Fitting Carbies - whats the trick?

[black pearl]

Hi Folks

Apologies in advance for the newbie Question.

Whats the trick to fitting carbies back on the bike? I can't seem to position the hose bits correctly on the head and airbox. :-?

On the weekend I stripped, cleaned and reassmbled one of my carbies as it was leaking. I'll do the other one but for now just need to get this done as the last item before my road worthy inspection.

I also replaced the adapter hose on the engine side.

My guess is I need to soften the hose and plastic tube? Whats the trade secret method for this? Hot water?

Thanks in Advance.

Rob

[montmil]

The short rubber connector hose at the air filter box will slide down the plastic elbow. Loosely fit the plastic tube to the carburetor, position the tube below the airbox mount and slide the tube back into position. Level up the carb as viewed from behind the bike, then snug up all the clamps.

[Barry]

Rob,

You haven't specified the year of the bike. If it's an early model with the clamshell air box then the plastic carb elbows are not the same length on both sides. Even with all the bits in the right place you still have to slide the rubber connector down out of the way and slide it back up onto the airbox spigot. I always use a little silicone grease between the rubber and the elbow to aid the sliding.

[black pearl]

Monte, Barry

Thanks for the response. Its an 85 twin shock.

I followed Monte's tips and after loosening everything I clamped the hose to the air box tube first then simultaneously maneuvered the carb between the head and the air box end. Seemed a lot easier than my previous attempt over what seemed like an hour the day before.

Will crank her up tonight and see how well a job I did on the carb clean and assembly.

[montmil]

I love it when a plan comes together! These bikes are simple designs and easy to work on. There's an old saying:

If a Bavarian farm boy can fix these bikes, so can you.

[Tony Smith]

If a Bavarian farm boy can fix these bikes, so can you.

Puts me in mind of a time when a friend was the proud owner of a brand new Electra-Glide

For a Christmas present I obtained a nice leather tool bag complete with the HD logo impressed on it. I had the local boot-maker add the words "Genuine Harley Davidson Tool Kit".

When the gift was delivered on Christmas day it contained a silver painted house brick and a 6" cold chisel.

[montmil]

If a Bavarian farm boy can fix these bikes, so can you.

Puts me in mind of a time when a friend was the proud owner of a brand new Electra-Glide

For a Christmas present I obtained a nice leather tool bag complete with the HD logo impressed on it. I had the local boot-maker add the words "Genuine Harley Davidson Tool Kit".

When the gift was delivered on Christmas day it contained a silver painted house brick and a 6" cold chisel.

  Good 'un, Tony. For you, just one less Christmas card to open next year.

[Tony Smith]

Good 'un, Tony. For you, just one less Christmas card to open next year.

We are still friends 36 years later. I should also say that like most riders of "real" motorcycles I have unmercifully lampooned the owners of HDs. However I do have to say that all those years ago Ian and I rode to Brisbane together (a nice little 1300km jaunt) and we swapped bikes around midday at the beginning of a particularly boring bit of road called "The Malborough Stretch" 300km of nearly dead straight, substantially flat road.

When we got to Malbourough, I did not want to give the HD back, it was very comfortable, feet up on the highway pegs, engine turning about 2,800rpm for 110kph, even though it sounded like a Ferguson tractor there was an air of unburstable strength about the thing.

(Mind you that impression was not matched in reality, the thing was forever breaking down).