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Re-fitting carbs to VFR400
Posted: Sat Sep 26, 2009 7:46 pm
by snoopy89
Anyone got any handy hints or an easy way to do this? Just cant get the last one seated properly. It's really pi**ing me off.
Any help would be much appreciated.
Thanks
A.
Re: Re-fitting carbs to VFR400
Posted: Sat Sep 26, 2009 8:08 pm
by CMSMJ1
Drink a lot of beer, get a large piece of wood, a decent sized hammer and beat them on..
Or, a fat friend...
or, get the rubbers nice and warm, a bit of silicone grease and some force..
There is a knack to it..they are always a ballache to some!
Fronts on, keep pressure on and then rears will eventually just pop in to place...just like being 15 again

Re: Re-fitting carbs to VFR400
Posted: Sat Sep 26, 2009 8:40 pm
by snoopy89
Fantastic, that cheered me up no end!!
Tried the hammer technique already, but obviously wasn't drunk enough. That, however can be easily rectified!!
How would one go about heating the rubbers without damaging them? Would steeping them in hot water be the way to go? (maybe a stupid question but I have a bad habit of fu**ing this kind of stuff up!).
"Fronts on, keep pressure on and then rears will eventually just pop in to place...just like being 15 again" ..........................................Pure genius!
Thanks
A.
Re: Re-fitting carbs to VFR400
Posted: Sat Sep 26, 2009 8:53 pm
by CMSMJ1
You would have had 2 options...
first - get the bike running and hot as hell..then do what you need to and stick the carbs back on before the rubbers get cool.
Or, stick them in some hot water for a bit....as you alreayd deduced
Hairdryer works too....but the wife might not be happy if on a Saturday night..lol
Re: Re-fitting carbs to VFR400
Posted: Sat Sep 26, 2009 9:40 pm
by Neosophist
Since were on the subject...
Personally I like to lube them up real well with a paper-thin smear of red-rubber grease (or any other grease that won't harm rubber)
Then use CM's 'Brute force' method!
Theres a knack to it, once you've done it once it's like ridin a bike

Re: Re-fitting carbs to VFR400
Posted: Sat Sep 26, 2009 10:38 pm
by fastdruid
I've been known to stand on top before...
Druid
Re: Re-fitting carbs to VFR400
Posted: Sat Sep 26, 2009 10:53 pm
by Cammo
LOL!
Just sit the front carbs in the rubbers a little bit, then line up the rears using a screwdriver to pry some of the rubbers away as you push down evenly on them. I also stand on them, then use a torch to check that they're all seated correctly.
If the carb rubbers are too old and crusty (not very flexible), it will be near impossible to get them back in sometimes.
Re: Re-fitting carbs to VFR400
Posted: Sat Sep 26, 2009 11:25 pm
by royster81
i'm off all next week aaron and can call up if you need the help,is your mobile number the same ?
rhory
Re: Re-fitting carbs to VFR400
Posted: Sun Sep 27, 2009 12:44 pm
by snoopy89
Thanks for all your replies. I've tried all the above, standing on top, hammer, lubrication, brute force (ooohh errr!) and all to no avail. The only thing I have not tried is the addition of heat and alcohol. I'm saving that for today!
Can't get the bugger started because the vacuum tube was dosed and wasn't producing enough suction (giggiddy!) to open the fuel tap. So have to replace the tube then re seat the carbs. I replaced the tube yesterday and after many hours of violent struggle, gave up and stuck the tank back on just to keep it out of the way and found the tube is too short anyway!! So I'm glad that I didn't get the carbs on now.
Rhory, thank you for your kind offer of assistance, I really appreciate it. Sorry for not replying earlier, I only got your text this morning. Going to try and find suitable tubing today and stick them on later (Mrs Snoopy says she will give me a hand). But if I can't get it sorted, I'll certainly take you up on your kind offer.
Cheers All.
A.
Re: Re-fitting carbs to VFR400
Posted: Sun Sep 27, 2009 1:32 pm
by fastdruid
Halfords sells washer tubing that will do at a pinch, worked for about 2000 miles on the NC35 anyway. :-)
Druid