TBS - Lost vacuum cover

[motochick]

:angry2:

I was syncing my TB and my butter fingers lost one of those rubber nipples that cover the vacuum outlets. It seems to be in the black hole (the place where the socks go). Any idea where to get those? Is it something I have to order and wait for?

thanks,

jen

 

[madmike2]

It didn't hit the ground so it is still in "there".

I've found them with a flashlight and patience. If the retainer ring is still attached, a probe with a magnet on the end will pull it out.

A Yamaha dealer should have them. Even an auto "box store" supply should carry different sized vacuum caps. Try Kargens or Auto Zone....even "box store" hardware supply but I've had good luck with Ace Hardware and OSH.

If all else fails, I have some (I'm in the Sacramento area) and I'd mail one to you.

A suggestions: Place an order with a supplier who gives a good discount, look here particularly Feejer/Wejer man's post, and place a "stock order". I keep on hand a number of different body fasteners and allen screws, vacuum caps, etc., just for this reason.

 

[Bungie]

Good luck with that!

I've dropped nuts and bolts while working on bikes that didn't hit the ground and spent *HOURS* looking for them with a flashlight and a magnet. Only to find them nearly in plain site 5" from the drop point. Even though you *KNOW* you heard it hit 'over there'.

Advice: Start close to the drop point and work out from there. Otherwise, learn to marvel at the engineering you see while hunting for it.

 

[motochick]

It didn't hit the ground so it is still in "there".
I've found them with a flashlight and patience. If the retainer ring is still attached, a probe with a magnet on the end will pull it out.

A Yamaha dealer should have them. Even an auto "box store" supply should carry different sized vacuum caps. Try Kargens or Auto Zone....even "box store" hardware supply but I've had good luck with Ace Hardware and OSH.

If all else fails, I have some (I'm in the Sacramento area) and I'd mail one to you.

A suggestions: Place an order with a supplier who gives a good discount, look here particularly Feejer/Wejer man's post, and place a "stock order". I keep on hand a number of different body fasteners and allen screws, vacuum caps, etc., just for this reason.

I gave up the search for now and went to Kragen. They had something close but a little longer. Good idea to stock up on such items for the rainy days you're working on the bike. My local Yamaha dealer won't be open till Tuesday so this will work for now.

thanks,

jen

 

[0Face]

We were doing the TBS on a few bikes over the summer when we lost one of those little rubber nightmares. :angry2:

We cut a little piece off the sync tube and sealed the end as a hold over until he could get one from a dealer.

 

[El Toro]

Order some to keep on hand. Sadly, if your luck is like mine, once the order comes in, you'll find the ones you lost. The worst case I ever had of this was when the top nut on a fork went on an across the shop excursion when I was replacing fork oil once (not on the FJR). I ordered the $35 replacement cap and had to let the bike sit for a week. When the new one came in, the old one appeared. At least these parts aren't too expensive.

 

[just roy]

when your done searching clean the area beside the bike or move the bike to a clean wall or in front of the garage door. turn on every light possible and then with a helper watching blow compressed air thru the motor toward the wall. start out from a distance and move closer and closer until you see or hear the object. this has worked in the past for me. also though its not my idea if you put 4-6" extensions on the test ports it will save you a little time in the future and keeps you from having to play with the little caps down in the holes.

 

[radman]

The area under the TB's resembles a shelf-it's a flat area of case over the tranny, closed at the right side, with the starter on the left. Should the magnet trick fail, and you know it's down on the shelf, putting the bike on the sidestand and using a water hose, filling that area with a stream of water and the allowing it to flow out will dislodge the stuff that's fallen down there.

 

[GypsyCaravan]

We were doing the TBS on a few bikes over the summer when we lost one of those little rubber nightmares. :angry2:
We cut a little piece off the sync tube and sealed the end as a hold over until he could get one from a dealer.

Yep... that was me. In my rush to get to another meeting that day, I got careless and dropped it. We cut that piece of tubing, sealed the other end with a small screw, and it worked fine. We didn't even have the little keeper on it, and it stayed in place for 1K miles, until the dealer found it when I went in for other service... They didn't like it.

Once I'm over the 1-year warranty, I'm going to switch them all to short pieces of sealed tubing. They're much easier to reach in and grab and reinstall.

 

[BeeLine]

I've lost the cover and the clips down that black hole but was able to recover them with the help of a LED head light and a long thin screw driver with a bit of gum on the end... no kidding!

 

[FJRay]

When I lose one I don't even look for it. I keep a supply of various size caps in the shop so I just grab a new one. Someday when I have the engine out I will look for the others.

 

[gumba]

Put a piece of dental floss through the retaining ring. Won't loose it that way. I hate doing a 1 hr. job and then searching for 2 hrs.

 

[mdisher]

Your local auto parts/NAPA will have an assortment for about $3.00. If I recall the 1/8 fit just fine and they are a little bit taller and easier to grab the next time.

(Don't ask me how I know).