Are my intake boots leaking?

[Lockcuff]

Here is a picture of my intake boots, from what mechanic experience i have this is a sign of a leak, but this is a point of vacum, so i was just wondering.
Any Help appreciated.

I took the image out its a little lower on the screen thanks to Bwringer.

[chiphead]

The pic is too blurry to accurately see the condition of the boots but from what I can see, you have definite leakage around the top green arrow. You need at least orings if not the boots themselves. I'd recommend replacing the boots if you're this far into and intend to keep the bike.

[renobruce]

It looks like oil leaking down from above to me. If it were leaking, it would be sucking in, not leaking out.

[GS850_Coug]

It looks like oil leaking down from above to me. If it were leaking, it would be sucking in, not leaking out.

Ditto!

TAS

[redtires]

OK, so I know this isn't going to make a difference, and I certainly don't have enough experience to know exactly what's going on.....but that is ONE BIG PICTURE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It must have taken a year just to download it!!:-D 'K, I'm gonna leave the diagnosis up to those who know.

[ScottMc1100L]

Any Help appreciated.

Something clear in the ballpark of 640X480 would help!

[bwringer]

The mung on your intake boots is oil from above (valve cover gasket) and at least some of the general filth below that is likely from a leaking cam chain tensioner. I'd guess that the valve cover gasket has been replaced, but that the mess didn't get totally cleaned up. The valve cover looks supiciously clean compared to the rest of the engine.

Both problems are common, and both easily dealt with:

http://bwringer.com/gs/camchaintens.html

http://realgaskets.com/files/motorcycle.htm

The bolts holding those intake boots on are the original crappy Phillips head screws, so I would wager almost anything that the o-rings are bad.

http://bwringer.com/gs/intakeorings.html

As far as the boots themselves, there's a 95% chance that they are also bad. However, if the engine has very few miles on it, you might get lucky. Judging from the level of filth, I'd say the engine has plenty of miles and time on it, so you need to suck it up and order some intake boots along with the o-rings.

Resized pic:

[Lockcuff]

Sorry about the big picture, the boots look to be fine, they a very spongy, not hard like old rubber, the cam tensioer is leaking, the bike has 30k on it, the motor has had oil changed religiously, and it does look like the valve cover has been off, the bike ran well when i first got it, and it ran fine when i pulled the carbs off, it did have little trouble starting, it would flood the engine when trying to start, with a little caress, i could get it to fire, it sputter till the plugs were dry, than itd run fine. if it sat for a couple days it do it again. I just pulled the carbs to clean them anyway, the slides were a little gummy looking.

[Lockcuff]

Hey Bwringer, love the site, very helpful.

[chiphead]

It looks like oil leaking down from above to me. If it were leaking, it would be sucking in, not leaking out.

I respectfully disagree although I do understand the theory behind your statement. I'd wager the brown discoloration you see is blow back through the intake causing a fine deposit to build up in the area of leakage over time. I'd also bet those boots are separating from the metal flange that they are cast to.
Of course, I could very well be sucking large quantities of wind. I still say if you're replacing the orings, and you have evidence as shown, replace the boots also.

[Lockcuff]

OK, i pulled them off, the orings were flattened, the boots hold vacum wtih no leakage, I got new bolts, and am ordering new orings, i think this will fix the leak,

[Billyboy]

What do I spay on the boots while running to see if it's leaking?

[Lockcuff]

Ok, i pulled them all off, and the orings were hardened, and the boots are fime, thay hold vacum, and pressure without any leaks, and they are very rubbery, i got all the part numbers from suzuki for seals and the what not, also the numbers for the cam chain tensioner, ill be postin gthem tomorrow.
Thanks
everyone

[Billyboy]

I got boot O-rings from my Suzi dealer. $7 something for 4. Not bad.

[chiphead]

What do I spay on the boots while running to see if it's leaking?

WD40 should work.