leaky boots all around

I set my valves and finally got my bike idling to where I could set the timing, and took it for a ride. Holy crap was that little 305 fast! I could barely believe it! I quickly realized it was racing and went home to test the carb boots. Sprayed starting fluid and all 4 of them leak. The ones to the airbox were only replaced a few years ago and they were the last 2 brand new KZ305 OEM boots left in the country. But they quickly "ballooned" but have remained soft.

The manifold boots look like new and are still pliable, but are leaky. I suppose I can try new clamps and see if that does anything but what if it doesnt? No way I'm going to waste good money on 35 year old used boots off fleabay or a junkyard. What do I do if I need to replace boots all around? And do the airbox boots really matter right now? I always thought it was leaky manifold boots that cause racing

You're right. The carb holders may be leaking at the intake flange. I need new ones too but until then I used (gasp) :ohmy: Permatex to reseal them. The airbox boots won't cause this problem.
Steve

Why would they be leaking if they look great?

Where the mate to the head could be the problem.
Steve

yep...they are hard as plastic there and that seems to be where the worst leaks are....I wonder if I can get a wire clamp around that end and tighten em down to finish out the season.

82KZ305Belt wrote: Why would they be leaking if they look great?

Looking great has nothing to do with them leaking. My original carb holders looked like new, but I discovered they were leaking badly which caused very erratic idle. They didn't leak at all along the tube sections. Over time from heat and age they developed hairline cracks on the surfaces that mate against the cylinder head. These cracks cannot be seen with the carb holders bolted to the head. When I removed the carb holders (they failed the leak test) I could see very fine cracks on those mating surfaces when examining them through a magnifying glass. I replaced them with new ones and the problem was completely solved. Ed

The Permatex sealed them but only for a while.
Steve

Bummer...I don't think I'll find any new ones so redneck repair is probably my best solution

swest wrote: The Permatex sealed them but only for a while.
Steve

Burtrum the lonely red neck. " I'll stomp on his face til he don't move no more." (Frank Zappa) :woohoo:
Steve

82KZ305Belt wrote: Bummer...I don't think I'll find any new ones so redneck repair is probably my best solution

STOP! Before you redneck the repair check with a local and/or online Kawasaki parts dealers. All the online sources I checked show the KZ305-B1 carb holders (part number 16065-1013) as still being available. Ed

Oh crap....what am I gonna do with this big tube of Shoe Goo then?

650ed wrote: Before you redneck the repair check with a local and/or online Kawasaki parts dealers. All the online sources I checked show the KZ305-B1 carb holders (part number 16065-1013) as still being available. Ed

Use it on your grips. :woohoo:
Steve