can airboxes shrink over time?

[Nevada Sixx]

hi,, i have a 89 yz 125, and i feel like the carb doesnt fit all the way into the airbox like it should.. do airboxes shrink over time. especially the airbox boot?

 

[viking20]

The rubber tube at both ends of the carb becomes harder over the years...

 

[Lorin]

They can indeed. On my 92, I made a small, 1/4 to 3/8 inch spacer to go between the reed cage and cylinder. Cheap insurance against pulling dirt, etc., into the cylinder.

 

[Nevada Sixx]

yea, i got a reed spacer also from moose to help my carb fit back up into my airbox better, and it still needs to go in more. maybe i should order a new airbox/boot...

 

[MikeT]

Those spacers will also give you a little more low end power. Just a bonus! ;)

 

[Rcannon]

Is this caused by washing the bike with hot water?

Seriously, I had to re-position the sirbox in my 1997 YZ to avoid this.

 

[Lorin]

The new airboot will most likely be pretty expensive (mine cost $100 WITH a discount). Some other options to lengthen the track: Take apart the boot between the actual air box and rubber boot and add a spacer there, OR mount the rubber boot to the outside of the box (good for about 1\8 to 1\4 inch more space), but make sure and seal it extremely well. The reed spacer is most likely the quickest, easiest way to obtain up to 1\2 an inch or more of space to work with. The moose spacer that my friend uses adds about 1\2 inch and was just the ticket for his 92 yamaha. Once again, seal everthing well.

 

[Nevada Sixx]

i wonder what two reed spacers would do?

 

[70 marlin]

jr's old kx80's cost $39 dollars