Topic: how i fixed my cracked carb boots

[neil young]

a buddy showed me this stuff a few years ago.i use it quite often on my bikes and wires in the house.
i had just finished cleaning up the garage when i had a thought ::)why not try the liquid electrical tape on my cracked boots


well good effing call
as an old boss used to say when things went off without a hitch...."just like downtown"
i applied a thin coat let it dry,then applied another coat.
took her for a spin...no more popping.and the idle is steady once again.
sorry about the fuzzy pics....stuff is called Starbright liquid electrical tape

[Tower]

Great frickin' find!  It won't help much with flexibility, but that's not a big deal.  I bet it looks good too - nice and dark and shiny.

Now, if it could only work on tyres 

[TwoTired]

Could you do a test for tolerance to gasoline?

Put a bit in an old clean jar lid, allow to cure fully, then put in some gas in the jar and see what happens when vapor bathes the coating.

Cheers,

[Gordon]

Could you do a test for tolerance to gasoline?

Put a bit in an old clean jar lid, allow to cure fully, then put in some gas in the jar and see what happens when vapor bathes the coating.

Cheers,

I'll go do that now.  I'd thought about using this stuff for things like this before but never got around to actually trying it.  If it does turn out to be gas resistant it could prove to be useful for many applications. 

[fuzzybutt]

Now, if it could only work on tyres 

Burt Munro used boot polish to fill in the cracks in his tires as i recall from the movie.

[MRieck]

 I really thought the caption would say"I bought new ones".

[andmoon]

Black silicone gasket in a tube works and remains more flexible.
I even have old cv boots going with the stuff.

[76 cb550]

I'm a little worried about that stuff getting sucked into the carbs.  Might not be an issue.  Just a thought.

EDIT: I considered doing this myself.  Should have tried it. 

[neil young]

I really thought the caption would say"I bought new ones".

tell me where to get them and i will buy new ones
but as far as i can tell....they are part of the airbox..... at least in any parts catalogue i have looked at they are the same part #
and believe me,,,iv been looking.but if anybody knows where to get them it would be you Mike....so lets make it happen.or I'm stuck using what i have just laying around the garage
as for sucking into the carbs....no way,this stuff dries "flexably" solid
I'm sure when i take the carbs out it might recrack or not be to flexable....until then  woohoo.
Twotired....... I'll do the gas thing in the morning.unless your patronizing me (hard to tell sometimes)

[TwoTired]

Twotired....... I'll do the gas thing in the morning.unless your patronizing me (hard to tell sometimes)

No sir.  Wouldn't you like to know if it is going to deteriorate with gasoline fumes?

[neil young]

Twotired....... I'll do the gas thing in the morning.unless your patronizing me (hard to tell sometimes)

No sir.  Wouldn't you like to know if it is going to deteriorate with gasoline fumes?

hard to argue with logic.
ya i'm interested in knowing...so i'll gas test it up and let you know.
hope it withstands it....because it is so simple and easy to do

[Tower]

Its like a paint-on condom for rubberized parts. 

[neil young]

Its like a paint-on condom for rubberized parts. 

seriously....last year i bought a luggage rack off ebay from a guy who swore up and down that it was from a late 70's cb 550 ........(i was sceptical)but i bought it anyway....well after struggling to fit it up (it didn't)i ended up ripping one of the signal lights wires.well i was going on a fairly long trip the next day so i twisted the ends together and liquid taped it.it has held up wonderfully in rain and sun.other than some dirt buildup which cleans right up....no probs

[TwoTired]

I've used liquid tape before for wiring insulation repairs.  I remember it being PVC based.  I don't think it was the (blurred) brand you show.
I do know that PVC won't hold up to gasoline.

Cheers,

[Gordon]

I coated half of a 3" screw with the stuff yesterday afternoon and let it cure overnight.  I'll put it in some gas this morning, let it sit for a full day and see what happens. 

[MRieck]

I really thought the caption would say"I bought new ones".

tell me where to get them and i will buy new ones
but as far as i can tell....they are part of the airbox..... at least in any parts catalogue i have looked at they are the same part #
and believe me,,,iv been looking.but if anybody knows where to get them it would be you Mike....so lets make it happen.or I'm stuck using what i have just laying around the garage
as for sucking into the carbs....no way,this stuff dries "flexably" solid
I'm sure when i take the carbs out it might recrack or not be to flexable....until then  woohoo.
Twotired....... I'll do the gas thing in the morning.unless your patronizing me (hard to tell sometimes)

What year is the bike?

[jbswearingen]

Now then, take new pics from a bit further back--you're within the focal range of your camera's lens--that's why it's out of focus.

[neil young]

I really thought the caption would say"I bought new ones".

tell me where to get them and i will buy new ones
but as far as i can tell....they are part of the airbox..... at least in any parts catalogue i have looked at they are the same part #
and believe me,,,iv been looking.but if anybody knows where to get them it would be you Mike....so lets make it happen.or I'm stuck using what i have just laying around the garage
as for sucking into the carbs....no way,this stuff dries "flexably" solid
I'm sure when i take the carbs out it might recrack or not be to flexable....until then  woohoo.
Twotired....... I'll do the gas thing in the morning.unless your patronizing me (hard to tell sometimes)

What year is the bike?

Sorry Mike ....its a 77 cb 550
hey Gordon...i think TT was interested in knowing what the vapour would do.so i'll try his put it on the underside of a lid and gas in the jar method.i applied the liquid tape on the airbox side of the boots.probably not as volatile as the carb to engine side.

[Gordon]

hey Gordon...i think TT was interested in knowing what the vapour would do.so i'll try his put it on the underside of a lid and gas in the jar method.i applied the liquid tape on the airbox side of the boots.probably not as volitile as the carb to engine side.

Yeah, I know, but I'm interested in seeing how it holds up to immersion in gas.  Could be useful as an aide in holding float bowl o-rings in place, among other things. 

[neil young]

hey Gordon...i think TT was interested in knowing what the vapour would do.so i'll try his put it on the underside of a lid and gas in the jar method.i applied the liquid tape on the airbox side of the boots.probably not as volatile as the carb to engine side.

Yeah, I know, but I'm interested in seeing how it holds up to immersion in gas.  Could be useful as an aide in holding float bowl o-rings in place, among other things. 

yeah..i hear you
i was going to mention that gas immersion couldn't hurt as a test.
I'm just waiting for the liquid to set as i type

[neil young]

Loyd probably googled this..i thought i would post it anyway.
http://www.starbrite.com/msdssheets/84104%20msds%202-29-08.pdf

[CB750R]

I just recently ordered a fresh set of carb to air box rubbers from honda canada, for my 77, 750, showed up all fresh and soft and flexy! next I'm going to try and order the carb to engine units, can't hurt to try!

[TwoTired]

77 CB550 F model 77 carb boots (as well as all earlier models) are different from the 77-78 CB550K model carb boots at both ends of the carb.

Cheers,

[Gordon]

Update:

The coated screw has been in gas for five hours now and so far the liquid tape is showing no changes. 

[rachet]

curious to see how this works out!   

Rachet~