Replaced Vac Lines. What a difference!

[doubletee]

I finally summoned the courage to tackle the vac lines replacement. Success!

I wasn't sure I had a leak, but removal of the old lines confirmed it on the #3 intake. I used the Redeye kit (no affiliation, but it is as advertised!) and the string method. I did NOT remove the air box, although I did eventually have to loosen the air box tubes on the left side carb tubes in order to raise that side of the air box just a wee bit in order to attach the new vac line to the top of the pair valve.

I have fairly small hands which helped, along with long needle nose pliers. Those are indispensable for that job.

The new lines solved my hissing/backfire problem and almost all of the popping on decel. Nice to have the old gurl in tip top shape again.  

[Bambam650]

Excellent, but you should have 86'd those PAIR valves and other smog stuff while you were in there.

[Jess from VA]

On a related note, both my bikes were completely desmogged using the FX6-Darryl kits (all new intake Orings) three summers ago by big BF (I only have the one vacuum line to the OE petcock left, with caps and plugs and no pair valves).  On the way to NC/Maggie Valley I got a big backfire releasing the throttle at 80mph.  Thereafter, I occasionally get small pops releasing the throttle in lower gears at high RPMs.  It does not happen if I gradually bleed off throttle, only on high RPMs and dropping the throttle.  I rode the rest of the trip and home and seem to have full power.  My header nuts are tight, and I re-snugged my outboard intake clamps (not much). 

Would someone care to guess what they think the problem is?  (You have a vacuum leak, somewhere.  )

(sorry for the drift)

[doubletee]

Excellent, but you should have 86'd those PAIR valves and other smog stuff while you were in there.

I've considered doing the desmog on several occasions. This is the first time in 16 years the vac lines have caused any problems, so I figured replacing them would buy me another 15 or so years, if I'm lucky. That's the kind of ROI I'm pursuing.       Plus, I didn't have the required parts for a desmog and really didn't want to get into that big of a project in the middle of riding season. Maybe some winter.....   

[Highbinder]

Glad to see this cured your problem, those lines just get old and harden up or collapse....you're right about the small hands making it easier, Lady Draco, my wife has small hands and replaces all the line without having to remove the airbox....I tried to get Strider to send some Pygmies over here from Africa and we'd sell them to shops around the country just for this type of jobs, said he couldn't do it, something about human trafficking laws...

[doubletee]

Glad to see this cured your problem, those lines just get old and harden up or collapse....you're right about the small hands making it easier, Lady Draco, my wife has small hands and replaces all the line without having to remove the airbox....I tried to get Strider to send some Pygmies over here from Africa and we'd sell them to shops around the country just for this type of jobs, said he couldn't do it, something about human trafficking laws...