Air box boots

[Crackerborn]

It seems that at least once a year there is a need to pull the air box to got something or the other done, be it routine maintenance or some farkle that needs adding. Some years ago, I discovered the heat shield behind the radiator was interfering with the air box getting low enough to attach the air box to the carbs. There are various suggestions as to how others have forced the air box into position if one runs a search. I took a different route and modified the heat shield so only slight downward pressure was required to reconnect the air box (assuming the boots seat properly over the carbs).

Yesterday I had the air box out, back in and getting ready to reinstall the fuel tank when I noticed one of the boots looked odd. By pushing at the boot it popped off the carb neck. Okay, the clamps (OEM) must have worn out finally is the obvious thought, so I test (push with my finger) the other connections and every connection moves freely. Off to the store for some new clamps and settled on aircraft hose clamps since they were the only thing could find the work on short notice.

I re-seated the boots, tightened the clamps, tightened the clamps even more, and tightened even more to get a seal and keep the boots from popping off with a slight nudge from the index finger. Now WTH is making me have to tighten the clamps so much? I measured the boot and the neck and have (approx) 1/8 inch bigger boot than neck on the carb. That means the OEM clamps that were on the Girl would never seal the boots over the neck, thus allowing air into the carbs from that connection. I never tested the connection in the past with propane but now wish I had.

Are there any out there that have had this problem also? If so, what was your solution. I will be ordering new OEM clamps to see if new will seal properly as I really don't want to keep the aircraft clamps on the Girl.

[Bone]

Haven't had mine off lately but your description sounds like the boots are stretched.

[Ricky-D]

Those clamps are only necessary to eliminate air leakage at relatively low pressure. You chance damaging stuff if you want them tight

like a radiator hose. The arrangement and location of the components put no strain on any of the components and subject them to pull

apart in any way. Properly installed, the hose clamps (OEM) do the job just fine! You're overreacting.

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[Crackerborn]

 Ricky-D,  I realize there is very little air pressure at this point. But  how are people that did not modify their heat shield manage  to hold the air box down if there is not sufficient pressure from the clamp? There must be at least some pressure on the carburetor boot to keep it from dislodging.

[Gryphon Rider]

I've never had problems with interference from the heat shield (what Honda calls an air guide plate) and have never noticed the rubber boots being oversized for the carb air intake.  1/8" too big just seems odd to me.