gasket needed at carb boots??

[2fast]

I am just getting around to installing the new carb boots I bought this winter from Parts n More. They came with gaskets to put between the boot and intake manifold at the engine. When I removed the old one, there was no gasket installed! My question is, should I use the provided gasket or should they go on without? I am inclined to use em, but wondered if anyone knows which is right.
Also, I feel very good about replacing them. The originals are VERY cracked, some appear to go through and most are real deep. Last summer after washing the bike with water I started it up and noticed that the moisture on the outside of the boots was kind of sucking in and out of the cracks.
Anyway, does someone know about the gaskets?
Thanks!

[xssiveone]

I think I remember reading that the original ones had a crush type gasket built into the boot, but I could be wrong. It could also be the fact the the previous owner took the boots off and didn't bother putting a new gasket on. In my opinion, if the gasket is provided, then use it.

[PJSALERNO]

Just did mine. The old ones had none and the new ones came with 'em which I used. I would suggest using them.

[nashville_bill]

I just looked at the parts brake down and it doesn't show the gaskets. However, I installed the gaskets with my new manifolds. What could they hurt?

[Red Tarrents]

gasket needed at carb boots??

Yer right,
My XS11E's original carb manifolds were installed without gaskets as well.

The original manifolds were constructed with a steel? flange embedded/molded in the rubber.

The flange mating surface appeared no different than the new replacments. Maybe originals were machined flat, and replacments , to reduce costs, were punched out, without any machining, but requiring gaskets......

I cleaned the surface around the engine ports, and installed the new manifolds using the gaskets supplied with them.

I did not use any sealing compound.

Tightened bolts all by "feel".

BTW.......I found that the rubber caps or "blind plugs" covering the vacuum spigots (ports) were hard, and brittle.

They were also very loose. I now believe they were a persistent vacuum leak that affected the overall engine performance for, I don't know how long. Even still it performed very well.

Anyway, I replaced all of 'em with 3/8's caps I bought from NAPA. 5 for about a buck and a half + tax. Yamaha listed 'em fer $6.95 ea......lol

Red T.