Carb Boots

[Carl]

During a recent discussion with Rip Parsells, the topic of carb boots came up. I told him that as far as I know they are still available from Honda. He said that that may be so but that they haven't been manufactured since the 80's and are probably 25+ years old. Is this true?

[EMS]

I have not had any new ones from Honda lately, but several set of aftermarket ones for the early models. They are like new, i.e.: soft and pliable.

[daves79x]

The carb boots on any low-mile bike, or school bike, I've worked on have all been nice and pliable. I would assume any Honda has on the shelf are as well. I've bought a couple of sets from Honda in the last year or so and they have been just fine.

Dave

[EMS]

I would think it is not so much the age, but the heat cycles that make these things hard.

[Rick Angles #3328]

Glad I came upon this thread. I am just about ready to remove my carbs and was worried about the boots tearing. I will be removing the exhaust this weekend and hopefully removing the carbs next weekend. Lots of graduations and a few birthdays right now, so I can only work on it as I get time.

Should I spray anything on the boots to make them easier to get off? Like silicone spray? Or not worry about it, hoping they don't crack? And if they do crack / split,hopefully find replacements?

[EMS]

Warming them up helps. As they are on the bike, the only safe way is probably a hair dryer Getting them to come off is not as much of an issue as getting the carbs back on.
If they are still the original boots, I would replace them before putting the carbs back on. How they come off doesn't matter then.

[daves79x]

Rick:
Warm the boots up really well with a hair dryer, as Mike said, will allow the carbs to pop right off. Just loosen the carb side clamps pretty far and cover the alternator with a rag so you don't scratch it up. Straddle the bike as if you are riding it, then reach down and grab the carbs on both sides, work up and down a bit and they will pop right off. You can then take the cables off before working them out.

Reinstalling them is just the same - warm up the boots real well, smear a little grease inside the boots and the carbs will go right on - same drill, straddle the bike. Put the 'pull' cable on the carbs after you slide them under the frame rails, but before installing them in the boots. The other cable and choke cable can be put on after they are in place.

You don't have to loosen the cables at the grip - everything will come off and on just fine.

Bottom line is your carb boots are probably fine and will seal well if you heat them up well going off and on.

Dave

[Rick Angles #3328]

Thanks, Mike and Dave, for the replies. I had thought maybe using a hair dryer to warm them up, but wasn't sure it would work. I am hoping they come off ok with no problem. I think all I have left before removing them is to remove the exhaust, remove the front mounts, then let the engine tilt down enough to remove the carbs, right? This is by going from the original CBX repair manual. Plus I had them off years ago to remove the limiter cabs.

[daves79x]

Rick:
Lower the engine plenty far enough to get the airbox out w/out scratching the frame. Turn the bars to the left and fish all the throttle cable slack back so you don't stress the cable ends at the carbs when it's tilted. Make sure you follow ALL the steps listed in the manual - EXCEPT - you don't have to remove the exhaust. Just take the back mounting bolts completely out and loosen all the front collar nuts quite a bit. The exhaust will sag quite far enough to tilt the engine. The '81-'82 exhaust is a pain to get back on with the crossover pipe connection.

Dave