the mercury stix thing and synched the carbs.

Results: nice stable 1200 rpm idle. If your intake boots are leaking that could be the best $100 or whatever you could spend on the bike.

Debby

[Wingnut]

try here they may have them for cheaper, BB is kinda pricey.

http://www.crotchrocket.com/fiche_select.asp

(thanks earl)

-ryan

I was just following this thread. WOW! Parts are way cheaper here than BB. I compared BB to the Suzuki stealer and the prices were the same. Thanks for the info.!

Bob