'80 GS850G Air cleaner gasket?

[shortlid]

I just looked and there is a 1/4 inch gap between the air box and the K&N air filter assembly!! The Suzuki dealer can't find a gasket listed and Bikebandit schematic does not show one?? Shoud I just use gasket maker or is something else that will work??

http://www.bikebandit.com/partsbandit/showschematic~dept_id~994993.asp

[kalessin]

From other threads, it seems like people add their own filter seals using foam weatherstripping, like from Home Depot or your local hardware store.

[marvinsc]

From other threads, it seems like people add their own filter seals using foam weatherstripping, like from Home Depot or your local hardware store.

Yep, Works Well Too!

[bwringer]

Yup, foam self-adhesive weatherstripping. It's a rite of passage for every 850 owner.

You have to seal the airbox covers and also the top surface of the air filter cage.

[ptm]

Yup, foam self-adhesive weatherstripping. It's a rite of passage for every 850 owner.

You have to seal the airbox covers and also the top surface of the air filter cage.

Can you give some more specifics on what weatherstripping to use - high-density/low-density foam? How thick? How wide? Is it all oil resistant or will it break down after a while? Especially to replace the thin foam that's on the inside of the airbox side covers. Do you use a single .5" strip just around where it seals, or have you found really wide sheets to cover the whole area. If you use just the strip, any suggestions about how to get it on exactly the right line where the airbox meets the cover...

Thanks

[Gary Lich]

Can you give some more specifics on what weatherstripping to use - high-density/low-density foam? How thick? How wide? Is it all oil resistant or will it break down after a while? Especially to replace the thin foam that's on the inside of the airbox side covers. Do you use a single .5" strip just around where it seals, or have you found really wide sheets to cover the whole area. If you use just the strip, any suggestions about how to get it on exactly the right line where the airbox meets the cover...

Thanks

No need to search for anything fancy. I just use the grey weatherstripping stuff with adhesive on one side from the hardware store. Comes on a roll thats like 25' long. I am not at home to measure it but it's about 1/4" wide by 1/4" thick. seems to be fairly low density open cell foam. Holds up pretty well (all foam will degrade eventually) Easy to install so it's no problem to change in on the side covers every other year or so. I use a single strip. I also put a new strip around the top of the metal filter holder every time I remove the filter just to make sure I get a good seal.

[shortlid]

Home Depot

Just got small roll of 1/4 inch foam weather striping from Home-Depot. Says right in "many automotive and marine uses."

[bwringer]

Can you give some more specifics on what weatherstripping to use - high-density/low-density foam? How thick? How wide? Is it all oil resistant or will it break down after a while? Especially to replace the thin foam that's on the inside of the airbox side covers. Do you use a single .5" strip just around where it seals, or have you found really wide sheets to cover the whole area. If you use just the strip, any suggestions about how to get it on exactly the right line where the airbox meets the cover...

Thanks

Absolutely no precision is required for this project -- just make sure you don't have gaps between the pieces of foam. Cover the whole inside of the side cover with foam if you want, or just the edges. The thickness doesn't matter much -- just as long as it's more than 1/4 inch or so. I don't remember if I used the 5/16 inch or 1/2 inch thickness, but it was the thickest I could find.

I used self-adhesive gray foam weatherstripping years ago and it has not broken down at all in the warm gas/oil vapor haze inside the airbox. I used yellow weatherstripping cement to stick the pieces together, and it seems to have held up as well.

I don't know what the gray foam is made from, so you might want to test your foam with a few drops of gasoline to see if it will break down. I'd stay away from a latex foam, but any polyurethane foam would probably be OK. Obviously, you'll want to thoroughly clean the surfaces where the stickum will go.

Some people have made these out of foam mouse pad material, I think in a couple of layers. Anything with RTV silicone would be a bad idea, since there's a lot of gasoline vapor in there. Go nuts, have fun, and if you come up with a better idea, let us know.

[shortlid]

Just placed and cut works well thanks guys!