Inlet manifold rubbers, a question?

[pepperami]

So this goes back to the arse-ache I had with ‘Project Scrappy Hyosung’
That I have mentioned on here once or twice.
However it got me thinking about how to solve this problem maybe in the future.

So if you have a project bike (something rare possibly) and you need a new set of inlet manifold rubbers.
No one on planet Earth has the inlet manifold rubbers for that particular bike, you’ve scoured planet Internet dozens of times but no joy.
What do you do?
What is your go to fix to get around that problem?

Not pod filters please?.

I can’t believe all these bike and car restorers can all find the rubber wear they need as easy as just going on to the net??.
Or do car and bike restorers only restore cars and bike they can find the right rubber wear for?

Your solutions oh wise and mighty BCF
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I am the sum total of my own existence, what went before makes me who I am now!

[Robby]

Depends why you need new rubbers.

If the old ones are very hard and you can't get the carbs into them any more - very common with v-fours - you can soften the rubber and make it look new by leaving it in a 50/50 mix of wintergreen oil and alcohol overnight.

Do not spill the mix, keep it in a jam jar on the shelf for next time. Your garage will smell of mint for ever.

If the old rubbers cracked or split and replacements are now available, there are various ways to make your own. Easiest and messiest involves using the original flange (if it has one), some rubber or silicone hose of the right size, and lots of glue. For masochist-level stuff you could make up a mould and pour in some casting rubber or urethane, but you would need to find something fuel-proof.

[WD Forte]

I was thinking 3D printing perhaps?
Not the hobby grade ABS PLA stuff but flexible/semi flexible stuff
if the materials are fuel and temp tolerant

If might be worth asking a place this like this for instance
for feasibility and cost

https://www.3d-alchemy.co.uk/3d-printing-in-rubber-flexible.html

I reckon most of the time and cost is in the design and setup stage.
After that the machine doesn't care it just follows the programmed steps whether its knocking out tap washers or complex assemblies

If you could do a design on say Autodesk Inventor and present
an stl file to Ye olde 3D Printer Shoppe it could drop the expense dramatically.
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bikers smell of wee

[pepperami]

I thought about going to a breakers yard and buying loads of gash hoses and trying to cobble something together that way??.
Seems to be a bit more hit & miss than a regular viable alternative.
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I am the sum total of my own existence, what went before makes me who I am now!

[droog]

[JackButler]

If you've ever sat & watched the inlet manifolds on a bike running with a lean sneeze & out of balance then you'll probably appreciate the job they do & gasp in amazement at how they manage to last so long.

If they're now unobtanium for your classic then your options are limited. 3D printing & even prototype casting are off the list. Nobody does this with any level of success. One approach I thought a bit OTT was to CNC machine the bolt on 'flange' part, then attach the carbs with a straight rubber pipe ala Triumph Bonneville.

The one that has worked for me so far is to boil/simmer 'em. Check in with the 'oldskool' spanner monkeys, but it's a similar yet much better scientific approach than soaking 'em in chemicals . . . .
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I clean my guns with the tears of the snivelling, left wing scum.

[Islander]

[Nobby the Bastard]

[Polarbear]

What alcohol. Please don't say rum.
Isopropyl alcohol?

Edited to add, I've just googled this......

How to make wintergreen extract

Add torn wintergreen leaves to a small jar until 2/3 to 3/4 full.
Pour in enough 80 or 100 proof vodka to cover the leaves.
Cap the jar, shake it, and keep it in a dark place at room temperature for at least a month. ...
Taste it every now and then to see how strong it is.

My kind of chemistry.
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Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[wr6133]