Carbs stuck, I can't get them off!

[alphaville]

I just bought a '73 that I'm in the process of pulling apart so that the frame can be powdercoated and the engine rebuilt. So far everything has been very easy but I've encountered a bit of a problem. I can't get the carbs off! Throttle cables are disconnected and the hose clamps have all been loosened as much as possible, yet I can't pull the carbs off. They are seriously stuck on those hoses.
Any tips to getting around this without damaging anything?  

Thanks!
-Andrew

ps. I'm new to the forum, so hello to all

[SteveD CB500K0]

On one of my 500s I used the handle of a hammer (the woodedn bit!) to lever them off.

Those carb rubbers can get awfully hard after many years.

A bit of WD40 probably wouldn't go amiss either.

[Spitfire]

Hi Andrew,
              Steve is correct, when the carb rubbers are new all it takes is to push down and back on the carbs and they will fall off. But with old stiff rubbers it gets to be more difficult. Presumably you have completely removed the airbox and slackened (or removed) the hose clips on the rubbers nearest the cylinder head ? This is for a CB750, not sure about others.
I have just replaced the carb rubbers on my 76 CB750F1 and the difference is amazing.

Cheers

Den

[alphaville]

Thanks for the quick responses!

Yes. I have removed the airbox and slackened the hose clips closest to the cylinder head (those stiff hoses have simply fused themselves on both ends).
I'll give it another try tomorrow with some WD40 and a hammer :evil:

Post edited by: alphaville, at: 2007/06/25 19:42

[SteveD CB500K0]

What I didn't say is that I once broke a hammer handle by wedging it between the carbs and the cylinder head to lever the buggers off!!

[Asimohonda]

(Try a more gentle approach before resorting to the hammer.)
    Try using hot water \"not boiling water\" just very hot water rig a
    funnel & pipe & pour carefully on each rubber it will then expand
    under heat break its seal & prise off Start on no 1 then 4 then 2 &
    3 prising as you go along then they should come off ok Cheers
    Asimo

Post edited by: Asimohonda, at: 2007/06/26 10:23

[alphaville]

hmm... I tried with the hot water and prying with a hammer. Maybe I'm being too gentle because I don't want to slip and break something expensive. I'll be pulling the motor off the bike in a few days so I'll try it again when the frame isn't in the way.

~Thanks again guys~

[Spitfire]

You may have problems removing the motor with the carbs attached, the other alternative would be to either try a hair drier or cut the rubbers if you are going to renew then anyway.

Cheers

Den

[drums_till_i_die]

usualy theyv always came off if i just push the carbs down (with the clamps removed completly) push down on them and dont be gentle !!!! they will come off .   ive never broken anything using this method but ........... if they are this hard to get off , chances are always that it will be near impossible to push them back on .  in witch case you should buy new ones anyway since theyr so old and dryed out and new ones are cheep on ebay .