Oring size for 1980 special T's??

[Courtney]

De-ganged my carbs today to do a total carb dip clean, and noticed the orings look a little tired. Does anyone know off the top of their heads what size these are? These are the ones on the T's right between carb 1&2 and 3&4.

[bikerphil]

I'm doing a set right now and I'm using the Harbor Freight metric O-ring kit, the size for those T's are the P-6 (5.8 X 1.9MM)

[DGXSER]

Courtney, you may want to be cautious of a total dipping of the carbs, the caustic type of dips can ruin the butterfly shaft seals. They are not alot of fun to replace.

[fredintoon]

De-ganged my carbs today to do a total carb dip clean, and noticed the orings look a little tired. Does anyone know off the top of their heads what size these are? These are the ones on the T's right between carb 1&2 and 3&4.

Hi Courtney, Phil,
you sure about the carb joining Tees having o-rings?
Mine have moulded rubber bulges cast right on, as do the analogous Tees on my XS650.
I have seen links to aftermarket brass Tees that use o-rings shown on this list but they are $40+ each.

[Courtney]

Courtney, you may want to be cautious of a total dipping of the carbs, the caustic type of dips can ruin the butterfly shaft seals. They are not alot of fun to replace.

Oh oh, I'm on my way to my garage to see if I've ruined em. Can we still get spares??

[Courtney]

OK just went and pulled the carb, and it seems ok. The seals seem tight. I remember this problem from the ****ty bushings in Solex VW carbs. Used to have to get them rebushed with quality bushings when the steel shafts wore out the alum. body. This is sort of similar, except with seals I assume.

[fredintoon]

Oh oh, I'm on my way to my garage to see if I've ruined em. Can we still get spares??

Hi Courtney,
yes, spare carb shaft seals are available and don't cost much.
Be real sure the existing seals are hooped before deciding to install new ones because that simple-seeming task is a real bear.
You have to remove the carb butterflies to pull the shaft.
Order new butterfly screws when you order the new shaft seals because you have to Dremel off the peened over tails of the old screws to pull them.
Then after the butterflies are back in properly (and getting that right ain't easy neither) you have to peen over the new screw tails.
You do NOT want those screws vibrating loose and going into the engine.

[Courtney]

I'm doing a set right now and I'm using the Harbor Freight metric O-ring kit, the size for those T's are the P-6 (5.8 X 1.9MM)

Thanks Phil! You are a fount of knowledge! Good stuff for me to write down. Should there be a sticky about O-ring sizes and carbs??

[bikerphil]

BTW, that size O-ring is also the one for the fuel needle/seat assy. on the 80 and later carbs.

[Courtney]

BTW, that size O-ring is also the one for the fuel needle/seat assy. on the 80 and later carbs.

Really? Hmmm, I better check this out. Thanks once again Phil!

[CaptonZap]

BTW, that size O-ring is also the one for the fuel needle/seat assy. on the 80 and later carbs.

Don't want to argue, but the ones in my 80G were, to quote from a previous post;

Here is the size, and where to buy them.

http://rocketseals.com/

is the place, and 1.5 mm X 7 mm is the size. You want Viton material, although Nitrile or Buna N will work.

[bikerphil]

I just used the HF ones and they fit just fine, I was working on a set of Mikunis for an 81 GS Suzy but the seat looks identical. I have used that size in the past on 82 XJ11 carbs and that bike is still running with them. I'd imagine that 2 different sizes may work.

[Courtney]

OK went out to my workshop with new orings to check size, and guess what? I have the T's that are the molded rubber ring type. Aren't those supposed to be on 78-79 only? The good news is they are in great shape, but no o-rings needed!

[bikerphil]

On the seat O-rings, the left one is the factory O-ring, probably the size CZ was refering to, the one on the right is from the HF kit. It's smaller and fatter, but when stretched over the fuel seat, it equals the correct size and will fit in nice and snug. I can't say for sure if the stretching would shorten it's life any, I highly doubt it.

[bikerphil]

I have the T's that are the molded rubber ring type. Aren't those supposed to be on 78-79 only?

They are on all years, the molded type. I have run across metal and plastic replacement T's with replacable O-rings on both the early and late style carbs. The late style carbs have only 2 T-s for fuel, the early type have 4 T's, 2 fuel, 2 vent.