Topic: carb insulator condition

[HondaMan]

I find there are 3 main things that shrink with age

1 your belt, it must do it wont go round anymore

2 your bladder, you need more pees per hour

3 your tolerance for idiots!

Ah, so THAT's what happened to me!

[HondaMan]

Decided to check to see how the clamps on the airbox to carbs intake boots on the CB550  compare to the CB750 clamps.   Nothing surprises me anymore 

Yep, I noticed those 'clamps' are kind of popular in New Mexico, too, one summer past. They fit on 750s, too!

[kyle750]

Decided to check to see how the clamps on the airbox to carbs intake boots on the CB550  compare to the CB750 clamps.   Nothing surprises me anymore 

Yep, I noticed those 'clamps' are kind of popular in New Mexico, too, one summer past. They fit one 750s, too!

Ah Yes the universal size 'clamps'

[Dr. Frankenstein]

I might be a little late to the party here, but on the '72 CB500 I was working on whose boots were literally hard as a rock I used 1 part wintergreen oil to three parts isopropyl alcohol in a big canning jar with a lid (4 oz wintergreen to 12 oz isopropyl alcohol) and let them sit for about a week, maybe two...and they came out like new! Soft, supple, the whole works. I really couldn't believe it, that treatment actually works! And they smell nice too!  I didn't really believe it when I read about it, but what the heck, I tried it - and it does work!   

[newday777]

I might be a little late to the party here, but on the '72 CB500 I was working on whose boots were literally hard as a rock I used 1 part wintergreen oil to three parts isopropyl alcohol in a big canning jar with a lid (4 oz wintergreen to 12 oz isopropyl alcohol) and let them sit for about a week, maybe two...and they came out like new! Soft, supple, the whole works. I really couldn't believe it, that treatment actually works! And they smell nice too!  I didn't really believe it when I read about it, but what the heck, I tried it - and it does work!

How long does it stay supple?

[Dr. Frankenstein]

The boots were initially absolutely rock-hard and solid when I took them off - I had to use a small pry bar! - so I figured I didn't have anything to lose, I tried it and was Very impressed! I soaked them for about two weeks and checked on them occasionally, and they got softer and softer, with no deterioration of the rubber - you know, they didn't 'bleed' or leave a smudge on a towel or anything. I took them out of the jar when I was working on that problematic '72 JDM 500 I was working on, they sat on the bench in the open air for another two weeks or so before I put them back on; they were still like new! I really recommend that wintergreen/alcohol treatment. Here's the stuff I used, on Amazon for $15. Its chemical name is Methyl Salicylate.

[HondaMan]

I might be a little late to the party here, but on the '72 CB500 I was working on whose boots were literally hard as a rock I used 1 part wintergreen oil to three parts isopropyl alcohol in a big canning jar with a lid (4 oz wintergreen to 12 oz isopropyl alcohol) and let them sit for about a week, maybe two...and they came out like new! Soft, supple, the whole works. I really couldn't believe it, that treatment actually works! And they smell nice too!  I didn't really believe it when I read about it, but what the heck, I tried it - and it does work!

How long does it stay supple?

I did some 750 boots (just to see) with that same 'recipe' some years ago (still have the wintergreen around here somewhere). They lasted almost 2 years, sitting on a shelf, from absolutely rock hard (OEM, well used) at first to quite soft, then slowly got harder over time.

[Dr. Frankenstein]

Yes, and of course over time that's to be expected - but the recipe does work! I was a sceptic too, until I tried it; I wish I had known about it sooner, it would've saved a few bucks here and there.

[newday777]

Thanks. I'll get some and give it a try.

[Dr. Frankenstein]

Let us know what you think!

[HondaMan]

I did mine around Christmas time. My wife thought I was adding 'ambiance' to the garage.

BTW: don't try this wintergreen thing with the airbox-side boots: they got REAL big (like 3mm larger ID), and then they shrank to extra-small and rock-hard shortly after. I tried it after the success with the intake boots, since I still had the wintergreen-y stuff in a big jar. Wasn't such a good idea with those, had to scrounge new hard ones somewhere (CB750K7 type).

[grcamna2]

I did mine around Christmas time. My wife thought I was adding 'ambiance' to the garage.

BTW: don't try this wintergreen thing with the airbox-side boots: they got REAL big (like 3mm larger ID), and then they shrank to extra-small and rock-hard shortly after. I tried it after the success with the intake boots, since I still had the wintergreen-y stuff in a big jar. Wasn't such a good idea with those, had to scrounge new hard ones somewhere (CB750K7 type).

  

[kyle750]

Just a quick update on my little boots n clamps "adventure"

After buying OEM Honda carb boots and used clamps I also bought OEM Honda airbox boots and once again used clamps.  Decided to pay the money for new boots and save some money on used clamps.

Photo of used clamps purchased on Ebay. Hoping they are still round but if a little bent then I will try to adjust them and get them back into "round".   All 8 clamps purchased for $28 with shipping included.  Hopefully use 4 on the CB750 and 4 on the CB550.

[Dr. Frankenstein]

HM - "My wife thought I was adding 'ambience' to the garage!"    They do smell nice!

Good to know about the air box side; I was wondering about that - in my case I only did the carb-side boots as well; the original air box side boots of mine were kind of stiff, but not bad - one was ripped though. I thought about putting those in the solution but luckily I had some new ones laying around and used those in the air box instead - but now you've piqued my interest! I might just throw those in to see what happens, I won't be using them again anyway.

[kyle750]

The airbox boots on my CB750 are horribly compressed at the clamp site.  I would like to try the Wintergreen treatment on the airbox boots as I believe expansion of the rubber would be a very good thing.  I bought new airbox boots so the Wintergreen treatment is not a high priority - but I am very curious to see if it will work 

Seller's photo of the new airbox boots I bought.  100% genuine Honda not fake crap