2001 VZ 800 Inlet manifold spacer

Hi

Just fitted new air cleaners and i noticed that the pipe from the air cleaner to the top of the carb doesn't line up very well. Should there be a spacer between the rubber manifold and the head ? it looks like if there was supposed to be on it would line up perfectly.

Thanks

Jim

I have just had a look at the 97-2002 VZ800 service manual and I can't see a spacer and they don't mention one on removal of the carb. Sorry I wish I could be of more help than that but hopefully one of the many VZ owners we have may know different?

I will email you a link to one of my private files that you may find useful.

Hi Big jim,
The carbs mount in a rubber in-take pipe that mounts to the head and the air filter box has a similar pipe connecting to the carb,,, to be honest with you Jim if they weren't their your carb would just be floating in mid air and ya bike wouldn't run,,,, they are a pain to line up tho,, you wouldn't have had to remove anything other than the air filter itself for the rear cylinder but had to delve under the tank and remove the air box at the front to replace the air filter and as i say its a sodding pain to get them seated but you have to persevere mate because any air leak WILL tell,,, as a matter of interest if your bike is slandered did you fit the ludicrously expensive OEM filters.

Dave. Thanks for the manual but as you say I cant see a spacer either.

Cheers John. I appreciate that the carb is mounted between 2 pieces of rubber but when it is bolted to the rubber inlet manifold you have to push down on the back of the air cleaner box to seat the hose from the air cleaner box to the top of the carb. It almost looks out of line and if there were a spacer between the rubber inlet manifold and head it would push the carb further back and slightly higher and the air cleaner pipe would drop straight on it. this made me wonder whether a previous owner may have taken a spacer out and not replaced it. I just fitted standard hi flow air filters i got from e bay for about £13 each. I recently fitted highway hawk slash cut fat pipes so i am taking it to be re jetted shortly.

Thanks for your help guys

I assume the problem is just the front air filter box under the tank,,, i`ve never really had that much of a problem,, its a pain to get the air box back in but every thing always lined up eventually,,, i've fixed similar problems for a friend when he didn't have the mounting bolts for the air filter box in correctly but all in all i think its a stupid design the way it is mounted, granted their is limited space and i never enjoyed changing the filter or adjusting the valve clearances for that matter, stuff of nightmares so it is.
I never got a VZ800 to run any ware near properly putting aftermarket Hi-Flo filter on without upping the main needle jet and even then MPG dropped off dramatically,, i`ve had 3 VZ800 and worked on mates VZ`s and i found that UK spec VZ`s main jet needle has 5 adjusting slots so i drop one slot so raising the needle with OME air filters and this worked fine with standard pipes in standard form or gutter and with after market pipes giving a boost in mid-range and a overall better response.
You will not have to worry about refitting the air filter box as ya man who re-jets it for you will have that problem ha ha,,, i would suggest you get a replacement stainless steel carb screw kit as the original screws are usually made from chocolate and round out fairly easily.
I always used original makuni jets and needles as after market kits like Dynojet have a habit of the replacement main jet needle wearing the main jet to an oval shape in a fairly short space of time buggering up the tuning of the engine,,, I have read that some people get away with it all and good luck to them but i never did, I wish you well and would appreciate it if you let us know how things go with the carb tune because i'm still learning.

Funny you should say that about the filters, because after i fitted them i noticed a bit of a flat spot and a slight delay at low revs which is a bit unerving when you are taking a turn. Its a right pain in the ass having to take the tank off every time you need to do such a simple thing as change the air filter as well. Will keep you posted on the re jetting. The pipes do sound good though even if they are a little loud and lots of backfiring when throttling back, but hopefully the jetting will cure this. Cheers for the advice