Carb bellows?

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Cliff56
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Suzuki 2-Strokes: Original owner GT550L

Carb bellows?

Post by Cliff56 »

Why do the carb bellows turn to goop??
I bought a parts bike that had been in a storage container since the late seventies and the bellows had melted! I've picked up several sets of carbs over the years with the same liquid goop where the bellows used to be! BUT, my GT550L still has the original bellows after 150,000 plus miles!
Any thoughts as to why?
Cliff!
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Alan H
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Suzuki 2-Strokes: 4 x GT550s - J, M, A, B.
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Re: Carb bellows?

Post by Alan H »

Ethanol and not moving to keep the bellows mobile imo.
Think of how stupid the average person is, then realise that half of them are more stupid than that.
sportston
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Suzuki 2-Strokes: FZ50, GP100, RG125 Gamma, GT380, Bandit 1200S

Re: Carb bellows?

Post by sportston »

Ethanol since the late 70s?
I would think the cause is the type of rubber used being susceptible to chemical attack and/or degradation. I too have had several sets of carbs with melted rubber goo on them. Try silicon spray on your new ones to see if that helps them last longer.
Cliff56
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Suzuki 2-Strokes: Original owner GT550L

Re: Carb bellows?

Post by Cliff56 »

New ones? Why? The ones on my bike are original!! The pic was just for reference!
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ConnerVT
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Re: Carb bellows?

Post by ConnerVT »

Ozone.
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Alan H
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Suzuki 2-Strokes: 4 x GT550s - J, M, A, B.
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Re: Carb bellows?

Post by Alan H »

Sabotage by Harley riders (someone had to tell them what to do!) :roll:
Think of how stupid the average person is, then realise that half of them are more stupid than that.
sportston
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Suzuki 2-Strokes: FZ50, GP100, RG125 Gamma, GT380, Bandit 1200S

Re: Carb bellows?

Post by sportston »

Alan H wrote:Sabotage by Harley riders (someone had to tell them what to do!) :roll:
:lol: :lol: :lol: love it!
bpeck27
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Suzuki 2-Strokes: GT550, TS400
Location: New Jersey, USA

Re: Carb bellows?

Post by bpeck27 »

I'm on my third set of bellows. Sets 1 and 2 both turned to goop when the bike sat for extended periods (5 years or more). I also thought that ethanol might be the culprit (the first set dissolved in the 1990's). Now when I put the bike up for the winter I drain the gas tank and run the engine until the carbs run out of gas. So far so good, fingers crossed!
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