[cyrusb]

Have read about some bikes intake rubber connection tube splitting and was wondering if the stock airbox was in use when this happens. I keep checking mine and cant seem to understand how this would fail if the stock airbox was in place. I CAN see how it would fail if the carb was just hanging out in leverarm with out the support of the airbox on the upstream end.

[LotusSevenMan]

Mine was split upon checking out the bike as the section from the rhs tool box air filter to the carb was perished. On removing the carb to replace this I found the intake was also split. This on a bike that was four years old but had only covered 367 miles in all that time! The split on that intake connection didn't show until the carb was removed but the intake hose ones did!!!
New hose shown below perished one.

[cyrusb]

 Thanks for the info,I guess the rubber just sucks. What year-model did that hose come from? My 05 classic has a real short adapter.

[cyrusb]

Wow ,so I guess on the military there really isn't any support from the airbox end? On the classic the carb is held trapped between the head and airbox. When your riding can you see the carb moving?

[LotusSevenMan]

This pic shows the various connections betwixt air cleaner and intake manifold. The right side rubber intake tube was split amlost right around its circumference and that 'periscope' rubber that was all perished attaches to the outlet from the 'false' aircleaner box on the left side on the 45* angled inlet (you can just see the jubille clip. The one between the carb intake and the 'false' aircleaner box was still OK strangely enough. This pic was taken just BEFORE I discovered the problems so you can see how easy it is to think everything is A1 unless you look/wiggle/fiddle hard enough! 

[birdmove]

    Wow. Guess I should order each rubber intake boot as spares. Thanks for the heads-up.

    jon

[baird4444]

    Wow. Guess I should order each rubber intake boot as spares. Thanks for the heads-up.
jon

jon- save your self the trouble and go to an AutoZone and get the #s-481 or
# L276 radiator hose. You can cut it with a hacksaw and not worry about it rotting. You are also able to cut it a hair shorter moving the carby in just a little making the 90 degree angle in the trottle cable on top a little less drastic. It is awfully close under there and anything you can do is a help.
- Mike

[Emmet]

I was riding to work on night when the bike went all wonky; coughing, sputtering, backfiring, stalling. On inspection the rubber intake manifold had spontaneously developed a 3" tear; literally crumbled ('06 Bullet). Luckily we had some duct tape at work, and I made it home. No sense replacing a piece-of-crap part with an identical piece-of-crap part; take the carb body to an auto parts store, and tell them you want a high-quality radiator hose to fit. As suggested, cut it only long enough to take both flanges. One less thing to worry about.

[birdmove]

    Thanks so much for the tips guys.

    jon

[Vince]

The newer parts are made with better. I don't see this problem much anymore, but I do keep spares in stock. Just include looking at this  with your pre ride inspection.

[Byway]

My rubber intake is allowing my carburetor to slip nearly all the way out (at highway speeds), regardless of how well seated the carb. is in the rubber, or how tight I have the clamp!  It appears to be otherwise intact but, given this part's terrible record of failure, i'm going to try Mike's (Baird 4444) mod. and replace the stock intake with a section of radiator hose.  I'll see how it goes!

Al

[geoffbaker]

I find this is one item that continually needs adjusting... the airbox is always trying to pull away. The modification sounds like a good one, next time I'm in an auto shop I'll look at the radiator hos section! Thanks for the tip!

[DaveG297]

I told youse guys the rubber was lousy..........I've gotten two weather cracked intake manifolds replaced already ...I carry a roll of rubber tape..........cause they can sure run lean............dg

[baird4444]

I find this is one item that continually needs adjusting... the airbox is always trying to pull away. The modification sounds like a good one, next time I'm in an auto shop I'll look at the radiator hos section! Thanks for the tip!

                           Try a part# S-481 hose from Auto Zone.
                                                            - Mike

[Byway]

I bought the above-mentioned S-481 coolant hose from Auto Zone.  It cost just under $10 and there's enough hose to cut a few extra spares, too.  The inside diameter is perfect.  The thickness is a little less than the stock part but the rubber is reinforced and the end result is sturdy enough.  I installed this mod yesterday afternoon, tightened the nut holding the airbox bracket, and took the bike for a spin yesterday and again today.  So far so good!

Al

[LotusSevenMan]

I wonder what an S-481 is in UK terms   
LSM

[baird4444]

I wonder what an S-481 is in UK terms   
LSM

Find one with an I.D. of 30mm...  or 1 7/16's inch. The straighter the better.
                    - Mike

[LotusSevenMan]

Find one with an I.D. of 30mm...  or 1 7/16's inch. The straighter the better.
                    - Mike

The girlfriend agreed with the last part but was sure you'd got the first bit wrong!!!!
Ooops. We are talking intake parts here! ..............................Oh, so was she apparently 

[LotusSevenMan]

This rad pipe I won on eBay and is apparently the correct size and so I should get a few out of this one as it has a nice long straight section eh?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=320228936284&ssPageName=STRK:MEWN:IT&ih=011

LSM

[LJRead]

Big spender, ain't ya, LSM?

It'll go with the NICE LEGS!

[baird4444]

This rad pipe I won on eBay and is apparently the correct size and so I should get a few out of this one as it has a nice long straight section eh?
LSM

That will make a bunch of them. It only takes about an inch. Using this allows you to get the carby just a little closer to the head which takes a little bit of the sharp angle out
of the cable...  Lasts 4 ever and serves a purpose!!
                 - Mike

[Byway]

If I recall, I cut mine 1 1/4" long and this was nearly perfect with the carb. spigot butted against the intake flange.

Al

[cyrusb]

When you bring the carb in closer will the boot to the airbox still reach? 'Cause I would like to do that too.

[baird4444]

When you bring the carb in closer will the boot to the airbox still reach? 'Cause I would like to do that too.

I've done away with the airbox so I can't really say. I'll bet you only gain 1/4" at the very most but it DOES make a difference at the cable. If I remember right, isn't the box mounted on a slot??  seems you might gain that back....
     If I remember??  - Mike

[jonapplegate]

I was just looking at the original question on this thread. I believe that I may know why this happens, besides perhaps bad older rubber. If you look straight down at the intake hose, carb and airbox you will see that the inlet and outlet do not face each other exactly and with some engine vibes thrown in the mix that could cause the problem. Nothing can be done about that though, huh?