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Author Topic: Anyone had luck replacing vaccuum lines without removing airbox?  (Read 2840 times)
doubletee
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Posts: 1165


VRCC # 22269

Fort Wayne, IN


« on: March 07, 2015, 07:53:24 AM »

I've searched and read a lot of the tech archives and I've reviewed the "string method" of tying string to the ends of the vac lines on either side in order to more easily pull the new ones back into place. So, I know it can be done without removing the airbox.

I guess I'm just looking for anecdotal info from those who have successfully replaced them without removing the airbox. I've simply read too many horror stories about getting the tubes properly reattached to the carbs. I'm a fair shade tree mechanic, but I really don't need the extra aggravation of fighting with those if I don't have to do it.
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bassman
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Posts: 2159


« Reply #1 on: March 07, 2015, 09:01:10 AM »

BigBF replaced my vacuum lines at one of the Paducah Inzanes....I don't recall him removing the airbox and was able to thread
everything into place using some long handle pliers.  I'm sure someone can confirm this or has done it themselves.

Good luck!
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bassman
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Posts: 2159


« Reply #2 on: March 07, 2015, 09:27:36 AM »

Found this while doing a little research...m'be it will help......believe credit goes to Black Pearl's Capt...

Vent Hose Replacement
Actually if you take your time it's not too bad. Pick up some orange silicone hose from NAPA. NAPA part #H467, 72" length, 5/32" ID, prepackaged.
Posted By: W0QNX <w0qnx@sctelcom.net>
Date: 1/17/2004 at 19:43:13
Well I read here a while back that someone suggested using a wire inside of the hose to get to the top hose. I'm talking about the hose that runs up from the T to the top of the Pair valve.
IT WORKS! I changed out my hoses today and DID NOT pull the air box. I needed to change out the air filter so while I had the tank off I did the hose job too.
I pushed the old hose off with a long screwdriver, pulled the side hoses attached a string to both sides and pulled the hoses out up through the left rear and center carbs.
I cut the new top hose about 2" longer and then using an antenna whip I had that fit loose in the hose I installed the top of the Pair valve hose by angling in from behind the left rear carb. It was not a perfect clear shot but only off by 5 degrees or so. I did need to hold up the hose end with the long screwdriver while I twisted slightly on the hose and just barely got the end started on the nipple. Once it was started I used the long screwdriver to gently finish sliding the hose completely on the nipple. I got the hose all the way on clear up to the bend in the nipple.
Then I fed the other 2 hoses in from the top and connected the sides.
The top hose operation probably took around 4-5 minutes, beat the heck out of pulling the airbox.
I don't think you could do this without pulling the tank.
Give it try next time instead of pulling the airbox.
Of course there were no holes or cracks in the hoses (29000 miles) but I know they are new.

http://www.valkyrieriders.com/shoptalk/AirBox%20VentHose/venthose.htm

Here is a sheet I prepared for the session. It is not really as hard as it first appears. Some were frightened off at the tech session but it is way easier than pulling the airbox.
Raymond
Vacuum Line replacement without air box removal
Raymond Metcalf “W0QNX”
Tools needed:
6 to 7 feet 5/32 vacuum/fuel/emissions hose.
12 mm socket or wrench
5 mm hex wrench (with an accessory chrome cover on the tank front) or 10 mm socket.
#2 Phillips screwdriver.
9” long straight blade screwdriver
Needle nose pliers
2 #8 wood screws and some small wire or heavy string.
Flashlight.
20” of small antenna whip (.100-.125” stainless steel wire).
Optional but very useful, Honda service manual for your model Valkyrie. Study any pages showing information on the PAIR valve and its hoses.
It is best to prepare your Valkyrie for fuel tank removal by riding the motorcycle to a low fuel level thereby reducing the weight of the fuel tank.
The motorcycle should be completely cooled down before tank removal as there will be gasoline spillage when removing the fuel supply hose from the tank petcock.
Let’s begin:
Remove the seat. (If you need help with seat removal stop here, you are probably not able to perform this vacuum hose replacement procedure! You would be better off having a mechanic working on your Valkyrie.)
Turn the fuel petcock to the off position and with the Phillips screwdriver unscrew the fuel selector handle from the petcock. The screw is down inside the plastic handle. Be carefully with the selector as it a plastic item. The selector does not need be taken completely off the bike. Just pull it off the petcock and set the end below the petcock. Be careful with the fuel selector handle during removal and re-installation of the fuel tank.
Place a rag under the fuel petcock to catch fuel that will leak from the hose during removal. Remove the fuel tank supply hose (3/8 diameter hose) clamp spring and remove the hose from the petcock nipple. The long screwdriver works well to pry the hose off the nipple, be careful not to create any sparks! Tilt the fuel hoe down to drain the remaining fuel from the hose.
You may want to secure your handlebar in the straight ahead position with a rope from the right handlebar to the rear of the bike before proceeding with the next step.
Remove the front bolt holding the tank, then remove the rear bolt holding the tank. Gently lift the rear of the tank and remove the fuel vent line that is at the very rear of the tank. (The tank requires a little adjustment to clear the frame in the petcock area.) From the right side of the bike find the small vacuum line that runs to the petcock. It is just right of where the fuel hose was connected. Pry the vent hose off with a screwdriver. If your Valk is an Interstate there will be a blue wire connector running to the bottom center of the tank, unplug this wire before lifting the tank completely off.
The tank should now be free from the motorcycle and can be carefully lifted off and placed on a soft mat.
Closely study the hose routing of the #3 and #4 vacuum lines across the center top of the engine. Try to remember where the right hose (#3) runs as it goes below the chrome tube into the riser fitting. If it is not placed correctly it will lie on the chrome tube and may fail quickly as this chrome tube becomes heated.
Cylinder #3 is the right center cylinder when you are sitting on the bike. #4 is the left center and #6 is the left rear cylinder.
With needle nose pliers remove the vacuum hose to the #3 and #4 vacuum fittings inside of the chrome intake riser tubes. Pull the removed hose end out as much as needed and insert the wood screws with the strings or wires attached at the head of the screw into each of these vacuum lines. Secure the string ends to the choke cable on each side of the bike.
Find the PAIR valve vacuum hose located under the center bottom of the air box. It is visible best between the #4 and #6 carbs (left side) looking in at about a 45’ angle (also visible from the right side). The PAIR valve vacuum hose runs from the steel tubing (top of PAIR valve, (just below the air box)down to the top center of the engine area and is connected to a plastic “Tee” fitting with the #3 and #4 vacuum lines from each side connected to the Tee fitting also. With the long screwdriver pry the small spring clamp open or off of the top PAIR valve hose (it will not be reused). Now position the screwdriver from the right side of the bike and pry the vacuum line off the steel tubing under the air box.
From the left side of the bike find the top of the PAIR valve hose and grab it with the needle nose pliers. Gently pull the 3 hoses out from above the left rear and left center carbs. Pull slowly and gently as you may need to wiggle the hoses some to prevent the strings from falling off. It is not a disaster if they do fall off but you will need to route the hose by hand through the engine if they do! Pull all three hoses out and above the motorcycle.
Duplicate the hoses with the new vacuum line. Make the side lines several inches longer as you will cut these to fit after install them of the bike. Make the #10 PAIR valve hose 3 inches longer that it originally was. Install the side hoses onto the Tee fitting but not the PAIR valve hose (center of Tee). Set the Tee assembly aside for now.
Now the work begins. We are going to re-install the new PAIR valve vacuum hose using the antenna wire to place it onto the PAIR valve steel tubing. This requires the use of the flashlight and good vision as the PAIR valve steel tube fitting end is barely visible under the air box.
The antenna wire works best when the end is ground down (or filed) to a rounded point. This allows it to seat into the steel tube easier.
From the left rear of the engine find the steel tubing on top of the PAIR valve where the new #10 hose attaches. Working over the left rear carb (45’ angle into the center of the bike), place the end of the wire in the inside of the PAIR valve steel fitting. With the wire in place wet the end of the new PAIR valve hose (#10) and slide it onto the wire. Slide the hose up to the steel fitting and rotate the vacuum hose until it starts onto the PAIR fitting. Remove the wire, (the hose should stay on the fitting) use the long screwdriver to slide the new hose as far as possible onto the PAIR valve fitting. Work from both sides of the bike to accomplish this. You should be able to get the new hose all the way to the radius (bend) of the steel fitting. Any less and the hose may fall off at a later time.
Congratulate yourself, mission almost accomplished!
Work the new hose around the #6 carb rubber to a position between the #4 and #6 carbs where the strings are sticking up.
Attach the now installed PAIR valve hose to the other hose assembly at the center of the plastic Tee.
Now gently work the free ends of the #3 and #4 new vacuum hose down into the center of the engine. Use the strings to gently pull the new hose in; the PAIR valve hose will follow down into place. Don’t try to make this a quick job, work slowly on all three hoses until the entire new hose assembly is back to the position it was before you started. Use of the screwdriver may be needed to move the hoses around as needed.
The #3 and #4 new hoses where left long to make installation easier. Calculate their installation back onto the respective riser tube fittings. Cut and reattach the new hoses using the needle nose pliers. Be sure the hoses slide completely onto the fittings.
Now is a good time to replace the vacuum line attached to the #6 chrome riser tube. This vacuum hose runs back to the small fitting off the fuel petcock on the fuel tank. Its replacement is very easy compared to the PAIR valve hose.
Now is also a good time to replace the air filter while the tank is off the bike.
Sit the fuel tank back on the frame, reattach the fuel level sender wire if you have an Interstate, attach the small vacuum hose from the right side of the bike while gently raising the rear of the tank. Sit the tank down completely on the frame, be careful not to damage the petcock.
Reaching up and in,from the left side, re-attach the 3/8 fuel supply hose with needle nose pliers to the petcock. Place the wire spring clamp back in place on the fuel supply line.
Find the fuel vent line running up from the center frame cover (battery area) and reattach this hose to the rear center of the tank.
Replace the bolts in the front and rear of the tank. Screw the fuel selector handle back on to the fuel petcock.
Install the seat.
Go ride!
Raymond
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John Schmidt
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Posts: 15225


a/k/a Stuffy. '99 I/S Valk Roadsmith Trike

De Pere, WI (Green Bay)


« Reply #3 on: March 07, 2015, 02:13:34 PM »

I got rid of all those vacuum lines....called desmog.
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Gavin_Sons
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Posts: 7109


VRCC# 32796

columbus indiana


« Reply #4 on: March 07, 2015, 02:56:14 PM »

Hey man, have you thought about doing a desmog? Im going to do mine when red eye gets the shiny kit back in. They said shoild be early may. Gave mine I hadto my brother and did his when the motor was out for a hydrolock. This eliminates all the vacuum hoses. Im sure you know all about it and if you do just ignore me.   Grin
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PharmBoy
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Posts: 1058


Lawton, Ok


« Reply #5 on: March 07, 2015, 05:21:02 PM »

I'm with Stuffy!  I also get rid of all the carb drain hoses at the same time. Sure does make the top of the engine shine and I drain the carbs one at a time if needed.  Only have drained one carb one time. Those little vacuum plugs are only $1.85 each and I would highly recommend them over the little rubber things at the Auto Store.  16215-MV4-000 CAP, BOOST (American Honda) ...Jim
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99 Interstate
97 Bumble Bee
97 Red & White
IamGCW
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Posts: 1115


727 hood


« Reply #6 on: March 09, 2015, 04:43:37 PM »

Yep desmog.  Cleans up everything.  The remaining lines I replaced without removing the airbox, long needle nose from HF. 

Gil
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Gil
uıɐƃɐ ʎɐqǝ ɟɟo pɹɐoqʎǝʞ ɐ ʎnq ɹǝʌǝu ןן,ı
The emperor has no clothes
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Posts: 29945


« Reply #7 on: March 09, 2015, 04:49:57 PM »

I'm with Stuffy!  I also get rid of all the carb drain hoses at the same time. Sure does make the top of the engine shine and I drain the carbs one at a time if needed.  Only have drained one carb one time. Those little vacuum plugs are only $1.85 each and I would highly recommend them over the little rubber things at the Auto Store.  16215-MV4-000 CAP, BOOST (American Honda) ...Jim
Same here. I've never drained the carbs yet. Figure if I need to I'll do it one at a time. (BTW thanks for the blinker button Pharmboy. Do appreciate it cooldude)
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wd40
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Posts: 47

Winnemucca, NV, Reno NV


« Reply #8 on: March 12, 2015, 10:31:52 AM »

I've got three LONG handled needlenose pliers from Harbor Freight.  They are about 8" long, maybe a bit more.  I bought three different bends, i.e straight, curved and 90 degree.  Indispensible for working in those deep, cramped spots.
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