Carb removal is torture

My old Cali-type '87 was starting to get "hose rot" in the air pollution hoses, I found a couple of intake leaks. So I decided to take off all the stuff since it was not working very well if at all any more. I also noticed the thing that pumps air into the front cyl exhaust was not doing anything any more, so that came off too.

I looked in the manual and they made it sound so easy to take the carbs off. :crazy: Boy I wish. First, the rubber boots holding the carbs to the heads hadn't been moved for 23 years (I'm guessing) so they were old and stiff. Also the idiot who assembled it last did not leave access to the screw clamps on the right two cylinders. Took forever to get it off.

I had loosened the lower clamps, but when the thing came off (after a lot of prying and grunting and cussing) the boots on the back cylinder stayed with the head rather than on the carbs. If anyone has to do this job I suggest loosening all clamps, not just the bottom 4, so whichever way it wants to come off, it will come off. Maybe on new bikes this job is easier.

Now I have to see if I want to spend $50 on new boots (counting shipping), or see if I can make these old stiff boots work again.

The more I think about it, the more an inline 4 cylinder engine makes sense to me. Or even just a thumper! I hate motorcycle designs where maintenance is an afterthought.

 

I took mine off on the 91, was easy as eating pie. Just had to pry a little on each boot to break the seal loose.

Sorry you had a hard time.

nom nom nom

 

YOU'VE got it wrong, Bunkie. Ya' all ain't seen nuthin like torture yet. NOT anywhere near so much as getten dem bitches back on !!!!!

Off is easy, on is much harder..........enjoy !

 

if the boots were that stiff i would replace them cauz they would start craking soon if not all ready cracked. better to spend the money now then have to pull the carbs again with all the cussing

 

I agree, get new boots. You'll be AMAZED at how flexible they're supposed to have been! Taking the carbs off of my '86 vf500f was horrible, but putting them back on with new boots wasn't very hard for me. I snapped the front boots to the carb's pipes, and rested the rear two sitting at a level horizontal on the head's pipes. As I stood over the bike I first pressed the front boots into place, pop-pop, then pushed straight down and the boots allowed all four pipes to find their place, and then I had to coax it side by side (checking visually each time), until pop-pop, pop-pop. If I would have tried this with the original boots, I'd still be there pushing the thing around!

 

I give a thumbs up to new boots...although I didn't do that... I just put a little bit of oil on them and they snapped right back in place...it did take some wiggling around and a little bit of cussing but they went back on..... spend the money and get new ones...you will be MUCH happier...

 

Jaimie's website helped me. Daugherty Motorsports - V4 Honda Carb Removal and Installation Procedure

 

Mine carbs were sitting good too so I took one inch pipe....and went against top of engine....gently couple of times...and I got them out

 

putting them back is much harder...but taking them off is silly also...Its definitely not as easy as an inline 4

just take your time and go slow..youll find a number of ways of putting them back in...one will be the "right way"

best of luck

dave

 

Today, I just put the carbs back on my 93. I ended up buying new boots. I'm so glad I did. It was alot easier with the new boots. It only took about 10 minutes to get them situated just right. I found that putting the front in first, then push the back in was alot easier. Good luck.

 

I have done this many times on my bike in the last couple of months and still fuddle through the procedure.

What did the boots cost you?

thanks,

Dave

 

Daveyto - I got them through a local place up in Manchester, CT via an internet order and they shipped them straight to my door. Cost including shipping was $60.21 for all 4 boots. You can get them through Bike Bandit also. So, all in all you're looking at roughly $15 a boot. I put the new boots on first and situated them so I could tighten down the screws easily. Then, at first, I put the rear of the carbs on and they slid right in with a little thump. Then I tried the front and couldn't get it. I pulled them back off the put the front on and they slid right in, then I put the rear on. It took a few minutes to get everything just right, but like I said earlier, only about 10 minutes or so.

 

Mine are like hard plastic...so I'll look into getting some new ones. I am assuming they are soft rubber when new?

thanks

 

adjusting carb synch on a v-four is a bastard. As long as its my bike i will happily wear blisters from burning my fingers and cuts. If your getting paid to do it, you should be well compensated. nuff sed. Love the torque and sound of my bike thou and wouldnt trade it for a comprable bike from that era if there was one.