Airbox help required

[ChristoT]

More n00bishness from your favourite Fazer projecteer! 

Any wheezes for getting the airbox back on the carbs? I eventually got the carbs onto the engine rubbers after a long fight yesterday, but am struggling like mad with the airbox rubbers. For a start, they don't seem to want to line up! Ideas?

I've already tried a thin smear of vaseline on the inside of the rubber, but that isn't helping much.

Thanks!

[His Dudeness]

Have you loosened the screws all the way on the clamps?

[ChristoT]

Have you loosened the screws all the way on the clamps?

Yep, even slid them back to the airbox cover (they're loose enough to do so, and I wanted to give it all the help I could)

[His Dudeness]

Could they be backwards? Have you got the wrong end in the airbox? Not sure if that's possible.

[ChristoT]

Could they be backwards? Have you got the wrong end in the airbox? Not sure if that's possible.

Definitely not possible - the front of the carb (engine end) is slightly smaller, and has a lip. The airbox end of the carbs is just a smooth intake. Also, the TPS plug and choke are on their correct respective sides.

And (I would like to think!) I'm not that much of a mug!

[His Dudeness]

I meant the rubbers in the airbox being backwards not the carbs

[ChristoT]

I meant the rubbers in the airbox being backwards not the carbs

Erm...

How?

The only tampering I've done with the airbox is remove and reinstall the faceplate after my d'oh moment when I put the engine in sans airbox. I thought the airbox plate could only go on one way?

It looks right. I can get carb 4 onto rubber 4, but then carb 1 looks out of line. T'is bizarre.

[Ruby Racing]

I've already tried a thin smear of vaseline on the inside of the rubber, but that isn't helping much.

Is Vaseline a good idea? It's a petroleum product and that breaks down rubber. That's why you don't use it with condoms. Unless you want babies!

[ChristoT]

Ah.

It's only a thin smear, but I'll clean it off when I get home.

Condoms are latex, no?

[JoeRock]

If you can christo, take them off, and stick them in a saucepan of very hot water. Sounds crazy, but they harden uo over the years and become pretty much solid - the hot water softens them and makes them nice and pliable again!

[ChristoT]

If you can christo, take them off, and stick them in a saucepan of very hot water. Sounds crazy, but they harden uo over the years and become pretty much solid - the hot water softens them and makes them nice and pliable again!

Doesn't sound crazy at all, however they are already quite pliable - the buggers just refuse to line up!!

[Mark YPVS]

Are the rubbers angled? take them off lay them on a flat surface and see if they all look the same, i know some 2 strokes have left and right carb/ airbox rubbers
Mark

[Deefer666]

Take the battery out and slacken the two side and on top airbox locating screws, this will enable the airbox to move back and forwards (but do not remove completely) slide the airbox up to the carbs. Get a 2nd person to hold them straight on to the backs of the carbs. Now get a long pry bar between the bottom of the battery holder and and the back of the airbox and lever forwards. Then do your clamps up........ SIMPLES!

[ChristoT]

Battery is out, bolts are loose. I hesitate to use brute force as I don't want to muller the rubbers!

[Deefer666]

Motorcycles are assembled using brute force, unnecessary swearing, bad rock music, and gallons of tea in an unwashed mug, get on with it man!

[ChristoT]

Motorcycles are assembled using brute force, unnecessary swearing, bad rock music, and gallons of tea in an unwashed mug, get on with it man!

I definitely do 2 & 3, my yodelling must be heard to be believed! 

You really don't want to hear me yodelling. 

[y82ugp]

I remember doing this and it was a complete b@@@@@d of a job Perserveance paid of in the end.

[ChristoT]

I remember doing this and it was a complete b@@@@@d of a job Perserveance paid of in the end.

I've done it before on my last Fazer. The engine carbs were a bastard, the airbox comparatively easy. On this Fazer, the engine was still a bastard, but the airbox is buggered too!! It certainly wasn't this hard last time.

[unfazed]

I've already tried a thin smear of vaseline on the inside of the rubber, but that isn't helping much.

Is Vaseline a good idea? It's a petroleum product and that breaks down rubber. That's why you don't use it with condoms. Unless you want babies!

Baby Fazers 

[ChristoT]

I know there's a Fazer 125 and 250, but I don't intend to have intimate relations with my bike!!

[reillypadraig]

I used washing up liquid, very small bit around the rubbers(it dries up after and forms good seal)
I found a second pair of hands good for this.
The back of the carbs next the airbox generally had to be lifted slightly to get the right angle and then I used a pry bar from before the crossmember on the frame to behind the airbox in the 2 grooves and pulled.
Brute force indeed.

I would generally not suggest Vaseline as it is more if a proper lubricant and you could have the airbox in and tightened up and let the pressure of the pry bar and airbox might just slide of the carbs

[robin78842]

I sprayed with WD40. then just eased the air box rubbers on with a piece of wood from the back.  If one of rubbers gets trapped put a screwdriver down between carb and rubber and circle it as far as you can till it slips on.  Patience!!!

[paulchucky]

fit the carbs to the air box rubbers first then firmly waggle them till they go in the enginge rubbers  very very easy
dont use any lube as this makes them slip off too easy
just be firm and gentle