DSS aftermarket carb/air box rubbers

[Binman180]

Hi all,

Like most I really struggle getting the air box rubbers to seat on the carbs of my 400/4, mine seem to be quite hard and I noticed these on the DSS website

http://www.davidsilverspares.co.uk/part_195135/

Has anyone used these? Are they soft/easy to fit? Or is it best to spend the money elsewhere for now and struggle on with the ones I have? They aren't split or breaking up just hardened

Thanks, Ryan

[watty51]

Try this before parting with your money. It worked a treat for me. My air box rubbers were quite hard but otherwise in good condition.
By yourself a tin of 500 ml CELLULOSE THINNERS. Soak all the rubbers in the thinners for about 1 hour 30 mins. Mine come out soft as anything and after washing them down and drying them off they seated lovely. Give it a go!

[PDAY]

Hi Binman

I bought them DSS and they certainly made fiting the carbs a hell of a lot easier. It might be worth a go with the thinners idea first as it might save you a few qyuid.

cheers

Paul

[Binman180]

Cheers lads, I'll give it a go when I come to it next.

thanks, Ryan

[Bryanj]

Have you priced proper cellulose thiners recently!!

[AshimotoK0]

I would have offered to treat them for you, like I have done for others, in my magic brew but the 400/4 ones have rubber to metal bonding that can break down. Dunno about thinners , the stuff I use is proper rubber industry industrial stuff.

[Alan4]

ref price for cellulose  thinners .. try Wilko  ...  small bottles .. I used 2

[Binman180]

Thanks for the constructive feedback guys,

 I shall have a crack at it this weekend as my trusted workhorse fuel hose has cracked weather permitting.  I'll try Wilko for the thinners and post an update at some point

Thanks

[paul G]

Thinners with wintergreen oil in it.
The thinners sofen them up and the wintergreen oil is absorbed into the rubber.
As the thinners evaporates it leaves the oil behind.
I have soaked mine for a couple of days, they do expand but don't panic as they shrink again as the thinners evaporates.

[Dave487]

I buy thinners from the local car paint supplier (Central Car Paints) about £16 for 5 litres and use it for all sorts of cleaning jobs. Don't know a supplier of Wintergreen though.

[royhall]

Watch out for the aftermarket rubbers especially Cruzinimage. I had some on the 350F (identical to the 400/4) that cracked after only 120 miles. As is always the case, get genuine if possible although the price difference is tempting.

[Chris400F]

I had some on the 350F ....

Does that mean you had to change them Roy? The last post I can find from you when this was mentioned before was that you were going to check if the cracking went to the inside and report back.

[paul G]

I buy thinners from the local car paint supplier (Central Car Paints) about £16 for 5 litres and use it for all sorts of cleaning jobs. Don't know a supplier of Wintergreen though.

You can get it off the internet it is used in aromatherapy, don't know why as it stinks.

[royhall]

Not had chance to check the cracks fully, but the exterior cracking is quite extensive. Will have a good look and post some pictures if possible.

[royhall]

Finally got into the garage to have a good look at the rubbers. The outsides of all the rubbers are badly cracked, but it appears that the insides are okay. Not sure how this happened but they were not cracked like this when they were brand new. Going to re-fit them and keep an eye on the condition over time. Will spray them with carb cleaner every now and then to check for air leaks. These are Cruzinimage rubbers with 120 miles on them.


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