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[Olegred]

To make things clear, I am a complete newbie to bikes, this xs11 is my first one So, be gentle with me, you hardcore bikers

I looked at carbs holders and found some cracking. I will try to post a pictures of it shortly.

So, question one is how bad you think this is?

Question two is how would I know that those rubber things are failing?

And third, logical one is what do you recommend I do?

Thanks everybody.

[Olegred]

Here are the pictures, since I can't use attachments on this forum

http://www.flickr.com/photos/25452741@N08/

[mro]

Most likely the cracks are not a problem
The carb boots are double walled.
There can be a vacuum leak where they attach to the head.
I just use some high temp gasket sealer there instead of using a real gasket.

Quick/cheep cosmetic fix for the cracks is to wrap the boots with electrical tape. From a few feet away will look like new.

So do you have an 80 special or a standard?


mro
BTW, welcome to XS land

[trbig]

Although they don't LOOK the prettiest, they are probably still functioning just fine. That rubber coats a steel liner. Where they sometimes leak at is between that boot and the head. Start the bike up, and with it running, spray some carb cleaner around the boots. If the RPM changes any, you have a vacuum leak somewhere... either where I just mentioned, or the little rubber boots over the brass nipples.



Do a search for how to post a pic. Most lately have been using photobucket.

Welcome to the forum, and XSellent choice of bikes to start out with!


Tod

[TopCatGr58]

Hey there Olegred,

Okay, your profile says 80 XS11, but what style...Special or Standard? Knee indents on gas tank, and axle at bottom of front fork=Standard; teardrop tank, round headlight, axle on front edge of lower tubes=Special!

Secondly, according to your IP addy, you're in the Akron, Ohio area, so it would be helpful to EDIT your profile to add your City, State, you'd be surprised that you might find other Xsives in the area willing to lend a hand in PERSON!

I put 1 of your pictures in your post. Flicker apparently DOES allow direct linking of their photos. Once you are looking at ONE of your photos, right click, pull up Properties, hightlight and copy the url tag you see, but STOP after the .jpg part, and then PASTE it into the IMG tag/button when you post a message and it will show just like above!

Here's the complete image url tag from the properties, but I put extra spaces in the HTTP part so that it wouldn't be turned into a LINK! You can see the "extra" stuff at the end after the .jpg part:
"?v=0" that I omitted before pasting it into the IMG tag!
h t t p://farm3.static.flickr.com/2106/2393329512_12d8dc208d.jpg?v=0

Sorry to see that you had a few cooling fins get broken off of the head, but it shouldn't cause you any problems. Now, if you'll look at that little round rubber synch port cap that Tod/Trbig spoke about, they can get hardened after 20+ yrs of heat/age and even though they are ON the port, they are not SNUGLY fitted, and can contribute to a vacuum leak! They are obtainable from local auto store.

Recent post by Prom to the NEW Female XSive....see the post in the Member's Forum by Carolyn, and you'll see ways to make them look nice, but it is very common for them to look like that and perform just fine!

There is a thread in the MISC forum on what to look for in a neglected XS11, would be a good idea to read it, along with essentially all of the threads in the TECH TIPS!
T.C.

[HobbyMan]

TC. I am surprised at you. If he is indeed using the tank for his model bike and no modifications, it is clearly a standard. There is a vacuum line running to the petcock.
Anyway,
Like said before, spray some carb cleaner on them and monitor the rpm. If they are cracked, put some rtv on there or replace them. I would take them off and stretch them with your hands while looking through them. If you see cracks appear, seal or replace them. Don't run your bike too much with them if they leak. Your pipes will turn blue, trust me.

[Olegred]

Thanks everybody for your kind participation. My bike is a standard model not special.

I am going to buy some carbs cleaner tomorow and I will do the test. I found new boots on the ebay for about 95 bucks - it's not too much is it?

If I decide to apply some high temperature gasket sealant where can I get that stuff?

HobbyMan - my tubes ARE blue already, what does that blueing mean?

[Getty]

Those ebay boots might be the intake side... Next to the aircleaner... Not engine side. I have seen the aircleaner side boots on ebay lately not the engine side boots. Just a warning. You may have found the right thing. But, I doubt there are used clean engine side boots available. 28 years old

A few months ago when I was cleaning the carbs I asked the same question you have. After taking the carbs out and feeling the inside of the engine side boots I realized there were no leaks. Felt like smooth rubber inside. Looks like crap outside.

High temp black rtv can be had at any car parts supply... Checker, autozone, nappa

Have fun wrenching. And even more fun riding!

[John]

Originally posted by Getty
Those ebay boots might be the intake side... Next to the aircleaner... Not engine side. I have seen the aircleaner side boots on ebay lately not the engine side boots. Just a warning. You may have found the right thing. But, I doubt there are used clean intake side boots available.

Actually, the boots that are found frequently on ebay are the carb to head boots. Finding new airbox to carb boots isn't very common, but on occasion...

[Getty]

Shows you how much i Know

I thought just the opposite. who knew.. This is the first time I have seen them. I have been only looking at parts on ebay for 2-3 months now. Never saw manifold boots. But just lkike you say here are a pair. Engine side Boots These do not look used.

[Olegred]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/YAMAH...em360039919094


These are ones I am looking at

[TopCatGr58]

Yes,
Olegred, those are the correct items, and from a reputable seller, has petcock and carb rebuild kits as well that several folks have purchased from him with satisfaction!

BUT, you may be spending $$ unnecessarily! First take off the old ones and inspect them on the inside, and 99/100 times you'll find that they are intact! SO...a nice layer/slathering of black RTV around the outside will get them looking pretty again! You can then inspect the engine mating surface, and if needed, remove any old crusty rubber from the mating surface of the boots, and then use a gasket and some sealer to remount them!

Remember, use the spray carb cleaner, don't SOAK the carb bodies in a bucket, you'll damage the butterfly shaft seals if you do that! You CAN soak any/all metal parts you remove from the carbs if you want, ie. the jets, floats, etc.!
T.C.

[Olegred]

Ok, I sprayed the cleaner all over those boots and the idle speed changed very very slightly, I mean barely noticeable. So, you guys suggest taking them off, coating with sealant and putting back on, huh? Looks like that's what I'm gonna do

[John]

You can also wrap the boots in electrical tape. I have tried both, and I personally think that looks better than the silly cone just smeared on them. As for a gasket, you can use a thermostat housing gasket from a 2.3 L Ford Ranger engine. The bolt pattern is the same, and with a little trimming, they work great.

[Olegred]

Since you guys are so extremely nice here I have a couple more questions. I am going to try and post the pics here.

1. That blueing on the tubes, why is it there?
2. If you look at the picture right where I have the fins broken there are some kind of oily stuff coming out. Does that mean I have a leak there?