TOPIC:

Has anyone successfully made homemade airbox duct boots? I ask not because
I am THAT cheap (close though ), but I picked up a parts 550LTD that I swapped
parts with my current 550 and now was thinking of getting the parts one running
and potentially selling it. Problem is, the boots of my daily ride are ok at best,
but the ones that came with the parts bike are hard as a rock, and I really don't
want to spend $50 on boots just to sell the bike for $400 or whatever I get. Just
curious if someone has crafted something that although may not be the best,
will get the job done for the time being...

mixture of 30% wintergreen oil (methyl salicylate) and 70% xylene to restore old rubber parts and it works beautifully. This is the same ingredients and proportions for the commercial product Rubber Renue according to the MSDS sheets.

Soak them for 12 hours.

My first boots I made out of radiator hose I bought at AZ. I then got some sexy blue silicon hose. It's turning black anyway. If it fits the outside of the carb, they will be tight going into the box. Just be sure they are in the same length as the old ones.
Steve

Steve, did your outter boots elbow and point towards the inside of your airbox? Mine do. Did you try to curve yours also?

I didn't have to. My carbs are 33mm Miks. The air box is from a KZ 900. I had to open the holes more to fit larger boots. I just angled them slightly with my cuts inside and out.
Steve

Gotcha. I might give it a shot for the time being. Easier than jetting for the pods I have that are going back on the shelf! Lol

I soaked mine in wintergreen and put them away somewhere safe.That was a few years ago years ago! I have no idea where they are.Ive never been able to find them. I ended up buying new ones.The originals are either VERY soft now or a blob of disintegrated rubber!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Where does a fella find wintergreen to soak them in? haha...

In Europe,you buy it in a chemist. In America,I think you call it a pharmacy or a drug store. Not expensive but it sure smells.Some people boil them ,though you really need to do that outside.
If you decide to do it let me know and Ill dig out a magazine article that gives a step by step guide on it.

Sure, send it over when you get time.

And here I was thinking I'd have to buy 30 packs of chewing gum

Here you go. Put a peg on your nose;





From 'Practical Sportsbike' Issue 27 (Jan2013)

If you are on a budget I would suggest you first soak them in hot soapy water for 30 minutes or so. See if that doesn't help. Dishwashing detergent and a gallon of hot tap water is pretty cheap.